Teachers Resources based on the Australian Dharma Curriculum

Compassion in Education, Heart-Led Learning.

Why do we use Dharma to compliment the Australian Dharma Curriculum?

Buddhism has developed into two traditions with Theravada being the oldest canon, and the Mahāyāna Buddhism was developed further from these foundation teachings.

Mahāyāna Buddhism is the form of Buddhism most widely adopted beyond India. By the fifth century, it was widespread across Asia from Afghanistan to Japan, and from Tibet to Indonesia. The most acclaimed Mahāyāna leaders in the 21st century include the 14th Dalai Lama and the late Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk Thich Nhất Hạnh.

The founder of the Plum Village Tradition, and historically recognised as the main inspiration for contemporary Western practices of Buddhism, Nhất Hạnh was a peace activist, prolific author, poet, and teacher. Often referred to as the "father of mindfulness", Nhất Hạnh was a major influence on Western practices of Buddhism.

We are very lucky in Daylesford, that our school is under 10 minutes drive to our local Plum Village Monastery in Porcupine Ridge. Stream Entering Monastery is a long-standing supporter and collaborative partner with us at Daylesford Dharma School and we work closely with the Sanga there to uphold our Buddhist precepts and educational model.

Dharma is the teachings of the Buddha based on his lived experience, and his teachings have become a guide for others to realise their self-awareness and awakening.

In this way the Dharma is not an ideology or a religion in the conventional sense, but rather an invitation to embark on a journey of experiential learning - that requires individual responsibility, discernment, and practice.

We have borrowed the 5 Mindfulness Trainings from Mahāyāna teachings and adapted it to become our Five School Precepts that we use in a modern education setting for our students, guiding them from ignorance to full awakening, which is coming to the realisation that a complete end to suffering and dissatisfaction is possible, but we as sentient beings can learn and develop coping skills for our discontent, frustration, challenges, and suffering.

We teach our students that all beings have the same potential for understanding and awakening and we believe it is the additional value we bring to the Australian National Curriculum at Daylesford Dharma School that sees our students graduate as confident, well-regulated, compassionate, and creative individuals.