This month I was invited to a primary school in Trowbidge to talk and answer questions on Buddhism in 2 classes of 9/10yr old - for a project they had been covering for a few weeks. I was given a big box of Buddhist artifacts to choose what I'd talk about but felt that it would be best for the children to lead with their many and varied questions.
The first class sat so close to me on the floor I almost had the front row on my lap. Beaming faces looked up and enthusiastically threw up their hands to ask "How did you become a Buddhist?", "what do you eat?", "are your holidays different to ours?", "what sort of God is in your religion?", "What do we come back as if we are born again?".
I got an impression from some questions that they understood Buddhism to be inaccessible to them; the culture of Buddhism is not theirs and is filled with alien artifacts and images. I must admit, I feel the same. How do we present this philosophy in simple terms but also capture the enticingly rich and colourful
cultures in which it is woven?
The questions were full of "what do you do" in attempts to see how excitingly different I might be. And so, Wishing to appear more human and the desire to offer more practical advice which they could relate to I started to ask them what they thought religion was for.. and then about their feelings - especially uncomfortable ones - "have you ever felt like this?"...what about when you feel like this?....try this.....eyes widened and more hands shot up. Questions about meditation and how some family members are very annoying!
The next class were seated in their chairs and I walked about the room going up to the child who asked a question. Again there were many.....Buddhist holidays?..calender?..would I get more time off school if I'm a Buddhist!?...Gods?..re-incarnation?(a favourite)..and what the artifacts were. They loved the idea of prayer flags and prayers stuffed tightly inside the prayer wheels and the statues. 10 minutes before the end of class I asked them if they would like to try meditation. Squeals of delight rose from the children and so I began. Sitting on the edge of a desk at the front and aware that many eyes were on me for guidance, I closed my eyes, - I told them to close their eyes if they felt comfortable doing that - relax shoulders and soften tummies. The room fell into a deep silence that I hadn't believed possible! Now feel your breath at the tip of your nose - cool air coming in, warm air leaving - just watch. Deep silence. 2 minutes. Bell. Still silent and very calm, the children and teacher emerge from a pleasant concentration. A few comments. The teacher said she had never done that - sat and simply watched the breathing. Always too busy - something to plan, something to do or just daydream. It was a pleasant experience. Relaxed and focused.
We go into another one - Friendliness and warmth - a light above your head containing friendliness and warmth.. shrinking in size but feelings are stronger... warmth, friendliness moving down into the top of your head, into every bit of skin, bone, cell and atom down, down into your heart..etc, everywhere friendliness and warmth, every cell, atom, skin blood, bones. Soft. Wish yourself all the happiness and well being. Now feel this light spreading out to others in the room - then beyond to the town, to the world, the universe, people who need it, everyone. Slowly bring it back.... to your heart, shrinking to a tiny seed and kept there in folded flower petals to use whenever you need it. Bell. very quiet. One comment from a little one on how light she felt.
A calm stacking of chairs and time to go home but there was a feeling that we were already there.
AM
Here are some of the thank you cards that I received
