Meditation....

Posted by: Ronin1966

Meditation.... - 01/17/08 03:11 PM

The class had half heard the announcements made several weeks before. It was the "holiday season", and well, their focus was ~somewhat off~ because of it he thought in amused recollection. It was closer to a proverbial rubber ball convention (in a very small room) the way that he remembered it. Catching himself quietly chuckling, he sighed and prepaired for the beginning of class.

This class the same as the thousands before it, and yet each one, different, unique as he was always reminded the presence of different children, different energies, the different dynamics playing themselves out, again and again, in wildly fascinating ways. The class was called to order. The amazing ~young energies~ completely unchanneled, only moments ago running across the room climbing the pillars in groups, kicking the exercise balls across the room, some even throwing them at those both waiting and completely unsuspecting, unprepaired. Kids, young children finally cut loose from the rigid lines and mandatory silence their days had been ruled by with "iron fists" of School Administrators, teachers, bus drivers, etceteria.

Forced into silence they were now the unlucky reciepients, which given a few minutes of freedom, these children burned to ashes much of their excessive energy. As the reciepients of it, truly the first and appalingly the only time that many of these kids were genuinely able to be physical, their entire day thus far. The didn't walk to their bus, they were driven. They didn't ride their bikes, climb trees, run around, built forts, tag have races, literally none of the things he or the other teachers had done in their youth. SUmmer winter, it did not matter. They did not do them....

There were five teachers tonight. Three of whom taught this for their living and two others whom all for some unknown reason had choosen this path. It was not without rewards, they did exist! Yet, often for many they were no different than the local soccer club, the local football team, or whatever the ~activity of the season~ happened to be that particular time of year. They were different than those activities in some quiet, and sometimes special ways but, too few seemed to perceive them as such.

Tonight was the night that the Buddhist Priest was going to give a talk about meditation. He assumed scanning the relatives in the back of the room, it would likely be one of them. But he knew as much as any of the kids at this point, and frankly not much more.

Children under the age of 10, having a talk about ~meditation~ would be like... he frowned slightly trying to come up with an accurate parallel of any kind, but could think of none of the top of his head. Children under 10 meditating... with no experience at all, and no formal training whatever doing it that he was aware of, this was going to be interesting.... fun to watch.

The older gentleman had not worn any robes, or outward symbols of his office or his practices. Ubassuming, but with very sharp eyes, a decent amount of energy... he was... decently impressive he'd thought.

They'd formed a half-circle around him and greeted the man a stranger with hopeful enthuasium. A beautiful thing to witness. He'd given a very brief talk about meditation, some of the things he felt it could be used for... he'd spoken of his specific lineage, his ordination, his various visits to different continants fairly well. He'd been practicing Buddhism for decades and become a Buddhist Priest many years ago. The young teacher had many questions for the priest but tonight was just not the time.

The gathered the children into a semi circle and the man had introduced himself. Perhaps surprised but their youth, had quickly gone to questions from his audience. The first question from a tiny little girl, the young teacher knew instantly what it was going to be. Knowing he covered him mouth, trying not to giggle prematurely, but he knew the look she was giving and it could not be mistaken.

"...Yes, what did you want to ask me..." the priest had mistakenly left the door wide open.

"CAN I GOTO THE BATHROOM...." the young girl blurted out at their guest with quarter of a centurey, three decades meditation experience?

The laughter roared through the room, any pretense of solumn, seriousness instantly blown from its hinges. "Can you levitate?" "Do you study martial arts" There were other questions some very intersting, froma crowd this young. But few with the impact the first question had held. Perhaps in time he thought perhaps in time.
Posted by: stormbringer

Re: Meditation.... - 01/17/08 07:18 PM

To be able to say something bluntly honest and get away with it again.
Posted by: MatsFondelius

Re: Meditation.... - 01/18/08 04:12 AM

Yeah...

I've been meditating for quite some time now being able to get into "trance" and be ONE with the Universal Love...

One thing is for sure from my experiences - God/The Universal Power of Love invented humour...
Posted by: Ronin1966

Re: Meditation.... - 01/18/08 10:29 AM

Apologies for the foolish spelling errors. It was written on the fly.

Jeff
Posted by: Ed_Morris

Re: Meditation.... - 01/19/08 12:36 PM

The spelling errors aren't enough for anyone sane to use the opportunity to trample on a story of childhood innocence and use it as a plug for their beliefs. sad really.


However, I'm sure most of us got the real spirit of your story - thanks for sharing it....kids ask the best questions, dont they.
Posted by: Ronin1966

Re: Meditation.... - 01/21/08 11:33 AM

Oh they certainly do.... innocent questions are funny, the ones with deliberate intent (ie to make a point, ~why do we bother doing this~, etc.)...

Jeff
Posted by: BigBox

Re: Meditation.... - 03/27/08 09:34 PM

yay spankings
Posted by: Ronin1966

Re: Meditation.... - 03/27/08 09:53 PM

Hello Nigbog:

Meditative spankings..... they involve a shinai by chance

Jeff