Namo Buddhaya!
We are very happy to have your family join with the online Mahamevanawa Dhamma School. We hope that with the support of the Svaminwahanses you will help your children learn and grow in the Supreme Buddha’s sublime Dhamma.
Who: Children living OUTSIDE the Auckland area in New Zealand and Fiji
When: Sundays, 6–7 PM New Zealand time and 5–6 PM Fiji time
Zoom link will be sent to you when you register
Ages
The class is best for students between 7 and 15 years old. Younger students may participate but their parents must be in the room with them so they do not distract other students. Cameras may be turned off for restless students.
Requirements
- All students must have a dedicated Dhamma School Notebook. It should be a two-ring binder with five index tab sections.
- A good microphone is a must so students can fully participate. Microphones should be tested before logging on to each class.
Class Format
Dhamma school classes are held weekly. Although we understand that it may be difficult to always attend class, your children will get the most benefit from class if they come every week. Often the lessons build on each other.
When children join the zoom session, they are encouraged to type the merit they have collected during the previous week into the chat. They can keep track of these things in their merit book (pin pota, see below). They should also type in the citations of the suttas they have read over the last week.
Class begins with going for refuge and taking the five precepts. We sometimes do this in Pali and sometimes in English. We encourage your family to take the refuges and precepts together on a daily basis in whatever language you feel comfortable with. Dhamma school is a learning opportunity for children to learn the simple and deep meaning of what they chant, so we will use a mixed medium of Pali and English.
There is usually a chance for children to ask questions at the beginning and end of class. If they have any questions during the week that you would like have the svaminwahanses answer for them, please encourage them to write the questions in their Dhamma Notebook.
General Guidelines
- For zoom classes, please join the session 10 minutes before the scheduled start. Ensure that their microphone is working. Mics should remain off unless they are called on by the svaminwahanses.
- We encourage children to wear at least a white top for class so they are reminded that this is a special occasion
- If possible, children should join class on a laptop with a good camera and microphone. This will allow them to participate more fully. However joining with a phone or tablet is OK if that is what you have available.
- Remind children that when their camera is turned on that everyone can see them. Sometimes children forget and make silly faces or groom their hair, etc. This is distracting to other students and the host may temporarily turn off their camera.
Homework
There will be some ongoing assignments as well as one time assignments
Sutta Reading Students will always have an ongoing chapter of sutras that they are encouraged to read every day. Each sutta will be short, and usually take less than five minutes to read.
We encourage students to
- Decide on a regular time to read each day (when they wake up, when they get home from school, before they go to be, before they do any work on a computer, etc.)
- Write down any questions they have about the sutta they read. They will not understand 100% of what they read and you need to remind them that this is normal. We will read each chapter from start to finish two times to encourage deeper understanding.
- Look up words that are unfamiliar. The translations we use will be as simple as possible, but there will always be new words for them to learn. This habit of looking up words will help them in school life as well.