Welcome.
One-day
introductory
courses in meditation are
offered for children aged 8 -12 and for teenagers aged 13-18 years old. During
the course, students learn the techniques of Anapana meditation, which is the
first step in the practice of Vipassana meditation.
Regular practice gives many
benefits, including:
1. Improved concentration
and memory;
2. Increased awareness and
alertness of mind;
3. More self-confidence;
4. Greater capacity to work
and study, and
5. Increased goodwill for
others.
Students are under
supervision throughout the course, with a realistic timetable including regular
breaks. One-day courses usually begin at 09:00 and finish around 16:30.
All courses are run solely
on a donation basis. There are no charges for the courses, not even to
cover the cost of the food and tuition. All expenses are met by donation from
those who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of the
meditation, wish to give others the same opportunity.
If you would like to
apply for a course please read carefully the "Sample Timetable" and
the "Code of Behaviour". For your parents, there is the “Parent or
Guardian Information Sheet”. Your parents must give their permission for you to
attend.
Apply
On-Line
You can see the course
dates and apply on-line in English at Dhamma Java Course
Schedule . (www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schjava.htm)
Apply by
fax, post or email.
You can download the form and
send it to Minia by fax:
021-55750071 or email to info@java.dhamma.org.
Please ask
your parents to complete the Permission Form and then send it to us along with
your Application Form which you have filled out by yourself.
When your application
has been approved, we will send you an Acceptance Letter. This letter will
include a list of what you will need to bring, as well as directions to the
course.
If you and your
parents have any questions, please email to info@java.dhamma.org or call Minia
at 021-97083528
Children's and Teens’ Courses - Code of
Behaviour
Learning
to practice Anapana meditation is very valuable because it helps you to become
a better
person.
Practicing Anapana meditation will help you to train your mind to become
concentrated
and
calm. This will make your mind strong so that you will be able to avoid doing
or saying
things
that are hurtful or harmful to yourself and to others. This strength of mind
will help you to
feel
happier and more peaceful. Practising Anapana and learning to concentrate will
help you to
become
the master of your mind.
To
help you succeed in practising Anapana meditation it is important that you do
your best to
follow
the instructions that you will be given during the course. While you are at the
course, it is
also
important that you agree to follow the Code of Behaviour written below. In the
same way that
a
house needs a good foundation to support it, so the practice of Anapana needs a
good
foundation.
This good foundation for Anapana is built by following the Code of Conduct. It
will
help
you to avoid performing actions that are harmful or hurtful to yourself and
others.
During
the first meditation session at the course you will be asked to repeat the
following five
vows,
or precepts. These are written in bold and underneath each is an explanation.
Please read
them
carefully so that you will understand what you are saying when the time comes:
1)
I shall abstain from killing.
I
promise to try to treat all beings kindly and not kill them or harm them in any
way.
2)
I shall abstain from stealing.
I
promise to take only what is given to me and not take anything which belongs to
others
without
permission.
3)
I shall abstain from a life of misconduct.
I
promise to treat other boys and girls as if they were my brothers or sisters or
best friends.
4)
I shall abstain from speaking lies, harsh words, backbiting, etc. which will
harm others.
I
promise to speak truthfully, kindly, and gently, and not to tell lies or to say
hurtful things to
anybody
or about anybody.
5)
I shall abstain from taking any intoxicant.
I
promise not to take any alcohol, drugs or intoxicants, but to keep my mind
clear.
At
the bottom of your application form, when you sign your name, it means that you
agree to try
and follow this Code of Behaviour as best
you can while at the course.
Children’s
or Teens’ 1 day Course - Sample Timetable
09.00 Registration
09.40 Grouping and Orientation talk
10.00 Anapana Instruction
10.35 Break
10:50 Meditation – Session 1
11:20 Personal interaction with children and
teacher in smaller groups
11:50 Meditation – Session 2
12:20 Lunch & Outdoor Play/Rest
13:20 Meditation – Session 3
13:50 Activities
14:20 Revision
14:50 Meditation, Final Discourse & Metta
15.30 Tea & Snacks
16.00
(approx) Course ends
Children’s and Teens’ Courses
Parent/Guardian Information Sheet
The courses available at
Vipassana Centres and non-centre sites offer young people of 8 years old and
above an introduction to Anapana meditation, which is a practice of the
observation of natural breath to concentrate the mind. This method can be
practiced freely by all, in any place, at any time. It is practiced by people
of all races, communities and religions and proves equally beneficial to one
and all.
Young people who have started practicing
Anapana have realized many benefits. Their ability to concentrate becomes
enhanced, their memory gets sharper, their ability to comprehend a subject
improves and they become calmer. In general, they feel they have a practical
tool to use in the face of any type of adversity or challenge.
During the course the students
will be divided into groups according to their age for many activities. They
will be assigned helpers who will assist them throughout the course, providing
support and care as needed.
The intent of the course is
serious. It is not appropriate for children who are too young or otherwise
unable to follow instructions. It is also not proper for children who are
unable to understand the meaning or purpose of the daily timetable or to observe
course related disciplines. To participate in the course children undertake to
observe a moral code of behaviour. Segregation of the sexes will be maintained
at all times in the accommodation area as well as in the meditation hall and
during much of the course.
There
are three steps to the training: Morality, Concentration and Compassion (loving
kindness). The entire teaching is given on recordings in the language of the
students. Courses
also include creative and physical activities where time permits.
It is recommended that the child
be given an opportunity at home to continue practicing Anapana for a short
period of 10 -15 minutes each day, after the course. They can also be
encouraged to attend more courses.
Your role
during the course.
It is not necessary that a parent
or guardian accompanies a child during the course. Parents or guardians who are
students of Goenkaji or his assistant teachers are usually welcome to stay and
participate in work projects if the course is at a Vipassana centre. Those parents
or guardians who are not helping on the course will follow a separate schedule.
Parents or guardians who have not
completed a ten-day course with Goenkaji or his assistant teachers are welcome
to stay with their children during registration, but should then leave the site
and return at the end of the course.
Applying
for a course.
Before
applying for the course, please make sure that both you and your child have
read and understood the Code of Behaviour and Sample Timetable. You can see the course
dates and apply on-line in English at Dhamma Java Course
Schedule or download
the forms.