Meditation for children. What is the right age to start meditating? It‟s a question that Goenkaji has often been asked, and his answer is usually the same: “Before birth! Then when the child is born, it comes out a Dhamma baby.” Not all of us have been fortunate enough to have such an early exposure to the Dhamma, or to give our children such an early start. But more than ever, there are opportunities for children to learn the basics of meditation. And the results are often startling. A challenge from a disciple of Gandhi : As long ago as the early 1970s, Goenkaji experimented with teaching meditation to children. Shortly after he left Myanmar, he met with Vinoba Bhave, a leading disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, who was revered throughout India. Goenkaji explained what he was doing. Vinoba Bhave was impressed but he said, “I will believe that this is worthwhile only if you can show that it works with hardened criminals and undisciplined schoolchildren.” Goenkaji gladly accepted the challenge. He soon had the opportunity to show that Vipassana works. The first prison courses were organized in Rajasthan and were very successful. Equally positive were the results of Goenkajis efforts to teach groups of children. Despite that, more than a decade passed until the launch of a formal meditation program for children. The first course took place in 1986 in a school located in the Mumbai suburb of Juhu. It was within walking distance of the Goenka family home, and several of Goenkajis grandchildren participated. Every day Goenkaji would go over to the school to sit with the children, tell stories and explain about the practice of Anapana. That first course was followed by many more, in India and around the world. Meditators enthusiastically stepped forward to serve. The format kept evolving, as it continues to do; but the response from participants, parents and teachers has consistently been positive. How a course works Today separate courses welcome children aged 8 to 12 and teens aged 13 to 18. Often the program starts in the morning and ends in the evening, but there are also two- and three day courses. Conducting the course is a children‟s course teacher, who has undergone special training at a workshop. Along with the teacher are group leaders, each working closely with a small number of children. Short meditation periods alternate with supervised play and activities, such as drawing and discussion. The objective is to give the participants an enjoyable experience, help them feel comfortable in a meditation environment and introduce them to the basics of Anapana. (Vipassana newsletter. April11)
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 13:55:25 +0000
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