Mindfulness
By Dijana Bate, Glebe Montessori School Founding Director
“I come to realize that mind is no other than mountains and rivers and the great wide earth, the sun and the moon and stars.”
– Dogen Zenji
Regardless of religious practices or beliefs, both children and adults can benefit from elements of wisdom derived from the Buddhist philosophy and way of life. Buddhism emphasizes Dhyãna, the Sanskrit word for “meditative state,” inviting one “to see, to observe, to look.” In fact, Buddhist principles lie at the very core of the mindfulness courses taught in many of today’s classrooms. For those children who are overwhelmed, suffering from toxic stress (as opposed to healthy stress), and resorting to freeze, flight or fight response modes, mindfulness training provides essential tools for coping. Mindfulness training is about building awareness, identifying and regulating emotions, managing stress and developing connectedness and interpersonal skills.