Book Description

Many people dream of a world filled with peace andkindness. I believe that a key that will unlock the door tothat dream is teaching children, ours and others, tomeditate. Wouldn?t it be wonderful to see children not inany particular religious or cultural setting, meditating justto be peaceful? What a gift it would be to our children,ourselves and our communities to open this magic doorof the inner self to our children.Some religions and spiritual communities in thiscountry teach meditation as a way to know God andourselves. Yet, the children are not taught to meditate, atleast not in any systematic way. (Yoga or TM ?Transcendental Meditation ? are two exceptions.)In the following chapters you will find a planneddesign to entice a child to open the magic door of selfthrough the practice of meditation. This book is like aseries of lesson plans designed to teach meditation toindividuals and groups of children of all ages. Theseinstructions can be used by parents, teachers and caregivers even if they have never meditated.There are many types and styles of meditations discussedin this book. You may find you want to use others withwhich you are more familiar. If you choose to vary or addto the methods presented, be willing to take the time touse a framework and follow the steps leading through the process. The plans described here will make it easier foryou to create a successful routine for developing an effec-tivemeditation process with children and teens.You may ask: Why do I need to teach meditation orneed a plan to follow? If you have meditated on a regularschedule from before your child?s birth and not let thebirth interfere with that meditation schedule; and if yourchild has watched you do so; and if that child has joinedyou from time to time by imitation, or invitation, orboth; and if you?ve encouraged the child, with discussionand invitation to join you; then, you don?t need a plan.Your life style is the plan.People from some eastern cultures grow up in this typeof environment. Their lifestyle and culture support themeditation process. In these countries, adults oftenmeditate regularly, and children observe, and imitate thispractice. Few people in western cultures experience thatkind of example. However, with a bit of patience, prepa-ration,and a willingness to accept meditation as a dailypriority, we can enjoy this practice and the accompanyingpeace it brings to our lives and those of our families.This may sound like a lot of work, following a plan andmaking all the preparations, to sit quietly for just a fewminutes a day. But stop and ask yourself, do you neces-sarilyfollow the practices that could provide you with abetter lifestyle just because you believe in them? If youbelieve it is wise and good for you to meditate and thatyou will probably benefit from doing so, will you do it?Will you teach your children to do it? If the answer is yes,then wonderful, you probably don?t need this book. But if you are like most of us and you need the external disci-plineof a plan, some steps to follow to lead you whereyou want to go, then this book is for you!Having a plan and using organization and structure areonly means to an end. This book offers a plan within astructure that works for me and for those I have taught.It takes very little time to learn this plan. Give it a chanceand you?ll soon be meditating with your sons and daugh-ters.The benefits are nothing short of claiming a spacefor your soul, and the soul of your child, to grow in. Hereis where giving and receiving become one.When teaching meditation, parents come as bearers ofpeace and gentleness to their children. You will beteaching and learning how to make a space in your livesfor something very precious.There is no doubt in my mind that you can do it. Don?tbe afraid to try it. Do not be impatient with yourself. Ifyou skip a day or get side tracked, take a deep breath andstart again.Peace begins within each individual heart and spreads outto encompass all the world. The ?Peace Song? song says,?Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.?It is always true as a parent, that as we teach ourchildren we teach ourselves. It is the child?s gift to us. Letthe fact that you picked up this book be a special sign toyourself. A sign of willingness, of desire for peace and ofyour love of a child.