A Buddhist Vision for Education Reform: The Blue Lion Preschool, Inspired by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

By Craig Lewis | | Buddhistdoor Global

In his various socially engaged activities, the renowned Bhutanese lama, Dharma teacher, filmmaker, and author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche has long placed an emphasis on the fundamental importance of education and the urgent need for educational reform. The latest manifestation of this concern is the Blue Lion Preschool, a compassionate education initiative founded on Buddhist values and poised to open later in Singapore later in March. Heather Sanche, Blue Lion Preschool’s curriculum developer and teacher trainer, offered Buddhistdoor Global some insights into the philosophy and aspirations behind this ambitious venture, which embodies a vision for a new model of holistic education aimed at helping to form the foundation for a more inclusive society founded on the Buddhist principles of compassion and wisdom. “The Blue Lion Preschool is an idea conceived under Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s guidance. He has such a deep respect for education and understands the significance of early childhood education in particular,” Heather explains. “The Singapore team, lead by Huang Jing Rui, also understands that Buddhists would want their children to be nurtured and supported in a Buddhist environment that values compassion, generosity, intelligence, awareness, dignity, humor, gentleness, and discipline, while still preparing children to enter into mainstream education in Singapore, where the academic standards are high.” This latest project follows the recent success of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s two earlier Dharma-founded education initiatives:* Middle Way Education, an independent not-for-profit organization inspired by Rinpoche’s vision for Buddhist education for children, and Middle Way School,** a pilot school in New York offering an innovative contemporary education founded in Buddhist philosophy and practice.

“The goal of the Blue Lion Preschool and curriculum is to create an early childhood setting that fosters the development of essential soft skills and is steeped in an understanding of how to live in harmony and balance, with self and others, rooted in the teachings and practices of the Buddhist tradition,” says Heather. “We hope that many people worldwide will be inspired by the Blue Lion Preschool in Singapore, and will in turn want to open their own local Buddhist preschools.” Although Blue Lion is a distinct project from Middle Way Education and Middle Way School in New York, all are inspired by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s philosophy and supported by the nonprofit Khyentse Foundation. And all aim to develop replicable curricula and teaching methodologies based on Buddhist values and principles, reflecting Rinpoche’s vision of how the Dharma can flourish and nourish society, for the benefit of all beings. “Due to very different education environments in different countries, these two school projects are being run in parallel,” Heather notes. “The Blue Lion Preschool and its curriculum are focused on early childhood, while Middle Way School aims to cover early childhood, elementary, and middle school—and possibly also high school in the future. There are, of course, vast areas of overlap and deep similarities between the views and values of both schools. And we are all good friends, sharing ideas and aspirations as both schools evolve and grow. There is definitely a kindred spirit and deep friendship between the two schools.” Educational reform is not only key to ensuring the long-term survival of the Buddha’s teachings, but, as Rinpoche himself observes, is essential for creating a fairer, more equitable world: “When it comes to Buddhist education, I’m not necessarily talking about a school where we teach sutras and make children recite shlokas,” says Rinpoche. “I’m talking about a school or curriculum or system that puts emphasis on being a decent human being rather than on being rich.”



Image courtesy of Blue Lion Preschool