Chinese Kids & Meditation

After visiting Qinchengshan mountain where Taoism began 2,000 years ago he introduced meditation concepts to his Chinese junior high school students.

“Mediation is sitting quietly to develop a calm, quiet mind,” he wrote on the board.

He spoke quietly. “You sit tall with your hands either in front of you or on your knees, lower your eyes and focus on a single point, your breath, ‘in, out, in, out.’

“If your mind becomes distracted by past or future thoughts you bring it back to your breath, ‘in, out, in out.’ This is a single point of awareness.

“You do it for yourself; not your friends, parents or teachers. Meditation allows you feel a harmony and balance. You will feel more peaceful and happier than other people “busy” rushing around. Your goal today is just to sit for 5 minutes and to sit and practise for 5 minutes every day before school. Eventually you want to sit for 20 minutes every day, whenever and wherever you like.”

He wrote the Chinese words on the board: "Jing" - quiet, stillness, calm - and "Ding" - concentration and focus - so they'd see the linguistic connection.

“When you begin to sit in meditation at first, your mind will be very uncooperative. The ego or your “emotional mind” will fight against it’s extinction by the higher forces of spiritual awareness.

“The ego loves the day-to-day circus of sensory entertainment and emotional turmoil, even though this game depletes your energy, degenerates your body and exhausts your spirit. We call the ego the ‘monkey mind.’”

They laughed.

“When your mind is calm and focused in the present it is neither reacting to memories from the past or pre-occupied with future plans. These are two major sources of chronic or long term health problems.

“Do you want to try it?”

“Yes.”

“Ok. Good. No books, papers and pens. If you don’t want to try it, it’s ok. Please just sit quietly respecting others sitting in meditation. See how it feels. Let’s begin. Focus on your breath, ‘in, out, in, out.’ He dimmed the lights.

After five minutes he played small bells.

“How did it feel?”

“Beautiful,” whispered a girl.