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Notes from Life of Buddha Workshop - November 18, 2000
Facilitator: Carol Murphey,
BAGEP
Lesson Ideas: Buddhism, Art, Architecture, Spread along the Silk Road
1. Writing Assignments:
a. Have the students write reflectively about the various images of
Buddha:
Explore why the images may change from non-human to human form.
Explore why and how cultures attribute certain personality characteristics
to certain body shapes and features.
b. Create a storyboard or skits depicting the events in Buddha's life.
c. Write in the first person about events in Buddha's life.
d. Have the students read Jataka tales and other kinds of folklore.
Discuss the reasons behind the tales (ie. targeted audience, moral
of the tale or lessons being taught).
Have students rewrite a tale for a different audience and a different
intended lesson.
2. Compare/Contrast: (Also see 4c.)
a. Compare and contrast Buddha images from different times and places.
b. Compare and contrast hero/savior stories from different religions.
c. Compare and contrast central religious figures using Cambell's categories.
Create a chart. (Jesus Buddha? T chart?)
d. Research Pythagoras and compare to Buddha.
e. Look at commonalties between cultures and their central important
figures.
3 Linking Past to Present:
a. Discuss issues around modern attitudes towards body types and how
this contrasts with Buddha images.
Have students analyze magazine photos and images of Buddha.
b. Explore some major Buddhist teachings.
c. Discuss the influence of religions/religions in everyday life.
d. Have a more interactive discussion with students on the day's topic,
including personal sharing.
e. Have a day to explore each of the World's major religions, especially
Judaism, Islam, Native American. (Facilitator note: Native American
religions are vast and could take many weeks to explore, as each group
had/has their own. Animism is a broader topic and includes more parts of
the World.)
4 Art: (Also see 3a)
a. Create a poster that is a guide to images of Buddha and symbols
used.
b. Explore illustrations and if possible collect real artifacts for
the students to handle.
c. (Facilitator suggestion) Research and compare Buddhist Art and Architecture
from various countries that practice Buddhism. What is alike, what
is different? How do these differences reflect the influence of the
culture they are present in? What influences are from other places?
How did the religion spread and how does artwork reflect the spread?
5 Statistics:
a. Research countries where Buddhism is the dominant religion.
b. Research the number of Buddhists in the World.
6. Suggestion: Facilitator's suggestion for a comprehensive internet
site to explore for art, architecture, children's material, practice etc.:
www.buddhanet.net
