3 days ago
Chennai Students Find Stillness Through Meditation
Children as young as 10 and 11 sitting quietly, doing nothing but observing their breath might seem an impossibility given their minuscule attention spans. But some school and college students in Chennai are not just learning to meditate but are practising it by themselves later.
Nearly 2,000 students across 20-odd schools in Chennai have been taught 'anapana' sati (breathe in and breathe out in Pali language) meditation, a beginner version of the famed Vipassana (a ten-day course that is more intensive), in the past three years, an initiative of the Vipassana network and
'It's a simple technique and helps keep the children grounded in today's fast-paced world,' says Uma Manohar, principal of Jaigopal Garodia Vivekananda Vidyalaya in Anna Nagar.
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The core principle, says Venkatasubramani of Damma, is the connection of the mind with the breath. For instance, when angry, the breath becomes hard and irregular; when calm, the breath is subtle and regular. 'With regular practice, the children gain mastery over the wandering, wild mind, improve self-confidence and also deal with stress in studies, exams and relationships,' says Venkat.
Not all students take meditation seriously but some like Yasika M, an engineering student at Gojan College has been practising rigorously for a year now.
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'When we meditate, our capabilities for self-reflection increases.
Usually, I think about a hundred things at the same time. But when I meditate, my mind is free and becomes a space where I can focus on studies.' She has also been able to patiently think and take decisions, she says. 'Initially, it was difficult to practise but then it came easy. I practice at home too for 10 minutes every morning and evening. Even if it's just 10 minutes, if done effectively it works.'
Children today are addicted to visual stimulation through screens and practices such as meditation will help them wean off this dependency, says Sharanya Ravichandran, clinical psychologist and behavioural therapist. 'It also depends on the sitting tolerance of the child. Children with autism for example, might not be able to practise it by themselves. But with the right kind of support, even hyper active children will benefit from such calming exercises,' she says.
'Anapana has a lot of benefits by itself, especially to calm down in stressful situations,' says Venkat, adding that volunteers from the Vipassana organisation go to schools wherever possible and hold 90-minute sessions for three days consecutively, after which they practice by themselves. The training is free.
Anapana was taught in certain prisons as well, including the Tihar jail, which the organisation is trying to replicate in Chennai prisons.
