Buddhist Temple Visit
On Thursday 4th April, The Wat Phra Dhammakaya London, Buddhist Temple, opened
their doors to eleven of Winston’s Year 10 students.
Less than 1 mile up the road, it was a surprise to learn
that, for Winston, this is the first time that we have visited this beautiful temple. Nonetheless, when
Miss Singleton, Mrs Strachan and the small group of students arrived, the
monks and Buddhist teachers couldn’t have been more welcoming.
To start with, the students were invited to take their
shoes off and kneel on the prayer mats, where they learnt about the three main
teachings of Buddhists- Generosity, Precepts, and Meditation. These are the
self-imposed rules that encourage individuals to live a good life, for example
by being generous, not harming others, and to take time to look after
themselves.
They then learnt about the difference in looking after
themselves: To keep a fit and healthy body- you have to be active and move. But
to keep a fit mind, you have to take time to be still and calm your thoughts.
All linking back to dealing with the stresses of everyday life, school and the
pressures of growing up: An important part of which- helped through meditation.
The teaching monk, dressed in orange robes then talked the students through
meditation. Their hands clasped on their laps, palms open, focusing on the
centre of their bodies. Breathing together, all keeping still minds.
The group then had a tour of the temple. A huge old church,
with areas for prayer, eating, for their VIP Monks and a ceremony hall. All
maintained through donations and support from locals and people from all around
the world. Staggering, and awe-inspiring.
Snacks were laid out for the students to enjoy afterwards,
served by the monks. The students had a chance to ask questions and interact
with them, and thanked them for their time and for welcoming them into the
temple.
The group all agreed it was a worthwhile experience, coming
away from it feeling calm and armed with techniques to control their stress.
Miss Singleton, Mrs Strachan and the Year 10s would like to thank the people of
the Wat Phra Dhammakaya London temple for their
generosity and time, and we that this is the start of a relationship that will
continue to teach the students of Winston valuable life lessons.
