A group of teacher chooses auspicious days for practice!

In the era of distraction, where we are so influenced by images, videos, headlines, stories, and technologies, to get inclined to a simple watching of breath is a precious influence one can ever make.

 Teachers and counsellors gathered to practice as a team – Photo by madam Phub Dem

A group of teacher and counsellor of Mendrelgang Central School, Tsirang has seven members, who often come together to practice mindfulness as a team. The team comes together to practice during auspicious days of the lunar calendar.

‘‘We have seven people in our school, who practice mindfulness ardently. So, we have formed a mindfulness group, who usually gather and practice team meditation.’’ Said, Mrs Phub Dem, one of the members of the group.

Mrs Phub Dem, Mr Jamyang Gyeltshen and Mrs Karma Yangzom took part in the winter mindfulness camp of 2017 and 2018. We appreciate and rejoice in their precious influence.

Sincere thank you, to Mrs Kezang Choden, a teacher (Barzor Primary School, Gomdar), for introducing walking meditation with the students. Thank you for the photo update.

 

 

Professional Development with Potatoes

How would you encourage students in ecological literacy, an understanding of the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things, and the stewardship of others and the earth? Simple, why not encourage teachers to play with potatoes?

It is Saturday, Mrs Pema Wangzom, one of the LME teachers, sits proudly next to a stack of fresh potatoes that she dugout, with the help of the other four teachers. She has been in the garden in, early morning to collect her hard work. It took 4 hours to harvest the product. This was her first potato harvest experience. There is a sense of achievement as she uncovers the potatoes out of the soil.

‘‘This is my first time, harvesting the potatoes. There is so much excitement in digging the soil, and not knowing how many numbers potatoes would emerge. I have learned that mulching and good seed selections are interdependently very important for a good yield.  ’’ Said, Pema Wangzom.   

Another teacher, Mrs Chimi Wangmo said, ‘‘the garden is not only meant for farmers, but it is also for everybody to take up. When I harvest the product, I get a sense of happiness and feel proud of it. Potato is my favourite food, the harvest gave me the confidence to plant more.’’

Potato is one of the main foods in the daily Bhutanese diet. It is highly compatible, with an essential Bhutanese ingredient, chilli. Potato is the world’s 4^th largest crops and is originally from Peru, South America.

Do you know what we had for lunch? With hot red chillies, the freshly boiled potatoes made our lunch healthy, delicious, and conscious, of what we ate. If you were part of the team, you would have experienced the difference between eating one’s own food, and one, that we usually buy from the market. One obvious difference is confidence. To eat something, with a full understanding of what we eat, gives inexpressible confidence. Another difference is we don’t waste the food and begin to appreciate and value them.

The total harvest of 76 kilograms of potatoes, is an opportunity for teachers, to reflect and to calculate the true cost of purchasing local potatoes versus imported potato chips. This calculation made us reflects on the details of the economic and environmental impact of one’s consumer choices and inspires ecological and sustainable responsibility.

Such a realistic experience is a pragmatic strategy, to embed in the consciousness of teachers and students, to help see clearly, the interconnected nature of reality and understand the full benefits and costs of their actions. Through such hands-on experience, they will at the least think twice before they are tempted, to buy packaged chips. They will care deeply for others and for the natural world

Therefore, professional developments for LME teachers happen with the potatoes in the field. The vegetable garden is a means of learning the science that promotes Bhutanese farming traditions, identifying the interconnected and interdependent nature of reality and guiding teachers and students toward stewardship of the earth.

Individuals are assets!

Alongside the 5^th Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition in Samdrup Jongkhar, the team LME is privileged to catch up with Mr Passu of Bhutan Toilet Organization, Mrs. Tshering Denkar of Denkars Getaway and Mr Nidup of Clean Bhutan. It was an opportunity for us to interact with these inspiring individuals and listen to their stories and experiences in the field of their work and passion. Thus, we have created this connection to learn and enhance from each other.

The LME team learned about daily reflection, journaling, giving constructive feedback, blogging, use of social media, a lot about toilet, travel and personal experiences with them. We thank them for their time with us. It was, indeed, worth time spent sharing and learning from them.

For LME, an individual is an asset. We believe everyone has something to offer if one offers to take it.

We look forward to meeting you all again, sometime, somewhere!

The Camp Participants taking lead

  ‘‘Actually, in Bhutan, we have a tradition of many kinds of profound and deep meditation practices such as Shamatha, Vipassana, visualization and dissolution. Even then, we are not aware of our own tradition and heritage. These days, when people from outside teach us mindfulness, there is shock and disbelief, leading people to believe that we need such things. This is similar to us not being able to recognize our own possessions and wealth. Only when the outsiders give us these things to us, which we actually already possess, then it appears like that the outsiders are introducing such a thing.’’ —   Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

Following three photos are sent by Mr Hem Raj Subba of Phuntsholing HSS, Mr Ugyen Wangdi of  Zinchella Primary School and Mr. Pema Wangchuk of Daga Central School. All of them were camp participants. Thank you all for the photo updates.

We also would like to sincerely thank all the following educators for sharing your photos and updates on mindfulness activities in your respective schools.

Mr Namgay Dorji and Mrs. Kelzang Lhadon of Shari School, Paro

Mr Jamyang Gyeltshen of Mendrelgang Central School, Tsirang

Mrs. Tshering Yangzom and Mrs. Sangay Wangmo of Karmaling Higher Secondary School, Samdrup Jongkhar

Mrs. Sangay Choden of Drukgyel Central School, Paro

Mrs. Tashi Wangmo of Pelrithang Middle School, Sarpang

Mr Tshewang Tempa of Ngamlam Central School, Pemagyetshel

We appreciate your leadership! We look forward to more updates.

 

The students of Kheni LSS practicing

‘‘The mindfulness is actually not that difficult and not that hard to learn and master. However, putting it into practice is a bit difficult. Because getting habituated and accustomed to mindfulness is difficult. While it is said that getting accustomed and used to mindfulness can be difficult, there are no such things as carrying heavy loads. And there will be no costs involved. Mindfulness is just a method to calm and rest your mind. Even if you are able to maintain your mind continuously and consistently for a short while, the benefits will be beyond the sky and the earth. It will help you in your direction. Your ways of teaching your students, mindfulness will be of great help and benefit.’’ —-                                                                                                      Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

The students of Kheni Lower Secondary School in Trashi Yangtse are practising mindfulness in the class. Thinley Wangchuk, a teacher (one of the Mindfulness Camp participants) said, they do short mindfulness practice before the start of class, to help them settle their minds. Thank you, sir, for sending us the updates and the photos. We look forward to consistent practice.

 

Do you have a mind?

As new student in school, how many of us have heard our teachers teach, we have two eyes, one nose, one mouth, and two ears? One way or the other, we have learned them, in fact, to the extent that we cannot undo them. But, have you ever heard our teachers talk, we have so-called a ‘‘Mind’’? If not, there is something big missing in educating our children. The point here is to recognize the importance of one’s own mind, and teaching body parts as well. After all, knowing we have two eyes does not help in being kind, forget about help. So, it is worthwhile to invest time and energy, in teaching about our own mind and its inborn dignity.

We are delighted to see our camp participants play important roles in recognizing the importance of the mind.

 

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