Maitreya Education Project
Free Quality Education
Maitreya Education Project will provide free education to village children from poor families in northern India. The unique curriculum, emphasizing ethical development as well as academic achievement, will cover primary, secondary and vocational education.
The Education Project aims to benefit communities in northern India by:
- providing free education from kindergarten to senior secondary level for children regardless of religion, caste, gender or social status.
- promoting the qualities of kindness and compassion, ethical behavior and a sense of universal responsibility.
- inspiring children with the qualities of leadership and the motivation to bring peace, happiness and well-being to their communities.
Maitreya Education Project’s Curriculum
The curriculum is based on a concept for education that was inspired by the founder of Maitreya Project, the late Tibetan Buddhist master, Lama Thubten Yeshe, and his disciple, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
The Maitreya Education Project promotes “the good heart”, meaning the qualities of kindness and compassion, and a sense of respect and ethical responsibility towards all beings.
Standard Subjects
The academic program is aligned with the Indian national curriculum. Standard subjects include: Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Urdu, Mathematics, Science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), Social Studies (History, Geography and Civics), and Yoga & Creative Arts (Art, Craft, Music, Dance and Drama).
Philosophy
To help children gain an understanding of their relationship with the world the curriculum promotes an understanding of the nature of the mind and concepts such as cause and effect, impermanence and interdependence. These are introduced in “special awareness” classes through age related activities, discussion and debate.
Social Outreach
Senior students are encouraged to participate in social work programs such as conducting environmental projects in villages, working at local health clinics and assisting at major healthcare projects.Meditation and Yoga
The practice of meditation and yoga provides a foundation for mental and physical development. In particular, meditation helps develop a peaceful state of mind, good concentration and critical awareness.
Generating “the Good Heart"
Good qualities and ethical values are promoted through the study of stories and biographies and the use of drama and role play. Special emphasis is given to important historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, St Francis, Mother Teresa, Sri Ramakrishna and Shakyamuni Buddha.Benefiting the Whole Community
A good education in conjunction with good, long-term employment opportunities will provide local children with the skills and attitudes they require to bring lasting benefit to their communities.
Special emphasis will be given to maintaining the local traditions that are crucial to the children’s sense of cultural identity. These include art, craft, music & dance, and indigenous approaches to health management.
The purpose is to encourage children to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of their minds and emotions and their power to shape the way we live and relate to others. This understanding creates a foundation for developing the qualities of loving-kindness, compassion and a sense of universal responsibility.
The developmental nature of these activities helps children cultivate a world view that leads intuitively to understanding, a sense of responsibility for their local communities as well as the world, kindness and compassion in adult life.
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