(Buddhist
value: The children learn about the importance of offering lights
to the Buddha and its significance in the Buddhist context)
Imagine
that you are a lotus candle. Someone walks toward you and lights
your wick. You are now giving out a small glow of orange light.
Slowly, your whole body becomes an orange colour. Feel yourself
giving out warm orange light. Someone lifts you up and places
you on the shrine table.
Your
warm orange light is like the brightness of wisdom. You are
now shining brightly, as bright as you can be, to drive away
the darkness of ignorance. Your light symbolizes the Buddha's
teachings. His teachings help and guide us when we are in darkness.
When we behave badly and get angry, it is as if we are in darkness.
We need the light of the Buddha's teachings to help us.
Your
light helps to remind people not to remain in darkness but to
brighten themselves with the Buddha's teachings.
You
are the bright orange light. Feel yourself expanding, your light
going out further and further, until it shines through the whole
temple, then further until it shines through the whole country,
and still further until it covers the whole world. You are as
big as the whole world and your light breaks through all the
darkness and shines out in every direction. Your light of wisdom
is touching all of space. Continue giving out orange light in
every direction.
