Venerable Geshe Legtsok

“Where do we find our Mind ?”
“Is Happiness a state of mind?”
“Do children need to meditate?”
The interactive session on ‘exploring our minds’ by Venerable Geshe Legtsok with the children of grade VI on 16th of February 2023 captured their attention for a good two hours. The session was very meaningful in giving a direction to children’s thoughts on beginning to understand their ‘Minds’ early in life. Venerable guided children through questions - What is happiness ? Is it tangible! and found on our shelf or bags? The session helped children understand how to find happiness and stay happy .Happiness and sadness are a state of mind and it is for us to choose it in any situation. Similarly he took children gently on a path to understand that, Mind is not found in a specific place. If we start meditating at a young age it will help us understand our inner self and avoid harmful emotions like anger.
Venerable encouraged children to ask questions for a better understanding of ‘mind’. Children asked some sharp and profound questions about their feelings and emotions - how to meditate if I have done something wrong and I am filled with guilt? Why do each of us think differently and feel differently? Can our minds be empty while meditating?Through his interaction he highlighted the need to stay connected with inner self also. Venerable went on to explain that we are all good people . We can make mistakes and we should try and figure out ways to overcome negative emotions but be compassionate to ourselves, do not be guilty and punish yourself.

Venerable further explained that there are different schools of thought and some monks believe that it is not always possible to meditate with an empty mind. We are beings who interact with others in an ever changing environment . He found similarities between human beings and plants that our children at Shikshantar love to grow and nurture.Venerable shared that we are like plants in a garden. Like plants with different colours and scents grow in different spaces, climates and seasons, we too have different experiences and exposures all the time. Meditation helps us to differentiate and eliminate bad experiences and emotions such as anger, jealousy and envy, and clear our mind making place for good and useful thoughts. Before closing the session Venerable promised another visit to the children who were curious and had many more questions to ask.