1. Family Life

2. Family Life Buddha left no specific instructions on family life
Focus on daily life and morality
Does not favour any particular form of family organization
See family as the foundation of the family
Respect and honour one another
Husband and wives are expected to be faithful
Parents raise children as Buddhists
Children are to obey parents and preserve traditions

3. Non-Attachment
One of the more challenging values of Buddhism is non-attachment
Believed attachment brings suffering
Living in a family involves necessary material and emotional attachments
Buddha left behind his family
Theravada tradition expects only monks, who leave their families when they take their vows, to achieve enlightenment
Others see the family as a spiritual environment where a deep understanding of attachment can be explored

4. Marriage
In some Buddhist countries, monks never attend weddings because marriage ceremonies are believed to bring bad luck
In most countries, however, Buddhist monks do attend
Viewed as a secular affair rather than sacrament
Follow the civil laws of government
May receive blessing from monk after marriage
Varies between Buddhists
Theravadin wedding: ceremony takes place at the local temple. Bride and groom are surrounded by friends and relatives. Image of Buddha is wrapped with a long cotton thread, and then the thread circulates to all those in the congregation. The thread symbolizes the union of all present. All the while, the chanting of the monks fills the temple. After the principal monk blesses the couple, two pieces of the thread are cut. A monk ties one around the groom’s wrist, and then the groom ties the other piece around the wrist of his bride
Divorce is not forbidden, but rarely occurs

5. Friendship
Buddhism asks followers to let go of the negative bonds that tie us to others, such as lust, prejudice, jealousy, fear, and hate
The Buddha encouraged Buddhists to treat their friends with generosity, kind words, helpfulness, impartiality, and integrity
Being attentive and present in our encounters with our friends brings a sense of respect
Choose friends that follow the teachings of Buddha, not ones that lead them away

6. Homework
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