Lotus class have been doing some work on Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths and writing about suffering, attachment and letting go. Here are some short extracts from their work:
“When my great grandad died I felt really sad and I had a pain in my stomach, this was suffering. There was lots of crying because of attachment to him. At his funeral I felt really sad and the silence was so loud.When I got back home I realized that death happens to everyone and you can’t do anything about it even though it is painful. Eventually I was able to move on which was letting go.”
“I had just finished my spelling S.A.T.S paper when I started to suffer. A few of the words I had spelt wrong and I knew it. It went through my head again and again. Things started
to get annoying. Why could I not spell it right? Why? When I got my mark I hadn’t done too bad. I realised from then on that worrying about it wouldn’t help. Things would only get more stressful and complicated. To be honest I am just happy that the test is over and done with.”
“Me and my Dad were driving to school. I said that he listens to the radio channel he likes in the morning, in the evening and at lunch so we did NOT have to listen to it again. The argument kicked off and I called him names I wish I hadn’t. This is an example of the first Noble Truth, there is suffering. During the day I thought back to our argument, I was angry, really angry. I had clung on. Slowly during the day I came to terms with the letting go part of the Noble Truths. After school I apologised and all was well.”
In class my two friends had some sad news to tell me - they were leaving the school. I put my hand up and asked for the loo though I only went down there to cry. I was crying thinking my life would change as they had been my best friends since Reception. This was separation which is part of suffering and Buddha said this is the first of the Four Noble Truths. For ages after they left I was really upset and felt alone and not accepting of people’s offers to play. I was clinging to what happened in the past. This was me being attached and clinging, wishing it was different. This is the second noble truth. After a while I let go and I got more friends but never forgot my old ones.This was the third noble truth. Once I let go I was free to enjoy school and be happy again.”