Lessons drawn from life

I was just thrilled by this latest news report. If you haven't read it yet, follow the link to read the complete article.

Lessons drawn from life

by VANNIYA SRIANGURA, The Bangkok Post, Sept 12, 2008

A growing number of parents, not all of them Buddhist, are realising the benefits of a mind-centred, Buddhist-approach to education

Bangkok, Thailand -- In a society where success is measured in material terms, most parents hope that the educational system will set their children on the path to a prosperous future.

A school's academic reputation, the variety of languages it offers and the intensity of its English lessons are crucial factors that the present generation of Thai parents consider when choosing a school for their kids.

But that's about to change. Lately, a large number of people are taking the view that developing children's minds is more important than just providing them with academic knowledge. As a result, alternative schools, particularly rongrien withi pud, or Buddhist-approach schools, are among the hottest subjects with new parents.

Today, Buddhist-approach schools that follow an educational system which is somehow regarded as out-of-date are seeing their waiting lists grow. Flowers Bloom, a dhamma-related hymn by a Buddhist nun, Mae Chee Sansanee Sthirasuta, commonly sung in rongrien withi pud has become a popular song among kindergarten-age kids nationwide. While vowing to keep the five moral precepts, sitting meditation and phae metta - extending kindness to all lives in the world - are some of the routine rituals an increasing number of schoolchildren perform every morning.