Chapter 3
Techniques
Now it’s time to learn how to “run the ball” by learning some specific techniques for internalizing the plant model and leaf principles. The end goal in developing integrity in children is for them to act rightly in all aspects of life. They should act rightly without effort, similar to an accomplished pianist playing Mozart. The performance may look effortless, but it’s actually the culmination of many years of regular practice. That skillful, effortless playing can only be accomplished through systematic practice using specific techniques.
The implementation of any skilled action, whether it is playing the piano or acting rightly, first requires thought. All actions begin in the mind as thought. One man who understood this principle was Eknath Easwaran, a professor at the University of California-Berkeley. He taught that we are what we think about and, if we can control what we think about, we can control our actions and who we are. He developed the first accredited university course on the theory and practice of meditation in 1967. He later founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation and developed a highly effective Eight Point Program that uses meditation for incorporating spiritual ideals into daily living.
The Eight Point Program is currently used by thousands of people worldwide, both secular and spiritual alike, to implement positive changes in their lives. The power behind the Eight Point Program lies in a technique developed by Easwaran called Passage Meditation. This technique can be used to instill any high ideal in the subconscious, even integrity.
Focused Thought
Meditation is the practice of silently focusing the mind inward. There are many techniques for meditation. Transcendental Meditation is probably the most well-known, but it is only one of many. Passage Meditation, the focused silent repetition of a memorized passage of text, is of particular use in building integrity. During Passage Meditation, the text is slowly repeated in the mind. Each time focus strays, repetition of the passage begins again. Passage Meditation is based on the belief that “You are what you think” [Eknath Easwaran, Meditation (Tomales, CA: Nilgiri, 1991)] and that you become what you focus on.
There are two powerful benefits from this type of focused concentration. First of all, the subject of the text is driven deep into the subconscious mind, where it is internalized in the thought process even when not meditating. Secondly, the mind acts like a muscle, improving the more it is used. The act of pulling it back to concentrate on the passage when it wanders is like lifting mental weights. With regular practice, we begin to gain better control over all aspects of our thought process and, thus, our actions.
Success in learning any skill relies mainly on two things: regular systematic practice and the quality of the material rehearsed. Many high ideals are embodied throughout the world’s religious texts, and these are the materials which Easwaran focuses on in his Eight Point Program. We cannot use these texts in this guide for two main reasons. First of all, many of the texts are too long and complicated for young children to grasp or memorize. Secondly, they are based on religious principles and we are striving for a more secular platform that can be used across all cultures and backgrounds.
While we cannot use those specific texts, we can take a cue from Easwaran’s selection technique which is to look to those religious figures that have gone before us, succeeded, and put their lessons learned to paper. We can adopt his technique with one change: Look to those figures, either current or historical, that have succeeded in character and put their lessons learned to paper. Short quotes from such individuals which embody the idea of integrity and the leaf principles are suitable for our use. We will refer to our shortened version of Passage Meditation as focused thought, a simple mental reminder for young children.
There is a large volume of quotes available from various Web sites, books, and other sources. The possibilities are endless and allow you to choose which principles you wish to emphasize. The Josephson Institute of Ethics has compiled an excellent library of quotes [Josephson Institute of Ethics, Quote Library, www.josephsoninstitute.org/quotes/quotetoc.htm]. Preceding their list of topics is the following quote by James Murray, 19th-century lexicographer of the Oxford English Dictionary, “Quotations will tell the full measure of meaning, if you have enough of them.” Several quotes relating to character, integrity, and the leaf principles are listed in Appendix A. You will most likely agree with some more than others so feel free to pick and choose or to add quotes you feel embody the principles of character and integrity. Appendix A is in no way intended to be exhaustive.
To start focusing your thoughts, select a quote on which you want to concentrate. As an example, we’ll use James Freeman Clarke’s “See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.” Choose a quiet place with a comfortable, straight-backed chair. Sit with your back and head upright. Close your eyes. Begin to think slowly through the passage without reflecting on the words’ meaning. Give full attention to the mental “sound” of each word as you silently repeat it but don’t get distracted by visualizing it or any association. If you begin to become distracted, focus more on the words. If your mind strays from the passage, go back to the start and begin again. Do this each time your attention strays. Don’t get discouraged when you have to refocus, because each time is an opportunity to strengthen the mind.
Try to do this every day and make it a priority. Children should work for five to ten minutes a day depending on their age. We’ll talk more about getting children started in Chapter 4.
Careful Conduct Shield
A second powerful technique that Easwaran incorporated into his Eight Point Program is the use of a mantra or watchword. This can be likened to a life preserver thrown to save a drowning mind from going under. The mind gets us into trouble when it is bored, agitated, or in the middle of an intense situation. It is at these times that the mantra acts as a shield, allowing us to focus on it rather than the situation at hand.
Simply put, a mantra is a silently repeated word or short phrase, personally chosen for its significant meaning and the principles it emphasizes. It differs from meditation texts in that it is always the same, once chosen. In order for it to be effective in stressful situations, it must be practiced by silent repetition throughout the day. Opportune times include standing in line, waiting for an appointment, or before falling asleep at night. The more it is repeated when not needed, the more powerful it becomes when needed. Focusing on the mantra, especially during stressful situations, prevents us from being led astray into a thought pattern or action we might regret. Therefore, it is a tool by which the mind obtains detachment from any situation so that it can take a fresh view before turning thought into action. It is truly a shield to promote careful conduct, and we will refer to it as the careful conduct shield or CCS.
For our purposes, appropriate CCS phrases are ones that remind us of the leaf principles and some examples which are appropriate for young children are given in Appendix B. Once you choose a CCS, you shouldn’t change it, because its power comes from repetition over time.
An example phrase is “We are all connected.” To begin, slowly repeat the phrase in your mind as often as possible throughout the day. Do not practice it when doing a task that requires your undivided attention, such as operating machinery or driving. You definitely want to use it when you’re bored or agitated, dealing with trying situations, or stressed. The more it is repeated, the more beneficial it becomes. We’ll talk more about its use in the next chapter. Now, on to the fun part, working with children!
