I want to dedicate this book to my son, Mason, who helped me find a simple way to explain a diverse subject.  

The Buddha realized people were sad, getting hurt, and sick. So he decided to try & find a way to make everyone happy on the inside.

As he searched, he learned that life isn’t always what it looks 

like on the outside. Sometimes things seem one way, but

really they are another.

The Buddha shared what he learned with others, and people began to follow his way of living. One of the most important things he taught was meditation, which is the practice of being calm and quiet.

Meditation helped the Buddha see clearly with more then just his eyes. What he saw were four BIG ideas about life, called the Four Noble Truths. These ideas show people how to find peace inside.

Ah ha!!

        1. Everyone has problems sometimes.

2. Problems happen because sometimes we want too much.

        3. If we stop always wanting more & just be happy with what we         already have, we feel better. 

4. There is a path to peace and happiness. It's called the Eightfold Path.

The Buddha explained these truths in a simple way, so everyone could understand them.

To help people follow these truths, the Buddha made a special guide for how to live. It's called the Noble Eightfold Path, and they are all equally important.

1. The Right View->  This means we have to understand that life can be hard sometimes, but we can indeed find happiness if we look at it the right way. Sometimes, it may mean looking at it from a different point of view.
2. The Right Resolve-> This means we have to decide to be kind and caring, even if sometimes we don't want to, because everyone deserves to be treated with kindness.

3. The Right Speech-> This means we have to speak the truth and say nice things. Thinking before we say something helps us not to say something mean.

4. The Right Action-> This means you need to do good things. By being honest, sharing with others, helping when you can, and never hurting people or animals.

5. The Right Livelihood-> This means to choose a job that is helpful to yourself and others. Don't choose a job that brings harm or pain to the world or people in it.

The Noble Eightfold Path continued....

The Noble Eightfold Path continued....

6. The Right Effort-> This means you always try to do your best, even if it doesn’t seem like enough. It’s about keeping a good attitude, not giving up, and trying again when things get hard.

7. The Right Mindfulness-> This means paying attention to what you do. Notice your words before you say them, pay attention in class & be aware of how your actions make others feel.

8. Right Concentration-> This means to calm your mind & focus through meditation, like when you close your eyes, take deep breaths, and let your busy thoughts slow down.

Three Major Beliefs

Buddhists believe it is important to be kind to all living things. That means doing small things, like helping a friend, feeding a pet, or sharing your toys.

They also believe in compassion, which means caring about how others feel. If someone breaks their Lego house, you could help them rebuild it

Buddhists also practice non-harming. This means not hurting people or animals. Even the smallest bugs matter and deserve respect.

Kindness is golden