October-December 2011

EDUCATION

By Pam Cayton

When I think about the immense benefit that I have personally received form my teachers, I am instantly overwhelmed with gratitude. I cannot imagine a life without the guidance and inspiration of my extraordinary, wise and compassionate teachers such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. Then, when I think of all that has been created based on their guidance and contemplate how many people may have been affected in a positive way by the actions and projects set in motion by others who have received guidance and inspiration … and then they in turn inspire others and so on and on … the mind expands with wonder and awe!

However, on a daily basis it is easy to forget the words and example of our guides, especially when we are confronted with obstacles. Inspiring role models provide the impetus to begin many of the projects that we have embarked on. Therein lies a transformative opportunity to remind us of the greater goal for greater good by remembering the intention that lies beneath our actions. This is why I have found it incredibly helpful to build the practice of Mindful Intention into the day.

At the beginning of the school year at Tara Redwood School this year, we met for an evening to reset and contemplate our reason for doing the work we were committing to for another year. Here are some of the questions we contemplated:

As we begin a new school year it is helpful to review and reflect on our intention: Reflect for a moment on what we are doing. Why are we teaching? What are the main reasons we are doing this work? What motivates us? What inspires us? Why are we working in this particular project?

After a few minutes of reflection on these questions, we shared our reflections with the group. If this is not comfortable, it is helpful to write your discoveries down in a journal.

The next question can be to ask yourself: What kind of classroom, workplace or home do I want to come to each day. Once again spend some time reflecting on this question. Write down the thoughts that arise.

Now visualize your perfect environment, your perfect culture that you would like to create and be a part of your life. Write this down and spend some time drawing and creating a representation of that environment with all the qualities you value. If your project is a part of a group, such as a school or organization, it is powerful to place those reflections together and look at the amazing visual representation you create as a group. This is the extraordinary, inspiring and meaningful project you are co-creating with your colleagues.

Now that you have restated your intention and deepest wishes, you have the task of creating it. How can you create something if you don’t even know what you really want or have forgotten why you are doing what you are doing? Once you have your intention more clearly articulated, it is helpful to re-remember it each day and throughout the day! In order to do this, you can set your watch, phone or computer to chime as a reminder. This signals us to stop what we are doing, take a “breath break” and a “Time In.” This Time In can be for varying durations, whatever works for you. This is the time you focus on your breath and remember your intention. It is as simple as that.

This kind of Time In is built into a CCC classroom. The teachers and children set their morning intention and whenever the gong sounds, they take a stretch, focus on their breath for 3 breaths and remember the morning intention. It is a simple mindfulness practice and is a daily ritual that provides mind training and awareness of what it is that really matters and holds meaning for us. This simple practice can transform the day from ordinary to extraordinary. We just need to remember to do it. In this way we are all co-regulating and co-creating the amazing, wonderful culture we really want to be a part of.

There is no doubt that the teacher or the leader of an organization has a huge influence on the development of the culture. To quote Lama Thubten Yeshe:

Teachers have an enormous responsibility. They are the protectors of the human mind. By nurturing and developing the minds of their students they are actually affecting the way the world is.

As we practice remembering our role models we will keep our inspiration fresh. We can continue to set our intention based on that inspiration and practice thinking and acting according to those values and behaviors modeled by our guides. Our teachers teach us so that we can nurture wisdom and compassion and live according to our deepest values. Neuroscience tells us that our brain changes with each thought and action so we will be developing healthy, helpful habits of thinking and behaving. In this way alone, we will begin to be repay the kindness of our teachers.

Pam Cayton is the founder of Tara Redwood School (an elementary school) and Creating Compassionate Cultures (a curricula and training development center), both based on Lama Yeshe’’s concept of a secular, scientific approach to awakening compassion and wisdom – now known as Universal Wisdom Education (U WE).