Meditating With One Million Children

Today, I had the absolute pleasure to join David Lynch, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Donovan, Mike Love and many others in joining in the visionary work of the David Lynch Foundation who are hard at work chasing the dream of bringing meditation to a million students worldwide.

The daily practice of meditation is precious to me. It's in the stillness and the silence that I am able to make sense of the world and the creative possibilities that help me do better in all aspects of my life.

Young people are our most precious natural resource, and we must do all we can to give them tools that will help them stay focused and positive. Stress is everywhere, in the streets and the classroom. There's a mountain of scientific data that supports the fact that consciousness-based education and having quiet time at the beginning and end of the school day improves academic performance and spills over to happier and healthier young people at home.

I wish I could be at the concert tomorrow night at Radio City Music Hall, but I will be at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, where Run DMC will inducted. However, my thoughts and meditations will be with the David Lynch Foundation as they continue their incredible work.

www.davidlynchfoundation.org

Comments

[sfm123]

Meditation takes you "out of your mind", where you get moments of "stillness" giving you a little break from all those thoughts in our heads that cause so much stress in our daily lives. I do it daily....bravo to Russell Simmons and David Lynch. Recently read about another program for kids in some public schools called SFK where they teach kids about being loving and caring human beings....if we can have programs such as "meditation" & "being loving and caring human beings" in school curriculums, then we are truly building a better world where kids we will be happier and healthier.

[digitalprophet]

This is a good movement.. Meditation breeds healthy minds ready to adapt.

[Harmony1812]

I saw a documentary about an american school that offered meditation time before school. The students loved it. They got bettter grades and were more focused and relaxed. Meditation is great for anyone no matter what their beliefs are.

[ReesieKitty]

This is interesting. My son's third grade teacher practices yoga and when the class gets worked up or is having a difficult day, she has the kids do yoga poses with her. My son says it ALWAYS helps everyone calm down and concentrate and work better after and even wants to take a yoga class! I agree- as long as it is not prayer related, bring on the contemplation!

[Bethab]

Mr. Simmons, I completely agree. State testing has become so important for teachers and schools that the pressure has rolled over onto the students. The week of testing makes kids crazy. Before those days of testing, I would always turn out the light and have 5 minutes of breathing time. Just breathe in and out. In through the nose, out through the mouth. My kids would feel so calm and relaxed afterwords, that they started asking if we could do it before quizzes and tests as well.

As long as it is not IN ANY WAY linked to prayer in the classroom...I say every teacher should do it!!