Nuya - Buddhism for Children

About becoming a child

The first person who gave me the task of writing a religious and cultural book for children to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Buddhist religion was U Htein Win (Thakin Htein Win). As close friends of U Htein Win, we were at first confused about what form would be appropriate to write a religious and cultural book for children that he had advised us to take.

I have been writing stories and poems for children since I was a child out of a deep love for them, but when I had to consider the spiritual and secular significance of them, I couldn't find an answer.

When U Htein Win urged me to take on the responsibility of writing again, saying, “Just write, and make it my responsibility to spread it to the children,” I decided to write it anyway.

At that time, I consulted with Sayadaw Min Thuwan, my teacher and elder brother, about my education. My elder brother Min Thuwan said, “It would be a pleasure to write this kind of letter. So, I will do this, so that the children can understand the role and organize the chapters according to the seven-day Buddhist worship of Leti Sayadaw.”

I also studied religious hymns since I was a child and recited the seven-day Buddhist prayer of Leti Sayadaw every day. Now, when I started thinking about this book, I didn't have any special difficulties. However, when I thought about composing the stories of the Buddha for the six chapters, I thought about how to include the stories of the Buddha and the basics of moral behavior for children. I thought about the five precepts, which are the basis of morality for humans according to the Buddha. In other words, the story of how the five precepts originated is interesting for children. Thinking about this, I wrote about how the five precepts originated as morality and the meaning of the five precepts, using the story of the rich man Yasa who met the Buddha during the Buddha's life.

At that time, I was only happy to have a book published, and I didn't think much about it.

However, when I consider the current situation, I think that there is a need for religious culture to correct the “moral instability of children and young people.” Today, every child and young person needs to purify and strengthen their morals. As guardians, I think that basic education for children and young people is not just about schoolwork, but also about building a culture of morality for their children based on the existing Buddhist culture and maintaining it.

In compiling this booklet, we have taken reference from the great book of Jinatha Pakathani and the small book of Lokuttara Bae Pyay, which we will have to carry with us throughout our lives. We would like to record our gratitude to U Htein Win, who was the original advisor for this booklet, and to my brother Min Thuwan.

Buddhist Burmese parents often talk about the Buddha's teachings to their children by holding their hands and pointing out the images painted on the pagodas and the temples. As a result, their children come to know more or less about the Buddha's teachings and come to believe in the Three Realities.

It is known that this "Three Human Beings, Buddha's Book" was written with the desire to further strengthen such faith and encourage it. It is based on the poem "Three Human Beings, Buddha's Book" by Leti Sayadaw, and this Buddha's Book is easy to read, easy to remember, easy to say, and easy to recite. It is a great gift for children, a gift that is 2,500 years old.

Min Thuwan