Buddha at Bedtime: Tales of Love and Wisdom for You to Read with Your Child to Enchant, Enlighten and Inspire – June 30, 2008 Author: Dharmachari Nagaraja | Language: English | ISBN:
1844836231 | Format: PDF
Buddha at Bedtime: Tales of Love and Wisdom for You to Read with Your Child to Enchant, Enlighten and Inspire – June 30, 2008 Description
About the Author
Dharmachari Nagaraja regularly presents BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought with Terry Wogan, and has appeared on BBC 1's Heaven and Earth programme. A practising Buddhist for nearly 20 years, he formerly ran the Covent Garden Meditation Centre in London. He is currently involved with the Glasgow Buddhist Centre, where he works as a psychotherapist.
- Paperback: 144 pages
- Publisher: Duncan Baird (June 30, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1844836231
- ISBN-13: 978-1844836239
- Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Buddha at Bedtime is simply lovely. I review many Buddhist books regularly, for adults and children, and this has become one of my favorites. It is also a favorite of my own children.
Appropriate for children ages 4-10, this collection of bedtime stories is based on Buddhist Jataka Tales - a collection of folk tales originated in India, and used to relay ethical teachings to children. Many of these stories feature animals and magical creatures, and in Buddhist cultures are often performed through song and dance at festivals.
Buddha at Bedtime retells some of these stories in contemporary words and style, and includes luminous anime-style pictures at the start of each story. Each story begins with the phrase "Relax, be very still, and listen", and ends with a summary of the 'lesson', such as this one at the end of the first story, 'The Brave Little Parrot':
"Sometimes we can feel helpless when faced with a great challenge. A wise person knows that love and compassion can give them the courage to achieve things that they thought were impossible."
Or this, from the end of 'Two Ducks and a Turtle':
"All too often, we open our mouths in anger without thinking about what might happen next. A wise person thinks before they speak, and if they can't say something kind, they keep silent."
For some parents, this might seem a little too morally heavy-handed, but personally I don't think it comes across that way in the book. The stories themselves are fun, and the pictures and page accents so captivating that this book has become a favorite of my own children, and the lessons don't diminish their enjoyment one bit. All of the themes are very universal, which makes this book appropriate for both Buddhist and non-Buddhist parents and children.
Buddha at Bedtime: Tales of Love and Wisdom for You to Read with Your Child to Enchant, Enlighten and Inspire – June 30, 2008 Preview
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