Page 159 - YBAM 50th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine

of wakefulness of mind, alertness- an the mind, developing self-awareness and The Result
intrinsic awareness. Mindfulness practice developing loving kindness. These aim Chart 1 and 2 below, are detailed Overall, the children reported a 23 percent
is usually directed to a specific ‘anchor’ to provide children with the strategies breakdowns of the number of stickers increase in positive emotions and 59

such as the breath, body sensation or of ‘coming back’ and attending to their chosen for each emotion when they percent decrease in negative emotions
mental content which serves as a means experiences with love and care. check-in and check-out respectively. The over the programme, as measured by
of ‘coming back’ to the present moment X-Axis shows the various emotions and the number of stickers associated with
and may further leads to calmness and The topics covered over the eight the Y-Axis the total number of stickers positive and negative emotions that they

stability. weeks included: (1) Introduction to throughout the entire programme. Among stick in their logbooks during check-in
mindfulness practice, (2) Knowing the the negative emotions, ‘Worried’ and before the training session and check-out
Loving Kindness is a ‘state of mind which ‘present’ moment’,(3) Developing stability ‘Lousy’ are prominent at check-in but drop after the training session.
aspires that all sentient beings may enjoy and attention, (4) Awareness of body distinctively from 27 stickers to 7 stickers

happiness’ and compassion, ‘the wish sensations (through mindful eating), (5) and 47 stickers to 3 stickers respectively
that all sentient beings may be free from Awareness of thoughts and emotions, when checking out.
sufferings’. (6) Introduction to loving kindness, (7)
Chart 1: Breakdown of each emotion when check-in
Sending loving kindness to oneself and

Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM) is a others, (8) Celebrating success.
technique to cultivate and habituate the
mind to have good will towards self and The children (participants) were given a
others especially in the mist of suffering. logbook with a set of stickers with different

The commonly used method is to focus facial expressions and the corresponding
on good will and send good wishes by words that relate to the facial expressions
generating silent phrases such as ‘May to identify and describe their experiences
I/you be well and happy’, ‘May I/you be immediately before and after the M.I.L.K.

free from fear and worry’. It is a way of training sessions. They were also invited
learning to soothe oneself and feel safe to narrate their experiences next to any
which helps one to develop a kinder intra chosen sticker in their logbook, which
and inter relationship. While Mindfulness was optional. Chart 2: Breakdown of each emotion when check-out

meditation creates a ‘still quiet place’,
LKM enhances this place with warmth
and love and so enables one to stay
longer in this quiet place.

The Programme

M.I.L.K. was conducted twice-weekly over
eight weeks, with a total of 60 minutes of

activity-based learning per week. It has
three key components namely, calming
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50 YEARS OF DHARMA PRO PA GATION CO NTINUING THE MIS SION IN THE 5G ER A