Dear friends,
Once again there is a children meditation course holding in Park School, Brookline, MA, on Saturday, the Oct. 16th. The type of meditation taught there is known as "Anapana Sati", which means awareness of breath. This is simple techinque of mental concentration by the aid of breath which has nothing to do with organised religions and faiths.
Kids will learn how to concentrate the scattered mind and develop mastery over it. Mind has a tendency to look for the things which ammuse it. Obviously most of the things which entertain mind are not productive, rather degressive. It is necessary to have mastery over the mind so that we can use it for better yield.
Most of the poeple whomever I talked about meditation appreciate it and eventually asked about the cost of learning. No wonder, we live in most commercial country of the commercial world, "no free lunch :)". Dharma is so precious that nobody can afford it, so it is given for free. Expense of the course is covered by the donation of old students (who has completed at least one couse in this tradition, others are not eligible to donate), which is not mandatory.
Anapana is awesome technique of mental concentration, I have practiced it, I have seen many children, teenager, youths, adult, and seniors practicing this wonderful teaching of Great son of Nepal, the Buddha. I have noticed change in myself, I have cried out of overjoyed, I have seen everysingle person expressing their happyness after compliting the course, I have seen some of them cry out of happiness, like me. Buddha's teaching is science, a reality, one can be benefitted only when one practices it, same as one can be benefitted by science when one applies it.
Anapana teaches how to focuse the mind same as the optical lens focuses light beam and magnetic lens focuses electron beam in respective microscopes. Such focused beam has tendency to show even tiny things clearly, this is how we see micro and nano things in microscopes. Similarly, once we focus our mind its capacity to see reality increases and we can see the things (matter and mind itself) as it is, in its true nature, which is called wisdom. And, to see the reality in its true nature is called Vipassana, some of us might have heard of it. So, well focused mind is necessary for wisdom, Anapana is prerequisite for Vipassana. In 10 days Vipassana courses, 3 and 1/2 days of Anapana practice is required. Not only 10 days but in all Vipassana courses (except 45 day) one third time is given to Anapana in order to sharpen the mind. I mean, Anapana has very respected place in the path of liberation. There are many technique of sharpening mind, but it is said all the Buddhas use Anapana for their concentration, as Gautam the Buddha did.
I feel very fortunate of getting this wonderful teaching which teaches me how to get mastery over undisciplained wild mind, how to tackle with emotions, and live peacefully. In summary, it taches me how to live happy life nomatter where ever I am. I feel it is great opportunity to introduce this wonderful art of living to our kids, I recommend it. If you are skeptical to the teaching, come and have a trial, I assure you your kids will go home happy with a priceless gem, as almost every single person does whoever attends the course.
There are many technique of mental concentration, Anapana is one one of them, it is unique for its simplicity, ability and connection with mind. You might have heard of different means of concentration, here is one infront of you, give a fair trail to it. After the trail if you don't like leave it, you are master of your own.
A human being of any race, caste, nationality, color, gender can practice this. If you are so strict to your religion, keep it up, this technique will make you more religious, afterall what all religions suggest to have mastry over the mind. Here you will be learning to have mastery over the mind. If you think this is not your technique, for Nepalese, I can claim that THIS IS THE MOST DOMESTIC ONE.
Here is the contact address:
For online application:
http://www.dhara.dhamma.org/Children/ChildrensIndex.html
Vanue:
http://www.parkschool.org/index1.php
Shankar
