Selected extracts from teachings by Phra Dharma Bajranyanamuni (Phra Ajahn Jayasaro).

"It seems that these days more and more employers are not looking so much for people with proficiency in a particular area as much as smart, intellectually flexible people who know how to learn new things and can adapt to the changes in new technologies and changes in society. This is because many of the things people learn in schools are out of date by the time they start working, and because in a knowledge-based economy, freshness of vision, creativity and innovation are given the highest value.

In order to flourish in the world, it’s not then a matter of merely accumulating a body of knowledge, so much as cultivating a strong but supple mind and the ability to develop life skills such as skillful communication, the ability to work in a team, patience, resilience (the ability to bounce back after disappointments), the ability to manage one’s moods, and to protect the mind from pride, arrogance, greed, hatred, depression, anxiety, and panic. These abilities are being increasingly recognized as being more useful and necessary in the long run to a successful working life rather than having a particular degree under your belt. It’s becoming clear to what extent a lack of emotional maturity and self-knowledge amongst people in positions of authority undermines the advantages that they should derive from a cultivated intellect.

This is why Buddhist education is not at all idealistic. It is not meant to produce unworldly people, virtuous but unable to cope in the so-called “real world''. It is rather based on the conviction that the Buddhist developmental process which can in its fullness take someone all the way to enlightenment, on a scaled-down level provides the best possible kind of education for ordinary people."

Four Elements of Buddhist Education (Four Bhavana)

Whereas traditional educational approaches tend to put the focus on material goals and on developing essential cognitive skills, the Buddhist view is that, to be complete, education must also focus on inner values, on the workings of the mind and emotions. A ‘holistic’ education in the Buddhist sense refers to the Bhavana sii, or four areas of development. Two of these relate to one’s interaction with the external world and the other two with one’s internal qualities. By helping children reach their potential in both these spheres and across all four areas, we believe that we are providing them with the best possible education.

1. Kaya Bhavana: development of one’s relationship to the physical world.

This entails learning about the physical world in which we live and developing a wise and balanced relationship towards it, starting from one’s own body.

• A healthy relationship with the body

• Understanding basic physical needs (food, shelter, clothing and medicine)

• Responsible use of possessions, money, tools and technology

• Responsibility towards the natural environment

Curriculum relevance: Nutrition, physical exercise, sport, biology, time management, computer sciences, geography, environmental studies and life skills.

2. Sila Bhavana: social and ethical development

This area entails developing a wise and balanced relationship to the social world. It includes teaching the foundations of Buddhist morality as a scheme for living together wisely with trust, integrity and social responsibility.

• Not harming others

• Right speech (speaking truthfully, agreeably and appropriately)

• Acting with integrity

• Responsibility for one’s own learning and development

• Responsibility towards family members, towards place of work/study and society

Curriculum relevance: Language and communication skills, social studies, performing arts, history and community service.

3. Citta Bhavana: development of the mind and emotions

This means developing skillful ways of dealing with negative emotions and cultivating and maintaining positive ones.

• Emotional balance

• Love of learning

• Patience, effort and resilience

• Concentration and mindfulness

• Kindness and compassion

Curriculum relevance: Meditation, 12 Wise Habits activities, life skills, art, community service and daily classroom experiences

4. Panya Bhavana: development of the intellect and wisdom

This entails training the mind to think with reason and without bias, to think creatively, constructively and to be able to reflect on experience and learn from it.

• Right understanding (of right and wrong, of what has value and what does not)

• Right intention (making decisions based on good intentions: logical, beneficial, practical)

• Development of wisdom at three levels: (reading and listening; creative thinking; learning from experience)

Curriculum relevance: Maths, science, linguistics, art and design, and all forms of decision-making, critical thinking and creativity

These four types of development carried to the highest level result in enlightenment – the attainment of ultimate peace, wisdom and compassion. Panyaden International School strives to create an atmosphere, a learning environment and a curriculum which are in harmony with the Buddhist path to enlightenment but adapted appropriately to the needs and capacity of school children. To guide students along the way, we have created a Panyaden Profile that reminds us of the milestones pertaining to each area of development.