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In a time of worldwide social transition and upheaval, more and more people
throughout the world are seeking concentration,
purification and peace of mind
through the practice of Vipassana meditation. Vipassana means "to see
things as they really are" and is a logical process of mental purification
through self-observation. Many come to Vipassana later in their lives,
wishing they had found this technique sooner because it is so effective
in learning
the art of living peacefully and harmoniously. The ideal time to begin
the first steps of this mental training is in childhood when children as
young
as eight years old can easily learn the technique of
Anapana meditation. Anapana is the first step in the practice of Vipassana
meditation. It is the observation of natural, normal respiration, as it
comes in and as it goes out. Anapana is a simple technique that helps develop
concentration
of the mind. It is easy to learn, objective and scientific.
Besides helping
them to calm and concentrate their minds, Anapana helps children to better
understand themselves and how their minds work. As they learn to
calm and concentrate their minds, they gain mastery over their impulses
and actions. They develop an inner strength that helps them to choose
right and
appropriate actions over wrong actions. This is a natural byproduct of
the technique. For this reason, Anapana provides them with a tool to
deal with
the fears, anxieties, and pressures of childhood and adolescence. Because
of its simplicity, they find the technique easy to practice and understand
and
they appreciate its scientific and universal nature.
Over the past 17
years, hundreds of Anapana courses have been conducted exclusively for
children
around the world. These courses have yielded substantial benefits
for the thousands of children who have attended them. Many of them
have experienced a positive change in their outlook, behaviour and attitude.
Many have found
their ability to concentrate has improved and that their memory has
strengthened.
And above all, these children have acquired a tool that is of immense
value to them for the rest of their lives.
Children are, by nature,
active and
enthusiastic, with an eagerness to learn and explore. For this reason,
it is appropriate to offer them an opportunity
to explore themselves and their mind with all its hidden faculties,
latent abilities and subtle complexities. Learning Anapana plants a wholesome
interest in self-introspection and meditation, which may open an
entirely new dimension
of life for them later on.
There are two courses
offered: Children’s Anapana Course (for ages 8 – 12
years) and Teenagers’ Anapana Course (for ages 13 – 17 years).
The courses both begin with registration at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and end at
1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Parents or guardians who have completed a 10-day course
with S. N. Goenka or his assistant teachers are welcome to stay at the centre
till the course is over. They will be following a different schedule of meditation
than the children and will have opportunities for Dhamma service. Other parents
and guardians are invited to stay and have supper with their children on
Friday evening but should then leave the centre until Sunday afternoon at
1:00 p.m
During the course, there
will be meditation instructions given by S. N. Goenka
via audiocassette, as well as other activities such as art, drama,
story telling, games, etc. The children are assigned counsellors who will
make
sure that everyone
understands the instructions, can participate in activities and
is comfortable and well taken care of during the course.
You may download an application
package below, or for more information please contact the registrar at the address listed at the bottom of this page:
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Tel. [1] 778-785-4080 (Vancouver), [1] 250-412-5372 (Victoria), [1]
250-469-7180 (Kelowna)
E-mail:
