We are continuing to work on taking moments of stillness throughout the day so that we, teachers, office staff and children, may learn the skill of letting physical and mental activity go and come to rest.
It’s in stillness of mind that our hearts open out and our awareness expands. In this we develop the ability to consider things larger than ourselves and our immediate situation. We regularly take a moment of stillness between lessons, and also at activities such as lunch and the beginning and end of the day.
It was during one of these moments of stillness where a teacher asked the children to consider how fortunate they were, and to also consider the plight of the people of Nepal. The children fully connected with this and they became very still.
In the same vain, during the week a child came to me and asked if his class could raise money to help the people of Nepal. He has now called on the help of his class mates and the project is well underway.
It’s a wonderful thing when children have this kind of consideration for others, and follow through by doing something about it in a practical way.
The wise tell us that we have two natures.
The first is fairly familiar to us and generally revolves around our personality and character. We may be fearful, courageous, cautious, steadfast, calm, reactive, sluggish or impulsive; and so the list goes on. We also see ourselves differently in different circumstances.
They tell us that we also have another nature; an inner nature, which they remind us, is our true nature. It consists of three elements; Consciousness, Knowledge, and Happiness. The easiest way to experience this inner nature is to be present to come into the here and now, to attend fully to what is in front of us. In this simple way the Consciousness is present, and the knowledge as to what to do in the situation flows naturally, and we are happy. When we are in the moment, so to speak, much of our activity in the mind subsides and we experience peace and contentment.
In my experience, practising moments of stillness keeps the children centred but also awake and alert.
With this in mind we continue to encourage the children to experience regular moments of stillness during the day.
Mary McKendrick
Headmistress
Head of School’s Comment
We are continuing to work on taking moments of stillness throughout the day so that we, teachers, office staff and children, may learn the skill of letting physical and mental activity go and come to rest.
It’s in stillness of mind that our hearts open out and our awareness expands. In this we develop the ability to consider things larger than ourselves and our immediate situation. We regularly take a moment of stillness between lessons, and also at activities such as lunch and the beginning and end of the day.
It was during one of these moments of stillness where a teacher asked the children to consider how fortunate they were, and to also consider the plight of the people of Nepal. The children fully connected with this and they became very still.
In the same vain, during the week a child came to me and asked if his class could raise money to help the people of Nepal. He has now called on the help of his class mates and the project is well underway.
It’s a wonderful thing when children have this kind of consideration for others, and follow through by doing something about it in a practical way.
The wise tell us that we have two natures.
The first is fairly familiar to us and generally revolves around our personality and character. We may be fearful, courageous, cautious, steadfast, calm, reactive, sluggish or impulsive; and so the list goes on. We also see ourselves differently in different circumstances.
They tell us that we also have another nature; an inner nature, which they remind us, is our true nature. It consists of three elements; Consciousness, Knowledge, and Happiness. The easiest way to experience this inner nature is to be present to come into the here and now, to attend fully to what is in front of us. In this simple way the Consciousness is present, and the knowledge as to what to do in the situation flows naturally, and we are happy. When we are in the moment, so to speak, much of our activity in the mind subsides and we experience peace and contentment.
In my experience, practising moments of stillness keeps the children centred but also awake and alert.
With this in mind we continue to encourage the children to experience regular moments of stillness during the day.
Mary McKendrick
Headmistress
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