Thank you very much to all our young friends who so generously shared their mindfulness-inspired artwork with us! We have been delighted to get a glimpse of your experience with mindfulness and at our practice centers through your creativity.
Jet, Age 7, Memphis, USA
“This drawing is mindfulness because it shows nature and a mindful walking path. I feel happy when looking at it because it is colorful and is nature. I walked with the monks at Magnolia Grove. This picture reminds me of that.”
Kaelyn, Age 9, Mission Viejo, California, USA
“Being Buddhist has taught me so much about being a kind and compassionate human being. By showing me to be the best person I can be, to always appreciate my surroundings more and to be a good example for my little sister to lean on. I’m so grateful for what being Buddhist has taught me.”
Etienne, Age 15, Strasbourg, France
“For me, Plum Village brings up feelings of nostalgia. I remember this one summer, when the sun from Dordogne was beaming down on my skin. I was running among the peaceful adults who were concentrating on walking meditation. And there is Thich Nhat Hanh. His soft gaze… Around him, there were some children, some of whom were lucky enough to be holding his hand. Curious, I started approaching calmly to walk next to him. After a few minutes of walking by his side, I ended up holding his hand. And that’s when a feeling of serenity came over me. I didn’t have any more desire to run around in every direction, but rather to hold the hand of this teacher until the end of the walking. This was a first for me as a little boy.” *
Emma, Age 9, Saint-Germain en Laye, France
“Under the moon light, the bunny with her friends the tulips go over the sea on a raft. To adventure!!!”
Emma drew while mom meditated (with the newsletter, The Raft). The lines like wind in the air is “peace,” Emma says.
Zoe, Age 8, New Paltz, NY, USA
Laura, Age 8, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
“This is our family meditating in the garden.”
* Etienne’s original account in French:
"Le village des Pruniers réveille chez moi un sentiment de nostalgie. Je me souviens de cet été, où le soleil de Dordogne tapait sur ma peau avec abondance. Un souvenir marquant me revient. Je courais entre les adultes paisibles et concentrés durant une marche méditative. En tête : Tich Nhat Han. Le regard tranquille... Autour de lui, quelques enfant et certains d'entre eux avaient le privilège de le lui donner la main. Curieux, je m'approchais calmement pour marcher au côté de ce dernier. Après quelques minutes à ses côtés je finis par lui tenir la main. C'est alors qu'un sentiment de sérénité m'envahit. Je n'eu plus envie de galoper dans tous les sens, mais de tenir la main du maître jusqu'à la fin de la marche. Une première pour le petit garçon que j'étais."