meditation in schools

I'm pro this. And from my POV there are no counter arguments - so I would love to hear them.

 

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I understand meditation, but how would it be relevant in schools.?

 

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I'm against it, if it is carried out in ways that are either redundant, misleading. As they were in my school in India.

There, during morning assemblies, we had to stand in meditation, as if we were standing in attention. Let alone free the mind, we were literally constricting our muscles. Even if we sat down, it was compulsory to sit in one posture, with one hand position, or 'mudra'. And in real meditation, the priority physically is that your posture should be comfortable.

Next, they played Hindu chants or 'shlokas' in the background. Now, what sort of picture is that going to create in the minds of Muslim and Christian kids? That meditation isn't meant for us.

Moreover, because of no proper understanding of meditation provided to children, most of the kids have always had a view of meditation as something that's un-cool and arcane. Even from the school's side, it was more of a discipline building exercise; trying to get everyone to sit quiet and still for a while, than anything else.

If that's the way in which meditation is going to be propagated, then best leave it alone. However, if a proper insight into its worth is given (and taken), then it's good.

 

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Only in India would they call that meditation, a way of breaking down the mind I suppose is more accurate.

 

Good point.

Actual meditation without religious hoo - ha would be just fine, as there are proven benefits to the practice and a practiced meditator can meditate while doing other things. A few minutes meditation can prepare a person to think clearly and organize their thoughts for an exam or learning session or set them up for vigorous exercise to great benefit.

Meditation is not the same as praying and should be treated differently, despite that some religions employ it. A 5 minute "quiet time" would suffice for that usage and would calm things down a bit while giving young people a powerful tool to improve their lives.

 

Do you mean high school? Because elementary school students don't want to sit and do nothing for much longer than 3-5 minutes. As an adult I don't understand how people can do meditation, how is it not boring?

 

It is not boring when you are trying to relax, and have a headache in theory that is. I never really meditated so yeah.... I wouldn't like meditating at school either, it won't work at school, because of the people.

 

School can ruin almost anything.

 

1.To develop an introspective focus applicable in any situation, which allows for improved problem-solving skills.

Examples include:

The ability to use ones mental sketchpad with clarity for a prolonged time.
or
The ability to focus on a single problem, uninterrupted by distractions for as long as it takes.

Introspective focus is required for most endeavors. A person needs the ability to relax, focus, and work-out a problem in their brain. Meditation can improve this specific skill.

2. Emotional control especially for anxiety, stress, and motivation.
These are some of the worst problems for productive minds, yet people who meditate are not affected by them nearly as much.

For example:

The thought of boredom is just a thought. Someone who meditates will observe this thought, pass it up, and continue with what they are doing. Whereas someone who does not meditate will think the thought, and believe they are bored, and thus move on to a different task.

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Yap so that's what comes to mind.

 

Yeah something like that. I am also pro-meditation in schools if it is stripped of religious undertones. In Sri Lanka the Buddhist temples have sculptures of Hell, with men being cut in half starting at the anus - all to break the kids I guess. That's not going to be approved in Western Schools, and there really is no need for it.

 

Yes, I don't think having kids sit for 1 hour meditation class is good at all. Horrible in fact. 5 minutes seems reasonable for kids, even 1 minute is reasonable. Once in high-school it should be moved up to 15 minutes a day. The point is to teach the skills, not force them. If the kids want to do more, than they can do that any time they want.

 

3-5 minutes than is OK.

Boredom is a thought that arises, these are all thoughts that arise:

"What am I doing now?"
"I'm hungry, gonna go make food"
"Ok, that's enough"
"I'm bored"

And then most people will act on those thoughts. Someone who meditates has the option to pass the thought up, and continue with what they were doing.


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I insist, that people who are good with meditation don't get bored. In fact this is what makes ultra-perseverance. For me, at least. I used to spend a few months focusing on one thing. Now I can do it for years. Thoughts of boredom come, but they can be dismissed just as easily.

 

Like what?

 

Is there anyone who would vote NO for what has been proposed?

 

I completely agree and share the experience.

I cannot remember the last time that I was ever bored. If I find myself sitting in the doctors office or something like that where I seem to have nothing to occupy myself with, I lower my eyelids, sit up straight, empty my mind and breathe until I need to do something else. I consider any such occasion an opportunity to meditate, which has proven physical, emotional and intellectual benefits.

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The joy of learning.
The joy of reading literature.
Sex education.
The joy of sports or exercise.

To name just a few.

Hell, school generally makes learning a language seem like the most boring, dead process imaginable.

'Food' - scare quotes very carefully chosen.

What don't schools ruin?

 

Many people enjoy school fyi

And anyway, if the goal is to teach people how to meditate, and it can't be through schools. What is the best alternative? Bert and Ernie?

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Not a bad idea. hell, some sort of biofeedback computer game. It could be an addition to popular games already out there. You try to win the game, at the same time as the machine measures stress levels. If you can stay calm you get more points. Or you must stay below a certain threshold to pass a level.

On the other hand schools could forbid meditation, that would stir some interest.

 

I obviously don't know how to meditate properly. How does one go about becoming a good meditator, let alone learn how to meditate? Clearing my mind is like impossible.

 

Focus on your breath. Breathe very deeply, stronger than normal at first so you can really feel the sensation on the tip of your nose. Just focus on that sensation and count 10 breaths in order, and then start at 1 again. Do this for 5 minutes a day, or more.

Usually, you will forget about what you are doing, drift off into fantasy land, or do something else before the 5 minutes is over. At that point, ask yourself what went wrong, and return immediately to counting again.

That's the whole curriculum.