Om mani padme hung is a popular Tibetan chant that loosely translates as “the jewel is in the lotus blossom”. This sentiment refers to the spirit of compassion in each of us, and is a Buddhist chant that calls forth our own loving kindness and sense of peace.
This week in the library, second graders explored the fragmented beauty of Tibet, or what is known in China as the Tibetan Autonomous Region. After viewing pictures of Tibet, exploring prayer flags and relaxing to the deep reverberating tones of a Tibetan singing bowl, used to call monks or lamas to prayer, we shared one story from Naomi C. Rose’s Tibetan Tales for Little Buddhas. With an inspirational forward written by the Dalai Lama, this book is a collection of wise and simple Buddhist tales that impart messages of peace, the duality of life and Tibetan village culture. Our story,Yeshi’s Luck, introduced the Tibetan mantra, Om mani padme hung, and served to illustrate the importance of being open to the hardships and fortune in our lives.
We concluded with bookbrowsing and checkout.
