School yesterday was a lot of meetings - just like school everywhere! But the kids did spend time with a monk who was brilliant with them. Never raised his voice but had them actively engaged. He was teaching - gently - prayer positions and words. It will be while before
they acquire "stillness" but they loved the experience.
That got my asking questions again about the school. It is "private" in that it is owned by the local Wat, or temple. The land the temple is on, the school and all the surrounding "slums" (the word the teacher used) is all Wat property, but the school itself is funded by the government. So it is there for the children who live in the area. I need to see the housing area to say for sure, but the rooftops look like the kind I have seen in more needy areas. The children however are neat and clean, always.
So the monks can come speak whenever they like, although if they usually send this one the kids do not mind religious instruction at all.
they acquire "stillness" but they loved the experience.
That got my asking questions again about the school. It is "private" in that it is owned by the local Wat, or temple. The land the temple is on, the school and all the surrounding "slums" (the word the teacher used) is all Wat property, but the school itself is funded by the government. So it is there for the children who live in the area. I need to see the housing area to say for sure, but the rooftops look like the kind I have seen in more needy areas. The children however are neat and clean, always.So the monks can come speak whenever they like, although if they usually send this one the kids do not mind religious instruction at all.
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