Children and Meditation

Children and Meditation

We live in a very fast-paced society wherein our time is valued only for how much we can do or produce during it. It is not surprising, therefore, that most of the children indulge in a variety of extra-curricular activities and sports (i.e. swimming, skating, scouts, ballet, etc.) and so much so that after homework or dinner is through few have time to really catch their breath before it is time for bed.

Parents have in some cases overwhelmed their kids with so many new and different endeavors that they have not had the opportunity to learn how to repose. Contrary to our society’s energetic values, meditation can actually create a renewed sense of motivation and well-being. Moreover, it allows a person to turn inwards, become acquainted with oneself, and ultimately become at peace with oneself.

Sony Dsc

Meditation basically helps children to learn how to connect with their inner-self, including their imagination and the real essence of who they are. Meditation gives young children power over their thinking and their emotions, not by repressive self-control, but by enhanced self-understanding and self-acceptance.

Osho says, “If we can help children to be meditative we can change the whole world — its energy, its consciousness. But we teach them something else, never meditation — geography, history, and all kinds of nonsense which is absolutely useless. “

Children are closer than adults to the state of innocence. Because society — in the form of parents, teachers and priests — has not managed yet to fill their minds with conditioning, with beliefs and ideals. They tend to use their minds just or practical reasons; not to philosophize and plan and create problems.  They are more in touch with their bodies, with their contact with the earth. Osho has said that because of this state of innocence, of artlessness, non-mind-ness, often children can spontaneously fall into a state of meditation.

Osho further adds, “Children should be taught to meditate — how to remain calm, serene, silent; how to reach the state of no-mind. Children can learn to accomplish this very, very quickly. Every home should have a scheduled program to help children move into silence. And that will only be possible, when you, as parents, also practice with them. A daily hour of sitting silently should be compulsory in every home. One should even do away with a meal if necessary, but an hour of silence must be observed at all costs. It is wrong to call that house a home where an hour of silence isn’t observed daily. It can not even be called a family”. 

Osho recommended meditations for children:

GIBBERISH
Tell the children to close their eyes and then start speaking gibberish — any meaningless sort of sound. One sound will lead to another, just start anywhere. As they gibber they can let their bodies move — maybe their hands want to move, or their body starts swaying, dancing, or jumping up and down. And they can do it as loudly as they like.

Let them do this for 10 minutes. Afterwards they will have quieted down, become centered inside. And you will feel terrific!

WHIRLING
Children enjoy this very much because they get a great kick. Parents never allow their children to whirl. It is not good: they should be allowed — rather, encouraged. And if you can make them aware of inner whirling also, you can teach them meditation through their whirling. They enjoy it because they have a bodiless feeling. When they whirl, suddenly children become aware that their body is whirling but they are not. Inside they feel a centering which we cannot feel so easily, because their bodies and souls are still a bit apart; there is a gap.’

Read on what OSHO says on Children and Meditation

Spread the love