I got a call from a friend who is an architect and meditation expert in Australia. He had recently received a call from the principal of a school where two students died on their own, asking for a special meditation class, and he asked me for help, saying he didn’t know how to do it. According to a friend of mine, the students’ mental state is depressed and their mood is subdued, so the principal of the school had a special request to help them get rid of their melancholy and sad feelings of losing a close friend through meditation.
I also gave a special lecture at a school where something similar happened, so fortunately I was able to give my friend some advice. I would like to share with you the advice I gave to my friend. Because I also learned from a wise fellow teacher.
A year ago, I was also asked to teach at a school where two suicides occurred and comforted the students’ hearts. When I was commissioned for this educational program, I felt heartbreaking and worried a lot because it seemed that the sad feelings of them I had not met yet were conveyed to me. How surprised and sad were the children? How can you relieve teenagers’ emotions such as sadness, anger, and resentment? As I was preparing for class while thinking about this, my co-teacher gave me advice.
“Donna, do not try to give the students answers. The answers are already in the minds of children. Children don’t look and follow you. They see and follow positive and energetic adolescents. All you have to do is quietly help each other out so that they can solve problems with each other.”
This teacher’s advice was reluctant for me, as I always showed only my central and charismatic side in class. And I was skeptical that it would actually work. But since the school was in such a serious situation, I was prepared to fail and followed this teacher’s advice. The results were amazing. It was a huge success.
How did this come about?
I made the kids look at their friends rather than face me, the teacher. Four people were placed in groups. And I had them think through and solve all the missions and activities with their friends. A student from a certain group said that his worries these days did not improve his grades no matter how hard he tried, so he was stressed and tired of studying. After hearing this, a friend in the same group gave him this advice.
“You know how much effort you put in. Ask yourself if you did your best.”
The friend who heard this advice said,
“No, I didn’t do my best. You’re right.” said.
In this way, the children knew their problems and already had the solutions.
Through this class, I experienced being still with the children rather than the message I was trying to convey. Just having someone by my side warms my heart and relieves tension.
And I taught my children the most beautiful meditation method in the world, and almost all of them focused on meditation.
After the class, the children wrote on the activity sheet describing their thoughts about the meditation class.
I felt like I was getting close with my friends for the first time in my three years of middle school.
The stress of studying was so severe these days, but it was so good that I was able to rest in peace.
Lately, I’ve been feeling so uneasy. It’s been hard lately, but I’ve been relieved.
Even if it is slow, I want to move forward slowly with my friends.
I shared my fellow teacher’s successful teaching know-how with my friend in Australia. We are all one being. I can help a friend when my heart is full of positive energy. My Australian friend will also help someone. I hope you are happy, too.
