8th Grade Kids - Meditation Letters

Students at Monarch School: Write Letters About Meditation to a Friend

Dear Perla,

Meditation is really helpful, because it will help you relieve stress. When we have done meditation in the class, after I felt happier and like a whole different person because I was more calm. If I could do meditation 24/7 I would, or if I could teach it I would. I would suggest meditation to you because I know that kids our age have a lot of drama, at school, home, or even on the streets. - 8th grade female

Dear Jesse,

It feels great to meditat in class quietly. It has helped me overcome my being mad. It was really fun in the class. We got to eat every week for a couple minutes in there too. I've used meditation when I get frustrated. I've also used it when I want to enjoy my food. I would like to use meditation in my daily life more. It really is useful. - 7th grade boy

Founded in 1988, Monarch School and its committed team of teachers, administrators and volunteers is dedicated to providing homeless and at-risk children with an accredited education while caring for their basic needs. Today, more than 160 kids between the ages of 4 and 19 are enrolled at Monarch School.

Meditation at the Japanese Friendship Garden

Japanese Frienship Garden

Silence. What is silence? Silence is sitting and listening. You can hear the noise, yet there is still silence. Silence comes from within. At the Japanese Friendship Garden the noise consists of a serene water fall, the sound of Koi Fish swimming, the trees wrestling in the wind, the snipping of Bonzai Trees being trimmed, and the slow footsteps of people walking thru the winding path into the garden. This is where we meditate, every Saturday at 1pm.

Koi Pond

Thanks to everyone who joined us yesterday, we look forward to seeing you next week. A special thanks to the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park for allowing us to use this beautiful space.

Zen Garden

Meditation at Southwestern College

Southwestern College Staff Development Day

Thanks to Southwestern College for inviting The Meditation Initiative to be a part of their Staff Development Day! We had about 40 people join the meditation, it was a great experience. I see once again how important it is to bring mindfulness and meditation into the workplace. This was a great group with many beginners and also some who had an already existing meditation practice. As always, most important is to encourage and inspire people to meditate for 5 minutes every day. Thanks to Wayne and the rest of the staff for a wonderful meditation practice.

Peace,
TMI

Happy Holidays from TMI

The Meditation Initiative wishes you a Happy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year! We thank you for being a part of this special time, where our community is so open to the benefits of meditation. Thanks for inviting us into your school, office, college, prison, hospital, shelter, temple, military base, church, or anywhere else we have led meditation. We thank you all for your continued support and wish you all peace and happiness!

With Love,

TMI

The Meditation Initiative Video - 2010

Amen Clinics Study on Meditation Using Brain SPECT Imaging – Amen Clinics

Amen Clinics Study on Meditation Using Brain SPECT Imaging – Amen Clinics

Happy Thanksgiving

TMI is so grateful for the opportunity to have worked with everyone this year! We thank you for welcoming us into your school, office, hospital, prison, or wherever you are each day.

It is our hope that everyone takes 5 minutes each day to simply stop and pay attention to their breath. Sometimes, three deep breaths can be the difference in the peace and happiness of us all.

It is our goal to have a new TMI Meditation Studio / Office by May 2011, which will continue to bring us all together in silence.

Happy Thanksgiving to the TMI Community!

Peace,
TMI

Letters from Kids After Meditation - Must Read!

Hello TMI Supporters:

These are letters from kids who attend The Monarch School, which is a school for homeless kids. We are in our third year of leading meditation at Monarch. If anyone wonders if meditation works for kids, let these letters serve as examples, clearly illustrating how meditation impacts the lives of children.