Childrens’ Dharma and Meditation Program

Program Details

• Dates: Third Sunday in every month (May – December 2025)
• Venue: Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute, 1584 Burwood Highway Belgrave
• Time: 10am-11:30am
• Age: 5 and above (Primary school aged children)

Structure: Classes begin with a guided meditation, followed by a children’s activity and facilitated discussion on a theme of beginners Buddhism.  Dharma themes include: Buddha Nature; Interdependence; Loving Kindness and Compassion; Generosity; Ethical Discipline; Patience; Joyful Effort; Concentration (themes taken from the practices of the six perfections from the path of a Bodhisattva). 

Objectives:

(1) an age appropriate introduction for children, to the essence of key teachings from the Buddha Dharma. 

(2) Engagement with Dharma themes early in life is a precious opportunity, as it can bring immediate benefit to Children’s lives, and become a cause to continue learning these themes at a deeper level in the future. 

(3) Children have a positive, interactive and fun experience in the beautiful setting of the TBRI, making connections to the precious Dharma and Sangha community. 

(4) Children have an opportunity to become aware of the blessings of the Kalachakra-Shambhala and Jonang lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and the altruistic aspiration of creating a Golden age of peace and harmony, for ourselves and our world.

Values and Buddhist Teachings that underpin Childrens’ Dharma Activities (as provided by Spiritual Director, Khentrul Rinpoche)

1. Buddha nature: Every being has a perfect, pure, divine nature and capacity inside of them, known as “Buddha nature”.  We can all learn to connect with this and reveal it to ourselves.  Ideas like “we are not good enough” are unhelpful and incorrect.  Our Buddha nature cannot be damaged, reduced or impacted, it is indestructible.

2. The Golden Age:  As taught in the Kalachakra-Shambhala and Jonang lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, we aspire to create a Golden Age of peace and harmony in our world.  We adopt the teaching that “inner peace leads to world peace, as we aspire to create a Golden Age of peace and harmony in our world”.  Compassion for all sentient beings, and understanding that all beings have Buddha nature and are equal in seeking happiness and to avoid suffering, is a foundational teaching. 

3. Interdependence and appreciation:  If children treat others (including parents and caregivers) poorly, they may be creating causes to be treated the same way in the future, as they are creating these propensities in their minds.  We should take responsibility for the choices we make in our life, and the effect (on ourselves and others) that these choices may have.  It is important to appreciate and highly value those in our life who support us and may be doing their best, even if children don’t experience these actions as perfect.  Parents in particular, are to be appreciated as the cause for children having this precious Human birth. 

4. Connection to Others: There is often a focus in modern culture on “what we want (or dont want)” in our individual lives, before thinking of others.  However, this is a false sense of freedom, as it is not true freedom of the mind.  Ultimate freedom is the mind of enlightenment: providing the strength to deal with any challenges, and an experience of inner peace, no matter what the external conditions are.  We need to value and connect with community and thinking of others in our lives, as a path to connecting with our true nature. 

5. Benefits of meditation and introduction to meditation. (Shamatha meditation skills for beginners).  Meditation is the tool used for becoming familiar with our true nature, and the opportunity to begin learning these skills early in life is incredibly valuable, for Children’s immediate and future wellbeing.

6. Practice of the 6 perfections on the Path of a Bodhisattva, (Loving Kindness and Compassion, Generosity, Ethical Discipline, Patience, Joyful Effort, Concentration):  Introduction to these foundational values early in life, is a precious opportunity to build habits that can bring the most benefit to one’s own life and to others, by bringing awareness to habits that can be most beneficial or destructive to our immediate and future wellbeing. 

FAQ’s

1. Our Children’s Dharma teachers carry a valid Working with Children’s Check
2. Registration and Consent Form for the Children’s Dharma class will be sent to the parent or guardian of participating children prior to the commencement of the classes.
3. Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute is a volunteer-run organisation. The costs of classes cover materials for the Dharma classes and go towards the upkeep of the temple and grounds