Windows into Buddhism – lively and engaging resources for those teaching Buddhism to Children and teenagers
Rigpa
Windows into Buddhism—the go-to site for anyone teaching Buddhism to children and teenagers, now has collections of resources suitable for all age groups.
Windows Into Buddhism:
brings together in one place trusted, original and interesting resources on Buddhism from all traditions in a lively and engaging way, and
is freely accessible from around the world both to the education sector and the general public
The site provides:
information either by topic or by age group
content on, and from, the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism
shared experience of living practitioners of Buddhism.
What is ‘Windows Into Buddhism’ about?
Over the last thirty years more and more countries include the teaching of Buddhism within their national curriculum on World Faiths, Philosophy or Ethics. Despite this development, reliable teaching resources remain scarce, limited, scattered and difficult for busy teachers to locate. It is hoped that Windows into Buddhism will contribute to better teaching and understanding of Buddhism at a basic level of general knowledge. As a site dedicated to educational needs Windows into Buddhism will become the go-to site for anyone teaching Buddhism to children and teenagers.
Four guiding principles make this website distinctive and unique:
1. Understanding Buddhism requires more than textual information. Buddhism is a vast subject. Most existing websites offer documents on Buddhist history and teachings, and they may discuss Buddhist ideas but they do not explore more broadly than this. Windows into Buddhism conveys the spirit, atmosphere, attitude and mental space of Buddhism through the way it is visually designed.
2. All content can be accessed either by topic or by age group thus serving a wide spectrum of needs. Every topic is presented in terms of subject knowledge and in terms of practical teaching aids for use in physical or virtual classrooms.
3. This site features content on, and from, the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism (as required by many school curricula). The entire range of Buddhist thought and practice is therefore presented here without sectarian bias. The site not only contains information about these traditions but it also draws directly on living practitioners who are able to share their personal experience of what it means to be a Buddhist in the modern world. In this way each tradition comes alive and has a voice.
4. Everything that is uploaded to the site is checked for accuracy to ensure that Windows into Buddhism is recognized as an authentic, trustworthy and reliable source of information. Rather than include an overwhelming number of items on the site, content is selected with a view to covering main points and main viewpoints without unnecessary repetition or frills.
Combining academic knowledge with personal experience
Windows into Buddhism can be distinguished by the way it combines academic knowledge with the personal understanding and experience of those inside the tradition. A small survey of school teachers in the UK, Netherlands and Germany carried out as preparation for this site clearly showed a strong appetite for personal testimonies from within the tradition to complement basic subject knowledge. The site therefore aims to offer an appropriate balance between the two while always safeguarding high standards of scholarship.
Acknowledgement
The team wishes to thank the Khyentse Foundation for its grant to create this website. To ensure the website is maintained and the collection of resources continues to build and to be freely accessible, the site relies on donations. Anyone who appreciates and value the site is invited to make any donation they can.