Kids in Alabama Learning to Meditate

[struggle4progress]

By Greg Garrison
Religion News Service

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- On a Sunday afternoon at the Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center in Avondale, children sitting on red cushions took turns talking about Buddha and discussed learning how to meditate ...

"He sits still and meditates and he's all calm," Josephine said.

"Buddha means enlightened one," said Ian English, 9, "and to be enlightened you have to be aware of yourself."

"My grandmother teaches meditation," said Ben Walton, 7. "I don't know that much about Buddhism." ...

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/212/story_21232_1.html

[Metta]

1. Alabama of all places. Some bodhisattvas are purposely reborn in Hell.

I wish them all the best.

[undergroundpanther]

2. Meditation has one bad side effect

It is a TRANCE so it changes your brain waves . Meditation can train the brain to stay in a certain state, and that state of calm , as nice as it might seem it renders you susceptible to suggestive manipulation and coercion.
Just thought I'd mention the other side of meditation.
I cannot meditate anymore it is triggering because of the exploitation I went through as a kid in a meditative state.
When I go into a meditative state and there is ANYONE around my body forces me out because I have been hurt by it.In psych hospitals when they had "relaxation" I would go into panic attacks because of it.My mind is trying to protect itself from unwanted suggestibility.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. I have been reprimanded,

as a public school teacher, for even having my kids close their eyes and imagine something.

Meditation isn't likely to be in our curriculum any time soon, but gosh, some of those kids could use it.

As it is, when they leave I go into a trance.