သိသူေဖာ္စားမသိသူေက်ာ္သြား

Meditation courses gain popularity among youth

By Ye Lwin

YOUNG people, both from Myanmar and overseas, are increasingly being drawn to meditation as a means of clearing the mind and cleansing the spirit, say a number of people familiar with the field. During holiday periods in particular, most meditation centres in the country are full and, in contrast to earlier years, most participants – as many as 70 percent – are students and young people, and even children, says U Kaung Yin, a representative of the management of the Keppabeinnya Meditation Centre in Inndaing, Hlegu township, Yangon. The secluded centre is located near Bago, a one-hour drive from downtown Yangon, and comprises 223 private single detached buildings on 22 acres of land. “During the long holidays the centre is usually full – we can get 400 people, including foreigners. Most are students and young people. Only about 30 percent are older and retired people,” U Kaung Yin told The Myanmar Times. The meditation courses sponsored by Venerable Chekinda, an associate professor at the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, are especially intended for children and the younger people in Myanmar. The course attracts many well-educated youngsters. A four-day, three-night short training course in meditation is organised from time to time for children, teenagers and young adults at Chekinda’s monastery in Hmawbi township – a remote area one hour from downtown Yangon by car. Three or four times a year, separate short-term courses are offered to students at the basic education, matriculation and university levels. Each course trains more than 800 young people how to practise meditation. Accommodation and meals are free of charge. The Venerable Chekinda sees particular merit in training children in meditation. “Meditation means seeing things as they really are. It is the way to eradicate misunderstanding and spiritual defilement, which are the main cause of all suffering,” the Venerable Chekinda said. “I have come here 10 times to practise meditation. Thanks to meditation, I feel very comfortable dealing with people from all walks of life,” Ma Lei Yee Win, a medical student, told The Myanmar Times on the closing day of her meditation course in Hmawbi last month. “Practising meditation has imbued in us a sense of intelligence for how to behave in our society and to live our lives happily,” she said. “Developing clarity of spirit and consciousness helps concentrate the mind and helps us study,” she said. “It also helps us make the right decisions and choose the proper course of action.” Ma Su Mon Hein, a third year medical student, has now become a firm believer in Buddhism after hearing a sermon preached by the Venerable Chekinda three years ago. “My parents are traditional Buddhists but I never believed in Buddhism or God before. Even when I visited Shwedagon Pagoda I never paid homage. It was nothing to me, though I felt tranquil in my mind at seeing the pagoda,” Ma Su Mon Hein said. “After listening to the Venerable Chekinda’s sermon, I gradually came to believe in Buddhism,” she added. “This is the third time I have come here to pursue meditation through my own motivations and beliefs. Practising meditation helps me to live my life harmoniously within my society,” she said. “I have acquired a much deeper concentration on my studies than I had before. Meditation also helps me to cleanse some of my spiritual defilement to a certain extent. I get used to being content with what I have,” Ma Su Mon Hein added. “Before practising meditation, my mind was full of mess. Afterwards, things become clear and illusion and delusion gradually fade,” she said. “We teenagers can easily tend to commit crime as our minds are not mature enough. As for me, my purpose in practising meditation is to control my mind and to avoid doing wrong,” Ko Aung Shwe Htun, a botanical student, explained. “Practising meditation is the only way to control our complicated mind amid a daily life that seems ever more stifling,” he said. “As meditation is a kind of mental training to ease stress and mental suffering, it is not intended solely for those who believe in Buddhism. Anyone can practise regardless of race or religion, age or time,” said Ma Mya Thida, who studied and practised meditation for a decade after matriculation. “It helps you distinguish very clearly between right and wrong.” Ma Mya Thida believes that anyone who wants to enjoy peace of mind, maturity, mental healthy and tranquillity should practise meditation regularly because it can help practitioners liberate themselves from samsara – the cycle of life in the next existence – and attain nibbana, which is the extinction of all suffering. In this centre, the Venerable Chekinda has lectured to the younger generation on how to improve social relationships; resolve misunderstandings among friends, parents and relatives; perform meritorious deeds; smooth the rough edges of the mind; and raise the intellect, Ko Nay Zaw Linn Oo said. “Our centre is a branch of Mahasi Vippasana and founded by Thadhamaranthi Sayadaw. There are altogether six centres across the country. We invite all those who want to pursue meditation in our centre, including foreigners,” U Kaung Yin said. “This is my first time to study and practise meditation. My parents and friends encouraged me to learn meditation in this centre while I was in Myanmar,” said Ko Ye Htwe, a 20-year-old student from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Meditation encompasses a variety of techniques that develop mindfulness, concentration, tranquillity and insight, willpower and self-confidence. One can pursue meditation regardless of faith. Non-Buddhists often use these techniques to attain physical and mental health as well as for non-Buddhist spiritual ends. Buddhists pursue meditation as part of the path toward enlightenment and nibbana. In sum, meditation is a way to quiet the mind.