DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

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Authors - Tc gi: Jing Yin v Ken Hudson Illustrations - Minh ha: Yanfeng Liu

Bin son v chuyn ng:

Tm Minh Ng Tng Giao

DIU PHNG XUT BN 2011

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TI LIU THAM KHO:

1) BUDDHISM Key Stage ONE PHT HC CP I SCH CA C S GIO DC PHT GIO NC ANH Buddhist Education Foundation (UK) 2000 Nguyn tc: Jing Yin v Ken Hudson Minh ha: Yanfeng Liu 2) BUDDHISM Key Stage TWO PHT HC CP II SCH CA C S GIO DC PHT GIO NC ANH Buddhist Education Foundation (UK) 2002 Nguyn tc: Jing Yin v W. Y. Ho Minh ha: Yanfeng Liu _____________________________________________________

Contents Mc Lc
Introduction - Li gii thiu 1) The Buddha - c Pht1 2) The Dharma - Php.19 * Do not do bad (ng lm iu xu xa)...........................21 * Do good (Hy lm iu tt lnh).................24 * Keep your mind clean (Gi cho tm hn trong sch).......................................27 3) The Sangha - Tng on...30 4) The Triple Gem - Tam Bo.35 5) Symbols in Buddhism - Vt tng trng trong o Pht..36 6) Buddhist Stories - Chuyn Pht Gio...39 * Wild Deer Park (Cng vin nai hoang)40 * The Moon is Looking at You (Mt Trng ang nhn em).42 * The Buddha and Rahula (c Pht v La Hu La)...44 * The Young Deer that Played Dead (Nai con gi b cht)..46 * The Buddha Threading the Needle (c Pht xu kim).48 * The Crippled Man & the Blind Man (Ngi qu chn v ngi m mt)50 * The Fishmongers (Ca hng bn c)..52 * The Fox and the Otters (Con Co v cc con Ri C)..54 * Snakes Head and Tail (u v ui rn)..........................................56 * The Cleaning Woman (Ngi n b dn v sinh).....................................58 _____________________________________________________

Introduction
We know that as a child, the Buddha was troubled by some of the same thoughts as children have today. Children wonder why they get sick. They wonder why their grandfather died. They wonder why some people are poor, while others are rich. They wonder why their wishes do not come true. Children also wonder at the beauty and happiness of life. Because the Buddha knew what was in the hearts of children and mankind, he showed us how to live a happy and peaceful life. Buddhism is not about learning strange beliefs from faraway lands. It is about looking at and thinking about our own lives. It shows us how to understand ourselves and how to cope with our problems. Buddhism is not based on superstition. It teaches us to rely on our own efforts if we want to better ourselves. The Buddha taught tolerance of other faiths and compassion to all living creatures.

Li gii thiu
Chng ta bit rng khi cn tr, c Pht c mt s thc mc ging nh cc tr em suy ngh ngy nay. Tr em t hi ti sao cc em li b au bnh. Cc em t hi ti sao ng ca cc em li cht. Cc em thc mc ti sao mt s ngi thi ngho kh, trong khi mt s khc thi giu c. Cc em thc mc ti sao nhng mong c ca cc em khng c th hin. Tr em cng thc mc v ci p v ci hnh phc ca cuc i. Bi v c Pht bit r nhng g trong tm hn ca tr em v nhn loi, ngi ch dy cho chng ta lm cch no sng mt cuc i hnh phc v bnh an. o Pht khng phi l vic hc hi nhng nim tin k l t nhng vng t xa xi. o Pht xem xt ti v suy ngh v chnh cuc i ca chng ta. Dy cho chng ta lm cch no hiu v chnh chng ta v lm th no i ph vi nhng vn ca chng ta. o Pht khng t nn tng vo s m tn. o Pht dy chng ta phi da vo nhng n lc ca chnh mnh nu chng ta mun t tin b hn. c Pht dy nn khoan dung i vi cc tn ngng khc v c tnh thng vi tt c mi sinh vt. _____________________________________________________

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

*1* THE BUDDHA C PHT

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM THE BUDDHA: He is the founder of Buddhism. He found the Truth. He is the most honoured person in Buddhism. He represents wisdom. He taught us how to find happiness through wisdom and love. BUDDHISM: Buddhism is the teachings of the Buddha. He was a wise teacher. His teachings help people to live wisely and happily. Today, more than 500 million people in the world follow his teachings. In this unit, we are going to tell you the story of the Buddha. C PHT: Ngi l ngi sng lp ra o Pht. Ngi khm ph ra Chn l. Ngi l ngi c tn knh nht trong o Pht. Ngi tng trng cho tr tu. Ngi dy chng ta lm cch no tm c hnh phc bng tr tu v tnh thng yu. O PHT: o Pht l nhng li dy ca c Pht. Ngi l mt ng thy thng thi. Nhng li dy ca ngi gip cho mi ngi sng mt cch khn ngoan v hnh phc. Ngy nay, c hn 500 triu ngi trn th gii theo nhng li dy ca ngi. Trong phn ny, chng ti s k cho cc em nghe cu chuyn v c Pht.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

About 2,600 years ago, there lived a great king named Suddhodana. He had a pretty wife called Maya. They lived at the bottom of the Himalayan Mountains in northern India. Vo khong 2.600 nm trc y, c mt ng vua v i tn l Vng u N (Suddhodana). ng c mt ngi v p tn l Ma Da (Maya). H sng ti chn Ni Tuyt (Himalayan) pha Bc nc n . _____________________________________________________ -3-

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

One night, Queen Maya had a wonderful dream. She saw a huge white elephant come into her room. It was holding a lotus flower. The elephant blew its trunk as it was walking round her bed three times. Mt m, hong hu Ma Da c mt gic m tuyt vi. B nhn thy mt con voi trng to ln i vo trong phng ca b. Con voi mang theo mt bng hoa sen. Voi tung vi ca n khi n i quanh ging ca b ba ln. _____________________________________________________ -4-

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

In the morning, the king asked his wise men about the queens dream. They said, Oh King! A great son will be born to Queen Maya. The king and queen were very happy with this news. Vo bui sng, ng vua hi cc nh thng thi ca ng v gic m ca hong hu. H ni, Tha c Vua! Hong hu Ma Da s sinh ra mt ngi con trai v i. ng vua v hong hu rt sung sng vi tin ny. _____________________________________________________ -5-

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

Queen Maya gave birth to Prince Siddhartha in a pretty royal park. It was the full-moon day of May. All the trees were in flower. The bees were humming around the fresh flowers. The birds were singing sweetly. Everyone was happy because a prince had been born. Hong hu Ma Da sinh ra hong t Tt t a (Siddhartha) trong mt cng vin hong gia p . l ngy trng trn thng Nm. Tt c cy ci n hoa. Nhng con ong ku vo ve quanh nhng bng hoa ti thm. Nhng con chim ht du dng. Mi ngi u vui mng v mt hong t va mi c sinh ra i. _____________________________________________________ -6-

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

The prince was very kind. He never hurt anything, not even the smallest animals. Hong t rt nhn t. Chng khng bao gi gy tn thng cho bt c th g, ngay c nhng con sc vt nh b nht. _____________________________________________________ -7-

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

One day, his cousin shot a swan. It fell to the ground and was badly hurt. The prince felt sorry for it. He picked it up and looked after it. He knew that all animals wanted to live. They did not want to die. Mt hm, ngi em h ca chng bn mt con thin nga. Chim ri xung t v b thng nng. Hong t cm thy thng xt cho chim. Chng chim ln v sn sc chim. Chng bit rng tt c mi th vt u mun sng. Chng khng mun cht. _____________________________________________________ -8-

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

In the palace, the prince had many teachers. He was a very good student. His father wished that one day he would become a great king. Trong cung in, hong t c nhiu thy dy. Chng l mt hc tr rt gii. Cha ca chng mong c rng mt ngy no chng s tr thnh mt ng vua v i.

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The prince grew up to be a strong, handsome, young man. He married a beautiful girl. They lived happily together. Hong t ln ln v tr thnh mt thanh nin tr trung, p trai, mnh kho. Chng ci mt c gi xinh p. H sng hnh phc cng vi nhau.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

One day, when the prince visited a village, he saw four people: one sick, one old, one dead and a holy man. The first three made him very sad. The holy man made him think about what it meant to be happy. Mt ngy, khi hong t i thm ving mt ngi lng, chng trng thy bn ngi: mt ngi bnh hon, mt ngi gi c, mt ngi cht v mt tu s. Ba ngi u tin khin cho chng rt bun ru. V tu s khin cho chng suy ngh v cch lm sao c hnh phc. _____________________________________________________ - 11 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

At the age of twenty-nine, the prince gave up his palace life. He left his family to find a way to make everyone happy. Vo tui hai mi chn, hong t t b cuc sng trong cung in. Chng ri gia nh ca chng mu tm mt con ng lm sao cho mi ngi c hnh phc.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

For the next six years, he went from place to place. He learnt from many wise teachers. He had a lot of hardship, but he did not give up. He kept looking for a way to get rid of sadness in the world. He became wiser day by day. Trong su nm k tip sau , chng i t ni ny n ni khc. Chng hc hi vi nhiu v thy thng thi. Chng gp nhiu kh khn, nhng chng khng b cuc. Chng tip tc tm kim mt con ng thot khi s au bun trong trn th. Cng ngy chng cng tr nn thng thi hn. _____________________________________________________ - 13 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

At last, he sat under a huge Bodhi Tree. He meditated over and over on these questions, Why do people suffer? How can I help them to be happy? Cui cng, chng ngi di mt Cy B to ln. Chng thin nh lin tc v nhng cu hi sau, Ti sao con ngi li kh au? Lm sao mnh c th gip cho h c sung sng?

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

At the age of thirty-five, he found a way for people to end their pain and sadness. From then on, he was called the Buddha. Khi ti tui ba mi lm, chng tm ra c mt con ng gip cho mi ngi chm dt ni n au v su mun ca h. K t lc , chng c gi l c Pht.

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Buddha first told his ideas to five monks, There are problems in all our lives. These problems come from being selfish. If we get rid of being selfish, we could be wise and happy. c Pht u tin truyn dy nhng t tng ca ngi cho nm tu s, C nhng vn trong tt c i sng ca chng ta. Nhng vn ny ny sinh t s ch k. Nu chng ta t b ch k, chng ta s c th khn ngoan v sung sng. _____________________________________________________ - 16 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

For the next forty-five years, many people, rich and poor, young and old, came to listen to the Buddhas teachings, We should always think about what we do. If we do good, good things will happen to us. If we do bad, bad things will happen to us. Trong bn mi lm nm tip theo sau , nhiu ngi, giu v ngho, tr v gi, n nghe nhng li dy ca c Pht. Chng ta phi lun lun ngh ti nhng ci m chng ta lm. Nu chng ta lm iu tt, nhng ci tt lnh s n vi chng ta. Nu chng ta lm iu xu, nhng ci xu xa s n vi chng ta. _____________________________________________________ - 17 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

At the age of eighty, the Buddha passed away. According to custom, his body was placed on a pyre and burned. Since then, his teachings of compassion and wisdom have been passed on from generation to generation, from country to country, and from heart to heart, right down to the present day. Vo lc tm mi tui, c Pht qua i. Theo tc l, thn xc ngi c t trn mt gin ha v thiu t. K t khi , nhng li dy ca ngi v lng t bi v tr tu c truyn li t th h ny ti th h khc, t quc gia ny ti quc gia khc v t tm ngi ny ti tm ngi khc, cho ti tn ngy nay. _____________________________________________________ - 18 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

*2* THE DHARMA PHP

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM THE DHARMA: It is the teachings of the Buddha. It shows the Truth. It helps us to gain happiness. It teaches us how to live wisely and happily. It tells us how to face and solve problems. When we follow the Dharma, it brings much happiness and peace. The main teachings of the Buddha are: - Do Not Do Bad. - Do Good. - Keep Your Mind Clean. PHP: Php l nhng li dy ca c Pht. Php nu ra Chn L. Php gip cho chng ta t c hnh phc. Php dy chng ta bit lm th no sng mt cch tr tu v sung sng. Php ni cho chng ta bit lm cch no i ph v gii quyt cc vn . Khi chng ta thc hnh theo Php, Php mang li nhiu hnh phc v an lc. Nhng li dy chnh yu ca c Pht l: - ng Lm iu Xu Xa - Hy Lm iu Tt Lnh - Gi Cho Tm Hn Trong Sch.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN DO NOT DO BAD NG LM IU XU XA

(Look at the frogs. Lets have some fun! Hy nhn nhng con ch. Chng mnh gin chi i!)

Killing animals and being cruel to them is bad. Like us, animals do not want to get hurt. We should not harm them; not even just for fun. Git hi sc vt v c c vi chng l iu xu xa. Ging nh chng ta, sc vt khng mun b thng tch. Chng ta khng nn lm hi chng; ngay c ch v a gin. _____________________________________________________ - 21 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

Stealing is bad. People who have their money or things stolen will be very sad. Those who steal will be punished for it. Trm cp l iu xu xa. Nhng ngi c tin bc v vt b trm cp s rt bun kh. Nhng ai trm cp s phi b trng pht v vic lm . _____________________________________________________ - 22 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(That was a great joke. I really fooled them! l mt tr a gin tht vui. Mnh qu tht la gt c h!)

Telling lies is bad. Telling lies even for fun may get people into trouble. We should always tell the truth. Ni di l iu xu xa. Ni di d ch gin a cng c th khin cho ngi ta gp phin phc. Chng ta nn lun lun ni s tht. _____________________________________________________ - 23 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM DO GOOD HY LM IU TT LNH

We should respect our parents and teachers. They are ready to help us and give us good advice. They deserve our respect. Chng ta phi knh trng cha m v cc thy dy ca chng ta. Nhng ngi ny sn sng gip chng ta v cho chng ta nhng li khuyn bo tt. Nhng ngi ny ng c chng ta knh trng. _____________________________________________________ - 24 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

We should help one another. Everyone needs help at times. Helping each other will make everybody happy. Chng ta nn gip ln nhau. Mi ngi i khi cn c gip . Gip ln nhau s lm cho mi ngi vui sng.

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

We should make friends with good people. They will help us to become better people. It is best to keep away from people who do bad. Chng ta nn lm bn vi nhng ngi tt. H s gip chng ta tr nn nhng ngi tt lnh hn. Hay nht l trnh xa nhng ngi lm chuyn xu. _____________________________________________________ - 26 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN KEEP YOUR MIND CLEAN GI CHO TM HN TRONG SCH

(If I cant play, I will hide it so nobody can play. Nu mnh khng c chi, mnh s giu n i khng ai c th chi c na.)

Selfish thoughts make your mind unclean. When people are selfish, they only think about themselves. No one likes selfish people. We should not have selfish thoughts. Nhng ngh ch k lm cho tm hn bn khng trong sch. Khi con ngi ch k, h ch ngh n chnh bn thn h. Khng mt ai a thch ngi ch k. Chng ta khng nn c nhng ngh ch k. _____________________________________________________ - 27 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

Dont be greedy as it makes your mind unclean. When a greedy boy eats too much, he gets ill and feels terrible. In the same way, wanting too much of anything, such as toys and games, is not good for us. We should not have greedy thoughts. ng tham lam v n lm cho tm hn bn khng trong sch. Khi mt cu b tham lam n nhiu qu, cu ta s b au bnh v cm thy gh s. Ging y nh vy, mun mt th g qu nhiu, nh nhng chi v nhng tr chi, thi khng tt cho chng ta. Chng ta khng nn c nhng ngh tham lam. _____________________________________________________ - 28 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(Take that! My football is not rubbish! Im much better than you! Hy nhn ci ny! Tao chi bng khng phi l d! Tao gii hn my nhiu!) (Now you two, is this the way to be friends? Shake hands and be real friends to each other. By gi hai con hy lm bn vi nhau. Hy bt tay nhau v tht s kt bn vi nhau.)

Angry thoughts make your mind unclean. When we lose our temper easily, we upset other people. Then no one wants to be our friend and we will be sad. So we should not have angry thoughts. Nhng t tng gin d lm cho tm hn em khng trong sng. Khi chng ta mt bnh tnh mt cch d dng, chng ta lm ngi khc phin mun. Ri khng ai mun lm bn vi chng ta v chng ta s bun b. V th chng ta khng nn c nhng tng gin d. _____________________________________________________ - 29 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

*3* THE SANGHA TNG ON

The Sangha is a group of monks or nuns. They practise the Dharma. They hope that the Buddhas teachings can help to make people become happier and wiser. They want everyone to live a good and happy life. The Sangha represents purity. It sets a good example for Buddhists to follow. Tng on l mt nhm cc Tng hay Ni. H thc hnh Pht Php. H hy vng rng nhng li dy ca c Pht c th gip cho con ngi tr nn hnh phc hn v tr tu hn. H mun mi ngi sng mt cuc i tt lnh v sung sng. Tng on i din cho s tinh khit. Tng on nu ra mt gng tt cho cc Pht T noi theo.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

Monk is a male Buddhist who has left home to live and practise in a monastery Men can become monks. Monks usually get up at 5 oclock in the morning. They study the Buddhas teachings after breakfast. Sometimes, they teach Dharma to people in the afternoon. In the evening, they meditate. They keep their minds clean and have kind hearts. Tng l mt nam tu s Pht Gio, ngi ri b gia nh sng v tu hnh trong mt tu vin. n ng c th tr thnh nhng v Tng. Cc Tng thng thc dy lc 5 gi vo bui sng. H hc hi nhng li dy ca c Pht sau ba n sng. i khi, h dy Php cho mi ngi vo bui chiu. Vo bui ti, h thin nh. H gi cho t tng ca h trong sch v c t tm. _____________________________________________________ - 31 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

Nun is a female Buddhist who has left home to live and practise in a nunnery. Women can become nuns. They also shave their heads. They usually wear robes of brown, yellow or grey. They live simple lives and work hard for the happiness of people. They are wise and cheerful, just like the monks. Ni l mt n tu s Pht Gio, ngi ri b gia nh sng v tu hnh trong mt ni vin. n b c th tr thnh cc Ni. H cng co u h. H thng mc o chong mu , mu vng hoc mu xm. H sng cuc i n s v lm vic kh nhc cho hnh phc ca mi ngi. H thi thng thi v vui ti, ging nh cc Tng. _____________________________________________________ - 32 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(Daddy is doing meditation, it helps him to relax after a hard days work. B ang thin nh, thin gip cho b c thoi mi sau mt ngy lm vic vt v.)

People who are not monks or nuns can also study the Buddhas teachings. They are called lay people. They respect the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. They are friendly and peaceful to everybody. Mi ngi khng phi l Tng hay Ni cng c th hc hi nhng li dy ca c Pht. H c gi l cc c s. H knh trng c Pht, Php v Tng on. H thn mt v ha thun vi mi ngi. _____________________________________________________ - 33 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

(If you get angry with someone who upsets you, then you will suffer even more yourself. Nu qu v gin gi vi ngi no lm mnh bun bc, nh th chnh mnh ch thm bun kh m thi.)

When lay people have problems, they go to monks and nuns for advice. To thank them for their good advice, lay people offer monks and nuns food and clothing as a sign of respect. They treat monks and nuns as special people. Khi cc c s gp chuyn phin phc, h tm n cc Tng v cc Ni xin hi kin. cm t cc tu s v nhng li khuyn qu bu, cc c s cng dng cho Tng v Ni thc n v qun o nh l biu hin ca s knh trng. H i x vi nhng Tng v Ni nh nhng ngi c bit. _____________________________________________________ - 34 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

*4* THE TRIPLE GEM TAM BO

The Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha are called the Triple Gem. The Triple Gem is very special to Buddhists. They pay respect to the Buddha, learn the Dharma, and follow the advice of the Sangha. By doing this, Buddhists believe they can become wise and happy. The Buddha is the first gem for Buddhists. The Dharma is the second gem for Buddhists The Sangha is the third gem for Buddhists. Pht, Php v Tng on c gi l Tam Bo (Ba ngi bu). Tam Bo thi rt c bit i vi cc Pht T. H by t lng tn knh c Pht, hc hi Php v tun theo li khuyn bo ca Tng on. Khi lm iu ny, cc Pht T tin rng h c th tr nn khn ngoan v sung sng. c Pht l ngi bu th nht i vi cc Pht T. Php l ngi bu th hai i vi cc Pht T. Tng on l ngi bu th ba i vi cc Pht T.

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

VT TNG TRNG TRONG O PHT

*5* SYMBOLS IN BUDDHISM

Lotus Flower

The lotus has its roots in the mud, grows up through the deep water, and rises to the surface. It blooms into perfect beauty and purity in the sunlight. The lotus flower represents purity because it is not dirtied by the filth of the mud in which it grows. Those who follow the Buddhas teachings aim to be like the lotus. They hope to remain pure in a world of impure temptations

Hoa sen
Cy sen c r trong bn ly, mc vn ln xuyn qua nc su, v nh ln trn mt nc. Cy n ra hoa ph mt v p ton ho v tinh khit trong nh sng mt tri. Hoa sen tng trng cho s tinh khit bi v n khng b d bn bi ci hi tanh ca bn ly m t trong cy mc ra. Cc ngi theo nhng li dy ca c Pht mun c ging nh cy sen. H hy vng gi c tinh khit trong mt th gii y nhng cm d khng trong sch. _____________________________________________________ - 36 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

Buddhist Flag
According to Buddhist records, as the Buddha sat under the Bodhi Tree, six rays of light emitted from his body after his Enlightenment. Based on this, the Buddhist flag indicates that all the different races in the world can live happily under the shield of the Buddhas wisdom. The sixth colour is the combination of blue, yellow, red, white and orange.

C Pht Gio
Theo nhng s ghi chp li ca Pht Gio, khi c Pht ngi di cy B , c su lung ho quang rc r pht ra t thn ngi sau khi ngi Gic Ng. Da vo s kin , c Pht Gio mun t ra rng tt c cc sc tc khc nhau trn th gii c th sng hnh phc di s che ch ca tr tu ca c Pht. Mu th su l mt s ha hp ca mu xanh, mu vng, mu , mu trng v mu cam.

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Dharma Wheel

Once we start driving the car, the wheels of the car will keep rolling until it reaches the destination. Ever since the Buddha first started teaching Dharma, the Truth has spread continuously and all over the world. This will continue until all beings are freed from their suffering. The Dharma Wheel is a symbol of the continuous spreading of the Buddhas teachings to help people live more happily.

Bnh Xe Php
Khi m chng ta bt u li xe, nhng ci bnh xe s tip tc ln cho n khi ti ni n. K t khi c Pht bt u ging Php, Chn L ln lt loan truyn ra v lan i khp th gii. Vic s tip tc mi cho ti khi tt c mi chng sinh c gii thot khi kh au ca h. Bnh Xe Php l mt biu tng ca vic truyn b lin tc nhng li dy ca c Pht gip cho con ngi c sng sung sng hn.

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*6* BUDDHIST STORIES CHUYN PHT GIO

Some of the Buddhas teachings are very deep and difficult to understand. So when the Buddha was alive, he often used stories to help people to understand his teachings. The following ten stories will help you understand better his teachings in this book. Mt s nhng li ging dy ca c Pht thi rt su sc v kh hiu. V th khi c Pht cn sng, ngi thng dng nhng cu chuyn gip mi ngi hiu c nhng li ging dy ca ngi. Mi cu chuyn sau y s gip cc em hiu r hn v nhng li ging dy ca Ngi trong tp sch ny.

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

Wild Deer Park

NO KILLING A longtime ago, there was a beautiful forest. Many deer lived there. One day, a king took his men there to hunt. The king shot an arrow and hit a mother deer. She ran away in pain. Later the king found her hiding in some bushes with her baby deer. Even though she was bleeding and had tears in her eyes, she still fed her baby with milk. She soon died. The king felt very sorry. He picked up the baby deer and said to it, I will now care for you. He then broke his bow in two. He said, Ill never hunt again. To remember that day, he named the forest Wild Deer Park. Like people, animals also have feelings. We should not kill them for fun or sport. It is unkind and selfish.

Cng vin Nai Hoang

KHNG ST SINH Thi xa xa, c mt khu rng p . Nhiu con nai sng . Mt hm, mt ng vua dn nhng ngi hu cn ca ng n ni sn bn. ng vua bn mt mi tn v trng mt nai m. Nai m chy i trong au n. Sau , ng vua thy nai m trn trong nhng bi cy vi nai con. Mc d nai m ang b chy mu v chy nc mt, nhng nai m vn cho nai con b sa. Ngay sau nai m cht. ng vua cm thy rt n hn. ng b nai con ln v ni vi n, Gi y ta s chm sc cho con. Ri ng b ci cung ca mnh gy lm hai. ng ni, Ta s khng bao gi li sn bn na. ghi nh ngy , ng t tn cho khu rng l Cng Vin Nai Hoang. Ging nh ngi, cc sc vt cng c nhng cm gic. Chng ta khng nn git chng v chi a hay v th thao. Nh th l tn nhn v ch k.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(Oh! No! Ive been hit! I must get back to see my baby. i! Khng! Mnh b bn ri! Mnh phi quay li coi con nh.) (How could I have been so cruel? Sao ta li c th tn c n th ny?) (Ill look after you forever. Ta s chm sc cho con mi mi.) _____________________________________________________ - 41 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Moon is looking at you

NO STEALING Once there was a very poor family. They often went to their neighbours garden to steal some vegetables. One night, the father took along his little son into their neighbours garden to steal some carrots. While the father was pulling out some carrots, his little boy stood beside him. Suddenly, his son whispered, Daddy, someone is looking at us. The father became afraid. He quickly looked around but he could not see anyone. Where? Who? he asked. The son pointed at the sky, There, Daddy. Its the moon. The moon is looking at us. The father was shocked by what his son said. He thought that nobody could see what he was doing at night. His sons words made him feel ashamed. He threw the carrots down and took his son by the hand. They both walked back home in the moonlight. After that he never stole anything again. If we steal, people will know.

Mt trng ang nhn em

KHNG C TRM CP Ngy xa c mt gia nh rt ngho. H thng i n vn nh hng xm trm mt t rau qu. Mt bui ti, ng b dt theo a con trai nh vo vn nh hng xm n trm mt t c rt. Trong khi ng b ang nh vi c c rt ln, a con trai nh ca ng ng bn cnh ng. Bng nhin, a con trai ca ng ni thm, B i, c ai ang nhn chng mnh. ng b cht s hi. ng vi v nhn xung quanh nhng ng khng thy mt ai. u? Ai vy? ng hi. Ngi con ch ln bu tri, , B i. l mt trng. Mt trng ang nhn chng mnh. ng b sng st v li con mnh ni. ng ngh rng khng ai c th nhn thy nhng g ng ang lm vo ban m. Nhng li ni ca con trai ng lm ng cm thy h thn. ng nm nhng c c rt xung v nm tay con mnh. H cng i tr v nh trong nh trng. Sau ng khng bao gi li trm cp th g na. Nu chng ta trm cp, ngi ta s hay bit. _____________________________________________________ - 42 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Buddha and Rahula

NO LYING Rahula, the only son of the Buddha, became a monk. He was the youngest in the Sangha. All the monks loved and spoiled him. Rahula did whatever he liked. Sometimes he told lies just for the fun of it. One day, the Buddha said to Rahula, Please bring me a basin of water. I want to wash my feet. He washed his feet in the basin of water and asked Rahula, Would you drink this water? No, its dirty! Rahula replied. Then the Buddha asked Rahula to throw the water away. The Buddha told Rahula, When water gets dirty, no one wants it. It is the same for those who tell lies, no one cares for them anymore. Tears of shame come to Rahulas eyes. He never told another lie. We should always tell the truth.

c Pht v La Hu La
KHNG NI DI La Hu La (Rahula), ngi con trai duy nht ca c Pht, tr thnh mt tu s. Chng l ngi tr tui nht trong Tng on. Tt c cc Tng u yu thng v nung chiu chng. La Hu La lm bt c chuyn g m chng thch. i khi chng ni di ch rn chi v chuyn . Mt hm, c Pht ni vi La Hu La, Lm n hy mang cho ta mt chu nc. Ta mun ra chn ta. Ngi ra xong chn ca ngi trong chu nc v hi La Hu La, Con c mun ung nc ny khng? Tha khng, nc b bn! La Hu La tr li. Ri c Pht bo La Hu La nc i. c Pht ni vi La Hu La, Khi nc b bn, khng ai mun dng nc . Cng tng t nh nhng ngi ni gian di, khng ai a thch chng na. Nhng git nc mt xu h a ra trong i mt ca La Hu La. Chng khng bao gi ni iu g gian di khc na. Chng ta phi lun lun ni s tht. _____________________________________________________ - 44 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Young Deer that played dead

RESPECTING TEACHERS A wise deer taught all the young deer how to escape from the hunters. One of them was a very good pupil. He was never bad in class. He also thanked the teacher after every lesson. One day, this young deer was caught in a trap. The others ran away in fright. They ran to tell his mother. She cried when she heard about this. The teacher comforted her, Dont worry. Your son is such a good pupil, he will come back safely. As he was caught in the trap, the young deer remembered what the teacher had taught him. He pretended to be dead by sticking out his tongue and lying still. This made the hunter believe that the deer was really dead. When the hunter was preparing to cook the deer, it jumped up and ran away like the wind. His friends were so happy to see him back. They thanked the wise teacher for teaching him so well. Being a good pupil brings great rewards.

Nai Con gi b cht

KNH TRNG CC THY Mt nai khn ngoan dy tt c nhng nai con cch th no thot khi nhng th sn. Mt ch nai con trong s l mt hc tr rt gii. Ch khng bao gi li bing trong lp hc. Ch cng cm n thy gio sau mi bi hc. Mt hm, ch nai con ny b mc vo trong mt ci by. Nhng con nai khc b chy i trong s hi. Chng chy bo tin cho m ca ch nai con bit. Nai m khc lc khi nghe c tin ny. Thy gio an i nai m, ng lo lng. Con ca b l mt hc tr gii, n s tr v mt cch an ton. Khi b mc vo trong by, ch nai con nh li nhng g thy gio dy ch. Ch gi b cht bng cch th li ch ra v nm yn. iu ny lm cho ngi th sn tin tng rng nai cht tht s. Khi ngi th sn ang chun b lm tht nai, ch nhy vng ln v thot chy i nhanh nh gi. Nhng bn ch rt vui sng thy ch tr li. Chng cm n ng thy khn ngoan v dy cho ch nai con tht ch li. Lm mt hc tr gii s mang li nhng phn thng ln. _____________________________________________________ - 46 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(I must run quickly. My teachers trick worked! Mnh phi chy cho tht nhanh. Mu k ca thy mnh hiu nghim!) _____________________________________________________ - 47 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Buddha threading the needle

HELPING EACH OTHER Anuruddha was a very good pupil, but he was blind. He did not feel sorry for himself because he was blind and kept up with his practice. One day, he felt a hole in his robe. He tried to mend it, but found it very difficult. He could not even thread the needle. The Buddha came to his room to thread the needle for him. Who is threading the needle for me? Anuruddha asked. It is the Buddha, the Buddha replied while he was mending the robe. Anuruddha felt really happy and was moved to tears. Always help those who need it.

c Pht xu kim
GIP LN NHAU Anuruddha l mt hc tr rt gii, nhng anh li b m. Anh khng cm thy bun cho bn thn mnh v anh b m v vn c gng trong cng vic tu tp ca anh. Mt hm, anh thy mt ci l thng trong o chong ca anh. Anh tm cch v ch , nhng thy vic ny rt kh khn. Ngay n vic xu kim anh cng khng th xu c. c Pht i ti cn phng ca anh xu kim cho anh. "Ai ang xu kim h ti ? Anuruddha hi. Pht y. c Pht tr li trong khi ngi ang v ci o chong. Anuruddha cm thy tht s sung sng v cm ng a ra nc mt. Lun lun hy gip nhng ngi cn vic .

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Crippled Man and the Blind Man

HELPING EACH OTHER A crippled man and a blind man were left alone in a house. A fire broke out. Both were very scared. The blind man could not see the way out. The crippled man could not walk to it. They decided to help each other. The blind man carried the crippled man on his back. The crippled man told the blind man where to go. Together, they got out of the burning house. If we help each other, we will all win.

Ngi qu chn v Ngi m mt

GIP LN NHAU Mt ngi qu chn v mt ngi m mt b b li tr tri trong mt cn nh. Mt m chy bng ra. C hai u rt kinh s. Ngi m mt khng th nhn thy li i ra. Ngi qu chn khng th i ti c li ra . H quyt nh gip ln nhau. Ngi b m cng ngi b qu trn lng anh ta. Ngi qu ni cho ngi m bit phi i li no. Cng nhau, h ra khi c ngi nh ang bc chy. Nu chng ta gip ln nhau, tt c chng ta s thnh cng.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(To the left, more to the right, straight ahead. Thats it, were out! Qua bn tri, qua thm bn phi, thng ti pha trc. Vy thi, chng ta thot ra ngoi ri!) _____________________________________________________ - 51 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Fishmongers
MAKING GOOD FRIENDS The Buddha and Ananda were begging in a city. They passed a fishmongers. The Buddha said, Ananda, touch the rope where the fish are hanging and smell your fingers. Ananda did this and said, It smells awful! The Buddha said, This is the same with making friends, if you mix with bad people, you will become bad. This is like the smell from the rope in the fishmongers. Next, they passed a spice shop. The Buddha said, Ananda, touch the spice wrapper and then smell your fingers. Ananda did this and said, My fingers smell very nice. The Buddha said, This is the same with making friends. If you mix with good people, you will be a good person. This is like the nice smell you got from the spice wrappers. If you mix with good and honest people, you will be a good person. If you mix with lazy and bad people, you will be a bad person.

Ca hng bn c
KT BN TT c Pht v Ananda ang i kht thc trong mt thnh ph. H i ngang mt ca hng bn c. c Pht ni, Ananda, con hy s vo ci dy ang treo c ri ngi nhng ngn tay con. Ananda lm theo nh vy v tha, Mi ny ngi gh s qu! c Pht ni, Vic ny cng ging nh vic kt bn, nu con kt hp vi ngi xu, con s tr nn xu xa. Tng t nh ci mi ca si dy trong ca hng bn c. K , hai ngi i qua mt tim bn hng liu. c Pht ni, Ananda, hy s vo nhng giy gi hng liu v ri ngi nhng ngn tay con. Ananda lm theo nh vy v tha, Nhng ngn tay ca con ngi rt thm tho. c Pht ni, Vic ny cng ging nh vic kt bn. Nu con kt thn vi ngi tt, con s tr thnh mt ngi tt lnh. N ging nh ci mi thm tho dnh ra con t nhng giy gi hng liu vy. Nu con kt bn vi nhng ngi tt lnh v tht th, con s tr nn mt ngi tt. Nu con kt bn vi nhng ngi li bing v xu xa, con s tr thnh mt ngi xu. _____________________________________________________ - 52 -

DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(What do you smell? Its awful! Con ngi thy th no? Tha mi kinh khip qu!) (Now it smells very nice! Tha by gi mi ny ngi thm tho qu chng!) _____________________________________________________ - 53 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Fox and the Otters

DO NOT BE SELFISH A foxs wife wanted to eat some fresh fish. The fox tried to find some for her near the river. He saw two otters at the river dragging along a big fish. Both wanted the best parts of the fish. The fox watched them for a short time. Then he went up to ask if he could divide the fish for them. The otters were delighted. The fox divided the fish into three pieces. He gave the head to one otter and the tail to the other. While the otters were thinking how the fox would divide the best part of the fish, the fox ran away with it. The otters had only themselves to blame for being so selfish. Do not be selfish, share with others.

Con Co v cc con Ri C
KHNG NN CH K V ca mt con co mun n mt t c ti. Con co c kim tm mt t c cho v gn dng sng. Co nhn thy hai con ri c bn sng ang ko l theo mt con c to. C hai u mun i nhng phn c tt nht. Co ri nhn hai con ri c mt lc. Ri co i ti v hi xem co c th phn chia c gip cho chng khng. Hai con ri c u ng c. Co phn chia con c ra lm ba phn. Co a phn u cho mt con ri c ny v phn ui cho con ri c kia. Trong khi hai con ri c ang suy ngh xem co s chia phn c ngon nht nh th no, thi co chy i vi ci phn . C hai con ri c ch cn cng nhau t trch mnh v ch k nh vy. Khng c ch k, nn chia x vi nhng ngi khc.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

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PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The Snakes Head and Tail

DO NOT FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER The snakes tail had a fight with its head. The tail said, You have led me for so long. Now its time for me to lead you. The head said, I should be the leader. I have eyes and a mouth. The tail said, You need me to move. Without me, you cant go anywhere. Then the tail grabbed a tree branch and would not let go. The snakes head gave up and let the tail be the leader. The head did not want to help the tail. The tail could not see where it was going. Then, it fell into a fire pit. The snake was burnt to death. It hurts both sides when you quarrel.

u v ui Rn
KHNG C NH NHAU ui con rn u tranh vi ci u rn. Ci ui ni, Bn dn ti i lu qu ri. Gi y l lc ti s dn bn i. u ni, Ti xng ng l ngi ch huy. Ti c cp mt v mt ci ming. ui ni, Bn cn ti di chuyn. Khng c ti, bn khng th i u c. Ri ci ui bm vo mt cnh cy v khng i na. Ci u rn chu thua v cho ui rn lm ngi lnh o. Ci u khng mun gip ci ui. Ci ui khng nhn thy ni chn no i. Ri n ri vo mt cn hm la. Rn b chy thiu n cht. C hai bn u b tn hi khi cc em ci ln nhau.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(It is my turn to be the leader! n lt ti l ngi lnh o!) (I should be the leader. You dont have eyes to see the way! Ti nn l ngi ch huy. Bn khng c mt nhn thy ng!) (Watch out! Theres a fire pit! Coi chng! C mt hm la!) (Help! Help! Cu ti! Cu ti!) _____________________________________________________ - 57 -

PHT PHP CHO TR EM

The cleaning woman

CLEAN MIND A woman worked very hard cleaning the streets. As her clothes were dirty and smelly, all the people ran away from her when they saw her. When the Buddha talked to her nicely, the people were surprised. They asked the Buddha, You always ask us to be clean. Why are you talking to this smelly woman? The Buddha replied, Although this woman is smelly, her mind is clean. She is polite and she works hard for others. Some people look clean and tidy, but their minds are full of bad thoughts! Having a clean mind is more important than wearing clean clothes.

Ngi n b dn v sinh
TM HN TRONG SCH Mt ngi n b lm vic rt kh nhc khi qut sch cc ng ph. V qun o ca b ta bn thu v hi hm, tt c mi ngi u chy i xa b khi h trng thy b. Khi c Pht ni chuyn vi b mt cch vui v, ngi ta thy ngc nhin. H hi c Pht, Ngi lun yu cu chng con phi sch s. Ti sao Ngi li ni chuyn vi ngi n b hi hm ny? c Pht tr li, Mc d ngi n b ny hi hm, tm hn b ta thi trong sch. B ta l php v b lm vic cc nhc cho nhng ngi khc. Nhiu ngi trng sch s v gn
ang, nhng tm hn ca h li y p nhng t tng xu! C mt tm hn trong sch thi quan trng hn n mc qun o sch s.

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DHARMA FOR CHILDREN

(Run! Run! She really smells! Chy i! Chy i! B y ngi tht hi hm!) (Keep your mind clean, just like the woman who keeps the streets clean for you! Hy gi cho tm hn ca cc con trong sch, nh l ngi n b gi cc ng ph sch s cho cc con!) _____________________________________________________ - 59 -