Meditation for Thursday 13th February 2025
The longest running children’s program on television in the world is the BBC production, ‘Blue Peter’. It began in October 1958.
The ABC children’s program, ‘Playschool’ is the second longest and in some survey periods when they factor in those that access ‘Playschool’ on IView it is the highest rating program on the ABC. It began in July 1966.
‘Playschool’ is often an excellent program to illustrate the power of mindfulness.
One program in particular showed the presenters, Zindi and Matt in a mindfulness cupboard, a tent in the studio where the “Playschool” characters, Big Ted and Little Ted and an assortment of other toys joined them. The audience, mainly pre-schoolers but also a sizable number of adults were also asked to join them in their imagination. They invited the children to imagine smelling the lavender, cinnamon, basil and assorted herbs they had in the cubby.
Matt played the ukulele suggesting to his audience that they listen carefully to the soothing sounds of the strings. Zindi took a jar of water with glitter, shook it vigorously then allowed the glitter to settle. She suggested the children imagine that sometimes we are all ‘shook-up’ but if we try we can become settled and the way to do this was to breathe mindfully.
I have watched ‘Playschool’ hundreds of times with my children and grandchildren and enjoyed the simplicity of its production. On this occasion I was thrilled that the producers were teaching these pre-schoolers and anyone else that was watching that day some basics in the art of mindfulness meditation.
In simplicity and with a restful heart let us now spend time in meditation emptying our mind of thoughts to dwell in the mystery of the present moment.
Meditation
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Check out the range of spirituality programs offered by the Carmelite Centre at www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org