Ciranda Childrens Project

In April of 2002, during his last visit to the Odsal Ling Retreat center, H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche gave a special teaching for the children. He related several stories about the marvelous qualities of Tara, and afterwards answered their many questions. Rinpoche later asked if Lama Norbu could continue the tradition, teaching dharma principles to the children thru stories. Over the next few years this evolved from a series of stories about the life of Shakyamuni Buddha to the present format, in which the children listen to a story containing Buddhist principles, express the story thru different artistic mediums, ask questions about the story, and then participate in a short meditation and dedication.

The project relies strongly on three sangha members - Claudia Nogueira, Martha Maia, and Ana Flavia Vicentini - who helped with the creation of the format and continue to do the work each month to make it happen. Candida Bastos renders a lively translation into Portuguese and is also the backup storyteller. The name ‘Ciranda’ refers to a game in which the children all hold hands in a circle, and ‘Ciranda do Dharma’ implies the childrens circle of Dharma. The event takes place the first Sunday of each month at the Odsal Ling Retreat center in Cotia.