Happy Mahayana!

Mahayana is a celebration for all Buddhists, it is celebrated at this time of the year.

Many Buddhists will remember Buddha and how he taught them to live a good life. This is Buddha under the Bodhi tree – notice the leaves are heart shaped

On Mahayana day, Buddhist people will visit a Buddhist temple

or a Buddhist centre to join in the celebrations.

There are lots of Buddhist temples….

all over the world and some are very beautiful… some are very colourful…

and others have interesting shapes…

Which is your favourite?

Perhaps you could try to draw or build one of the temples?

On Mahayana day, Buddhists think of the teachings of the Buddha.

Buddha told his followers to find time to sit quietly and think – this is called ‘meditation’.

These ladies are meditating – they say it helps them to feel good.

These Buddhist monks are also meditating on Mahayana day. The orange robes are their uniform.

These children are learning to meditate in school – they are sitting quietly and closing their eyes.

These children are meditating in the garden - would you like to try? Can you sit very still?

Buddhists will often fly prayer flags during Mahayana celebrations – sometimes at the temple

or out in the countryside – this man is adding his flag to many other flags hanging above the river.

These flags are all put together to make a model.

Sometimes the flags are in very long chains.

The flags are always five different colours: blue for wind white for water red for fire green for space yellow for earth

We are going to make prayer flags for Mahayana day which colour will you choose?

After praying for a happy world, it is also nice to share sweet treats for Mahayana in the temple.

Now it’s time for us to do lots of exciting activities for Mahayana day – Happy Mahayana! Drawing and building Buddhist temples Baking miracle cookies Making prayer flags Making sweet treats Meditating