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Story: Finding Peace Through Mindfulness PEACE and JUSTICE >> Lesson 2: Thich Nhat Hanh—Peace Activist

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Story: Finding Peace Through Mindfulness PEACE and JUSTICE >> Lesson 2: Thich Nhat Hanh—Peace Activist Story: Finding Peace Through Mindfulness PEACE AND JUSTICE >> Lesson 2: Thich Nhat Hanh—Peace Activist Eight point: By calling ourselves there. A good teacher touches the seed, allowing it to wake up, to sprout, and to grow.” progressive Christians, we mean we are Christians who strive for peace • Nurture the seeds of wisdom in yourself by practicing the pebble meditation (see Closing the and justice among all people. Lesson) several times during the week prior to teaching this lesson. Affirmation: I act with inner peace • Notice how you feel as you focus on a flower, and fairness in all I do. mountain, still water, and the sky. What insights come to you? Write them down after your Getting to the Heart of the Lesson meditation. Thich Nhat Hanh (pronounced Tik Not Hawn) • Share appropriate aspects of your experience when was born North Vietnam in 1926. He is called Thay you introduce the meditation to the children. (pronounced Tay or Tie), which means “teacher” in Vietnamese. His teachings focus on mindfulness and Quotations by Thich Nhat Hanh meditation. I do not think there is that much difference between In the story about Thich Nhat Hanh’s life, children Christians and Buddhists. Most of the boundaries we will hear about an experience that he had as a child, have created between our two traditions are artificial. as well as how he used the practice of mindfulness to Truth has no boundaries. help when he was homesick. Afterwards, they will practice a quiet breathing meditation created by Thich Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but Nhat Hanh especially for children. Sitting quietly may sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. be challenging for some children; however, doing an art activity before the meditation and using pebbles The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in (small rocks or marbles) during the meditation will air, but simply walking on this earth. help them focus. Mindfulness is a kind of light that shines upon all your This lesson focuses on the ways Thich Nhat Hanh thoughts, all your feelings, all your actions, and all your stood up for his beliefs. No matter what happened words. Mindfulness is the equivalent of the Holy Spirit, to him, he kept doing what he thought would bring the energy of God. about peace. The stories exemplify what Thich Nhat Hanh believes should be taught about peace. When you have peace within, real peace with others is possible. Teacher Reflection Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I Thich Nhat Hanh says, “You cannot transmit wisdom smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the and insight to another person. The seed is already only moment. pg. 166 >> Lesson 2: Thich Nhat Hanh—Peace Activist Bible Verse or more pictures of flowers, mountains, still lakes with reflections, and beautiful sky (calendars and magazines Book of Thomas 3: NHL 118 are good sources for these kinds of photos), crayons, Jesus said: When you come to know yourselves, then you pebbles in a large bowl (at least four pebbles, rocks or will be known and you will see that you are children marbles per child), a real flower (optional) of God (the living Father). But if you will not know yourselves you will dwell in poverty. 1. Explain that they can help their minds become still and clear, just like Thuy’s glass of apple juice Opening the Lesson by doing a breathing meditation. It’s called the pebble meditation. But before they learn the Tell the children, “Today we continue to talk about meditation, they will first decorate an envelope peace and justice. We are going to learn about a man that will hold their pebbles. named Thich Nhat Hanh. He stood up for his beliefs no matter what happened to him. He kept doing 2. Show one or more of the flower pictures, or use what he thought would bring peace to the world, by real flowers. Ask, “How might you feel if you were helping others in need and by teaching inner peace like a flower?” Take children’s responses. Mention and mindfulness.” the words “beautiful” or “fresh” if the children don’t volunteer these words. Mindful Movements 3. Show the mountain pictures and ask, ”How In lesson six on Buddhism, you taught the children might you feel if you were like a mountain?” Take ten mindful movements created by Thich Nhat Hanh. responses, adding the words “solid,” “firm,” and Open this lesson by doing several or all of those “concentrated” if necessary. movements with the children. You can view Thich Nhat Hanh doing the movements online by googling “Thich 4. Show the still lake pictures and ask, “How might Nhat Hanh Ten Mindful Movements.” Reviewing the you feel if you were a still lake?” Take responses and movements will make the connection between Thich point out that because the water is so calm, it can Nhat Hanh and Buddhism. (Thich Nhat Hanh is a reflect whatever is around it, such as mountains, Zen Buddhist, not a Tibetan Buddhist, but you do not sky, trees, etc. need to make a distinction with your children.) 5. Show the photo of the sky and ask, “How might Building the Lesson it feel if you were as a wide as the blue sky above you?” Take responses and add the words, “spacious Read the story. Visuals will help children relate to — space all around you” and “free.” Thich Nhat Hanh’s life. While reading, show children pictures of the Buddha, Plum Village, and Thich Nhat 6. Give each child an envelope and crayons and Hanh (available online). You may also want to use a invite them to draw a scene on the front of the world map to locate Vietnam and France. envelope that includes a beautiful flower, a solid mountain, a still lake, and the blue sky. Discuss the questions at the end of the story. 7. When finished, have them choose four pebbles Art Activity: Preparing for the Pebble Meditation from the bowl. Materials needed: white envelope for each child, one 8. If some of the children finish before others, they pg. 167 >> Lesson 2: Thich Nhat Hanh—Peace Activist >> Lesson 2: Thich Nhat Hanh—Peace Activist may draw another scene on the back of their Put that pebble down and pick up a third pebble. envelopes. When everyone is finished have them Breathe in and see yourself as clear lake of water. put their pebbles in their envelopes and gather in Breathe out and feel yourself so calm that you can reflect the altar area in a circle. everything around you. Breathe in, water ... breathe out, reflection. Closing the lesson In, water ... out, reflection. Pebble Meditation (takes about 10 minutes) Put that pebble down and pick up the last pebble. Breathe in and imagine that you are the big open blue sky. Materials needed: envelopes filled with pebbles Breathe out and feel space all around you and inside of (created by the children), one small glass of apple juice you. You are free. per child Breathe in, sky ... breathe out, free. In, sky ... out, free. 1. Explain to the children that during the meditation they will use their imaginations to feel like a flower, 6. You may end the meditation by ringing a bell three a mountain, a still lake, and the big sky. times (a Buddhist practice). Have children pick up their pebbles and put them in their envelopes. 2. Have them take their four pebbles out of their Mention that they can practice this meditation on envelopes and place the pebbles in front of them. their own at home and teach it to their parents. 3. Ask them to sit with their backs straight and their 7. Enjoy a drink of apple juice together. shoulders relaxed. They can close their eyes. Note: The Pebble Meditationby Tich Nhat Hanh is 4. Begin with three rounds of deep breathing, guiding available in booklet form online. the children by slowly saying “breathe in…breathe out.” Pace the breathing to the children’s energy Story: Thich Nhat Hanh throughout the entire meditation. As the children become calmer, their breathing will slow down. Note: This story focuses on an early transformative experience that Thich Nhat Hanh had as a child. 5. Continue with the script below: Through this experience, he says he found “the Buddha inside of himself.” This is an abstract concept Pick up one of your pebbles and hold it in your hand. for children to understand; but the message that they, Close your eyes. too, can find peace and happiness inside of themselves Breathe in and see yourself as a flower. is important to give to children. The story is divided Breathe out, feel yourself fresh. You are beautiful. into two parts. To keep children’s attention, you may Breathe in, flower ... breathe out, fresh. take a “mindfulness break” between the two parts, In, flower ... out, fresh. doing one of the Mindful Movements. Put that pebble down and pick up another pebble. Part One — Thich Nhat Hanh’s Childhood Experience Breathe in and see yourself as a mountain. Breathe out and feel yourself solid. Nothing can distract you. Thich Nhat Hanh was born in North Vietnam. Now Breathe in, mountain . breathe out, solid he is a Buddhist teacher, and his students call him In, mountain ... out, solid. Thay (pronounced Tay or Tie), which means “teacher” in Vietnamese. When Thay was about 7 years old, pg. 168 >> Lesson 2: Thich Nhat Hanh—Peace Activist he saw a picture of the Buddha in a magazine.
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