SEARCH FOR THE YOUTH TO BUDDHISM

TN. Hue Germany

1. From the actual situation

According to statistics, Vietnam's population is now over 83 million people. Although no accurate survey, but the general assessment, the number of Buddhists in Vietnam is now considered too small compared to the length of history for thousands of years of Buddhist Vietnam. Among the Buddhists in Vietnam, in fact, how many young people are Buddhists? From actual survey on the situation of learning, hearing, legal, living at the monastery in Vietnam today, we can also see the majority of Buddhists are middle-age seniors, and young Buddhists but now the number has increased in recent years but, compared with young devotees of the religious figures that you are not commensurate with the development of religion has been more than 2,000 years on earth of Vietnam. That reality is so deep concerns for anyone interested in young age, and this is a deep concern of the people engaged in missionary activities. Is it because Buddhism too rigid or too "old" that young people can not come close?

Indeed, Buddhism is the direct intellectual Buddhist teachings very flexible flexible, able to make people have a dynamic and creative. Creativity and dynamism is the essence of youth. Therefore, the need to claim that Buddhism is "young", is very relevant and very necessary for young people. But how do young people find in Buddhism?

2. Finding the causes

First, we see that although the Buddhist faith seriously, but faith is only one of many gateways to the director, and believe the question is how? In Buddhism, faith alone is not enough to make people free from the suffering that the practice of teaching to bring enlightenment to the new release is essential for followers of Buddhism. Teachings of the Buddha advised us to "come to see." Buddha advised us to practice his teachings to the experimental state welfare rather liberating teachings watched from afar with an immense faith complementary. This feature is consistent with curiosity, independence and the reality of young people. The youth are those who are mature in age, show that you have always wanted to be able to explore research, can afford to making up his own life in the future, and also afford ability to change the destiny of the country. Youth do not want to follow a path, not to be molded, but always discover ourselves and the world around them, want to create a new life. So young people just believe what practical benefit for present life but do not believe what vaguely magical. This is the real nature of Buddhism.

Because of this nature that are sometimes run by young people immersed material life that we forget the moral elements of traditional spirituality. Ethics is the foundation for building a human being. Once a shaky foundation, how can people create the pillars for the society? And once in crisis, young people will no longer rely on a firm place, which is why the formation of social vices and negative in life. Living conditions in the era of social enjoyment of material as is now often stimulate more bad psychology is psychology good for young people. Therefore it is necessary to Buddhist teaching young people have a level of understanding, thinking clearly distinguish good from evil, spoiled food and the ability to control their own behavior in vivid detail the teachings possible and appropriate for each age group.

3. Recommendations

For young people to the temple, looking to Buddhism Buddhism have played an essential indispensable in the lives of young people. For this, Buddhism must meet the needs of young people. That to meet the requirements of the young mind to understand the feelings and needs of young people. Youth needs changing depending on age. The psychologist USSR (former) have studied and concluded that: "At each stage of age have one or two key active role in determining the change in psychology that age period" . For example: a fun activity in preschool children; learning is the activity of the old mainstream pupils; workers, is searching to discover young people's activities, etc. .. When you understand the psychological needs of youth and then, the next step we need to make various types of Buddhist activities plentiful and varied, to suit each user ages from youth to come to Buddhist.

3.1 In terms of doctrine: for children under 6 years old, not so early for our catechesis should only teach the children about the history of Buddha, the disciple of the Buddha or saint stories precursor by Buddha illustrations for children with a deep impression on the life and well-wishes of the God. For young people, to teach them the basic teachings of Buddhism as Cause and effect, Karma, Reincarnation, Tu, Dependent Origination, Noble Eightfold Path, etc. .. young people to look at people and world Buddhist perspective and realize the essential moral values ​​in relation to their personal lives with the community. In addition, economic Thien Sanh (prayer taught to behave in family relationships) as well as all measures that young people should be passed on to wages in the private family life and society.

3.2 On the issue of ritual, chanting prophecy: for young people to participate in the key Buddhist holiday, we can not remain seated traditional ritual chanting monotonous T-Case. The rituals, ceremonies lock needs to be diversified, the need to alternate the music festival combined with a relaxation tape or walking the flexibility to create youthful air, but not lost in the solemn the ceremony.

3.3 Diversification of learning programs and activities: In addition to the construction of the VTP chant, recite the Buddha or the retreat as: Buddhist retreat, Buddhist Sunday, the VTP from an office boy, the VTP Great Compassion, directed Master pages, meditation courses, etc. ... to guide young Buddhist practice, purify the mind is the model of living Buddhist culture is also essential as the performance teams, women domestic science classes ( flower, vegetarian cooking, embroidery and sewing) and layer painting, calligraphy, playing musical instruments and so on. to educate young people about art Buddhist culture. These types of activities are important in attracting young people and give to the temple.

Because young people live in modern society, is covered by the control of computers, electronics today should also be affected much by this habitat in the fun and entertainment. Currently, the boys tend to play games online, enjoy watching cartoons violent kicking, but the girls they love to wander on to chat or look to explore the unknown. Based on these needs and tastes, Buddhism we should invest in the production of animated Buddhist, comics or games Buddhism or Buddhist music video clip for youth entertainment has just been absorbed the cultural values ​​Buddhist thought.

Common needs of young people are learning, but must be played. Therefore, for young people to the temple "religious and still be playing, playing and still be religious," they need to have practice sessions picnicking, camping combined with the knowledge test, etc. ... Dharma practitioners to expand this model very easy to attract young people and often leave much impression in the heart of the young.

In addition, the establishment of educational charities such as funds for poor students, study promotion funds, hedge funds, etc. .. to help them students, students with difficult family situations are at risk of out of school to continue going to school, or encourage poor students more studious to promote learning ability of studying children or rewards for students are quite good to encourage them further hospitality etc. .. also a cord set linked with Buddhist youth.

4. The criteria to perform

4.1 The role of the family - the school - society:

For young people have the concept of Buddhism and a sense of coming to the temple of learning, parents play an important role. Since the family is the cradle of human culture from birth until grown up. In the neonatal period, ie from birth until age 6, children greatly influenced life and manners of the family, whether young kindergarten or at home, though rich or poor, rural or urban, etc. ... At this stage, the mother plays a very important role for children. The mother nursed not only nursing, but also forged treble, decorations set the basic virtue of kindness for the formation and development of the child's later personality.

Age students, children affected by school education, but the school is the environment for young people acquire knowledge, and love of family, lifestyle and traditional moral standards of the family remains the leading role in the moral education of young people. At this stage, next to love kindness of the mother is close guidance of the father will teach people how to make the child more and more beautiful.

After leaving school, young adult stage at a young age. At this stage, young people have accumulated more knowledge from school, had its own perception of personal and social life, but also began to receive a new education, which society is educational. Education provides the knowledge to live and serve society. It is in the process of living, learning, labor, exchange, recreation, youth development and has formed his personality as a rule perceive the cultural heritage, physically and mentally due to the generation prior to and through social interaction.

So the family tradition of ethical, social ideology of great influence in the growth of material life and spiritual youth. If you live in a Buddhist community, if their parents are devout Buddhists, who followed the Buddhist family life, the youth will also absorb and live by this tradition. If family life does not form moral tradition church fathers mother glass, the glass on the lower yield, on the peace agreement, not to guide, encourage your child to the temple, become familiar with Buddhist cultural environment is certainly young people will not have the concept of moral education, there is no concept of what the temples or Buddhist chanting ceremonies, thoughts did not know about the Buddhist culture. And so is a major shortcoming in the process of nurturing and educating children.

4.2 Role of renunciation:

Once young people have ideas and directions of Buddhism, to participate in Buddhist activities, and to live in Buddhism, the monks who plays a very important role in guiding young people practice. Although young people have the active, open, accessible, but to guide and admire the young people, which requires monks must have passion, and must be equipped with adequate knowledge Buddha school and the school, especially knowledge of the psychology of youth ages, and know how to use some foreign language proficiency and the entertainment media as a modern computer, a network connection. etc ... Young people will easily be attracted, and will affect the receiving body of teachers teaching young dynamic, ready to roll away the discharge into boiling oil at the fire burns, but no virtuous majesty, always helps sex children discover the magic can only be found in moral, spiritual life, the nuns are free to eat comfort and sharing the things that young people can not confess with his family. Beautiful pictures will give young people a bridge to the temple and emotional support will be reliable for young people.

In particular, to feel of the street children, underprivileged stubborn or disobedient children are part of social evils, drug addiction, indulgence, immorality, etc. ... it is monks who have broken altruism open, sympathetic and forgive the mistakes of youth. When children feel love, regardless of faith and begin the next step we have to analyze your child see the mistakes that they suffered and the harm caused by them, teach them the ability to receive form, clearly distinguishing right and wrong, good and evil, good and bad ... After the child had been aware of it then, it is important that we have to teach them the good direction, moral life, I know close to the bohemian , self-discipline, life purpose, is ideal for self-direction upper living happiness, family and social benefit, peaceful.

5. Conclusion

Above are a few thoughts of nature sports with the only desire is to bring youth to the temple. Hopefully, through this seminar, industry Buddhist missionary activities will educate the many good ideas, so that more young people looking to Buddhism and the Buddhist view is not only emotional support but also strong is an environment for cultural activities, entertainment useful and healthy. Hopefully more and more young people to practice the lifestyle of Buddhist thought offered little benefit for themselves, to others and contribute to building a world of peace, happiness ..END=VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY BACH LIEN HOA.NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).