When completing or guiding this lesson, it is highly recommended to read the chapter in it’s entirety before doing this lesson. The entire book is available at no cost at from David Roylance.

Vocabulary

  • physical ease, relaxation, free of stress or fear

  • causing or feeling physical or mental pain or uneasiness.

  • progress slowly.

  • A permanent mental state that is peaceful, calm, serene, and content, with joy.

  • to carry out research or study into in an effort to discover the truth.

  • conditioned feelings in the mind including happiness, excitement, elation, anger, frustration, & sadness.

Can you “unlearn” anything you use everyday?

What about things you would only use once a year? Or once every 5 years?

How long did it take you to learn numbers and letters?

Discussion Questions

Grab something to write with and a notebook! It’s wise to keep a notebook for all of this content so you can easily refer to it in the future.

Write down your initial thoughts to the questions below, or discuss them with someone else!

“Once you gain the wisdom that leads you to Enlightenment, you will not “unlearn” that wisdom and the mind will permanently reside peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy.“

— David Roylance, “The Words of The Buddha - Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment - (Volume 1)“

Puzzle time!

Our brains are awesome! Do you favorite puzzle game, or the maze puzzle in the linked Canva file!

The first step of learning is confusion!

When first learning something new, it can be confusing as your mind and brain work to form a new neural pathway. This confusion is normal and is the first step in learning!

Once the neural pathway is formed, the path is made and your brain and mind now can use that well known path. However, if you were to “stop” using that path, it would fade away.

This is why, once these teachings are studied and practiced diligently, one will not unlearn them. In the beginning, it will take effort to learn. As they are learned, it will become easier. These practices will become a way of life for your mind.

Story: Rare That One Obtains the Human State

Read the story to yourself, or take turns reading in a group.

Monks, suppose that this great earth had become one mass of water, and a man would throw a ring with a single hole upon it. An easterly wind would drive it westward; a westerly wind would drive it eastward; a northerly wind would drive it southward; a southerly wind would drive it northward. There was a blind turtle which would come to the surface once every hundred years. What do you think, Monks, would that blind turtle, coming to the surface once every hundred years, insert its neck into that ring with a single hole?

So too, Monks, it is rare that one obtains the human state; rare that a Tathāgata, an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One arises in the world; rare that The Teachings and Discipline proclaimed by The Tathāgata shines in the world.

You have obtained that human state, Monks; a Tathāgata, an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One has arisen in the world; The Teachings and Discipline proclaimed by The Tathāgata shines in the world.

Blind Ring Toss

  • For the activity, a small kids ring toss game is ideal. You could also use a sand bag and a sticker, piece of paper, or similar is necessary. A blind fold will also be necessary.

    The story with the turtle will attempt to be recreated. The sandbag, or ring, will represent the turtle. The sticker, piece of paper, or ringstand will act as the ring floating in the water.

    1. Determine who will go first. Ask if they will be comfortable being blindfolded. If they give consent, put the blind fold on them.

    2. Have another participant go out and place the sticker, piece of paper, or ringstand in an open space. A large room, or even a large outside open space is best.

    3. Give the blindfolded person the sandbag or ring, and walk them to the middle of the big open space. Ask them to toss the item so it lands on the sticker or in the ring.

    4. Repeat with all who wish to participate.

Reflection Questions

These can be read allowed and discussed in a group setting. If working on your own, or in a more silent setting, pull out a notebook and write down your answers. Consider sharing them with someone and asking what they think!

How likely was it to toss the ring or sandbag, and have it land in the desired spot?

Is it rare to obtain the human form?

Does this mean a person cannot pursue the things they want to do?

Printables

📎

Printables 📎

Click the link below to download a set of worksheets that go along with this lesson. Worksheets include:

  • Writing Practice

  • Maze Puzzle

  • Wordsearch & more!

Both leader and student versions are included for those interested in sharing or guiding others through the material.


Note: These are Canva download links. If you don’t have a Canva Pro account, you may see a watermark, but the content is still fully usable.

Who is David Roylance?

David Roylance is a dedicated practitioner and teacher of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings. David has thoroughly explored the original teachings of Gotama Buddha, The Pali Canon, containing 45 large volumes of books.

Not only has David explored these volumes entirely, he has also consolidated and organized Gotama Buddha’s Teachings into a series of 13 books, which are all available as free downloads on his website, buddhadailywisdom.com.

David has brought Gotama Buddha’s Teachings, from 2,500 years ago, to this modern world so we may understand, practice, and learn the Path to Enlightenment.