This book represents one of the finest guides for bringing Buddhism into our life at a practical level.
Buddha Heart Parenting offers the reader deep insights into how to integrate Buddhist philosophy with contemporary psychology to arrive at a method of parenting that is both effective and enables family members to realise their true Buddha nature.
The emphasis is on skills and strategies that combine compassion and wisdom to make all our interactions with our children supportive and joyous.
Buddha Heart Parenting, Dr. CL Claridge, Vajra Publications, Paperback, 2007, 230 Pages, $21.95
While author CL Claridge has a degree in child psychology and a PhD in
empowerment processes, her special qualities are her sensitivity,
compassion, commitment and sense of humour. She is a mother to nine
children � some by birth, others by marriage, foster care, or
relationship. Parenting has been one of the most rewarding roles she
has undertaken.
CL is a practicing Buddhist and has, for more than 25 years, counselled
and educated other parents in effective parenting skills and strategies
based on Buddhist principles and philosophy. CL has worked with
disadvantaged children in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Section 1 Why Buddha Heart Parenting?
In this section I outline why Buddha Heart Parenting is the most effective and appropriate parenting approach to use. There are explanations of why parents need Buddhism and why Buddhists need parenting. This provides the background for why I have integrated Buddhist philosophy with contemporary psychology.
Chapter 1 The opportunity presented to parents
Chapter 2 Why parents need Buddhism and why Buddhists need parenting
Section 2 Understanding behaviour
From the background understanding of why Buddha Heart Parenting is the most appropriate parenting approach to use, I move on to give an explanation of why we parent how we do and why children behave how they do. This helps us to understand how the different parenting styles affect children, and how children�s behaviour is an expression of their needs, either met or unmet.
Chapter 3 Why do we parent how we do?
Chapter 4 Why do children behave how they do?
Section 3 Building a strong base for Buddha Heart Parenting
Here I provide the foundation of Buddha Heart Parenting. In essence I briefly outline what it is to be an engaged Buddhist following the Eightfold path. I discuss key Buddhist concepts as they apply to our role as parents, and show how we can eliminate mental afflictions and gain inner peace.
Chapter 5 Foundation for Buddha Heart Parenting
Chapter 6 Our delusional way of operating and how to change
Section 4 Parenting Approaches � What works, what doesn�t
In this section I discuss the flaws in some of the popular modern parenting approaches and how some can actually cause more inappropriate behaviour.
Chapter 7 Behaviour Management and Change approaches
Section 5 Compassionate Communication � The skilful way to communicate
These three chapters cover compassionate communication skills and techniques. They provide an understanding of why this is the most appropriate way to communicate with our child and then shows how to do it. Compassionate communication creates a deep connection with our child.
Chapter 8 Compassionate Communication - What is it?
Chapter 9 Compassionate Communication. Identifying and expressing needs and feelings.
Chapter 10 Problem Identification & Solution-Focussed Approach
Section 6 Encouraging Self-discipline
This section provides us with skills and knowledge on how to help our children to develop self-discipline. It also provides us with skills to guide our child to behave appropriately.
Chapter 11 Supporting self-discipline and using Respectful Guidance
Chapter 12 Effect-Management
Section 7 Supporting self-realisation for our child and ourself
This final section presents more skills and strategies that create self-empowered, resilient children and capable decision makers, and how to develop connected relationships with our children. The final chapter in this section helps to set realistic goals for ourselves and reminds us to have compassion for ourselves as well as for others.
Chapter 13 How to create self-empowered children & capable decision makers
Chapter 14 Building resilient children & connected relationships with our children
Chapter 15 Have compassion for yourself
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