After they ’ ve read about the meditation , and we ’ ve discussed it a bit , they try it . We use a YouTube video designed to guide university students through the Loving Kindness Meditation ( click for video ). This is an excellent video for teachers who may be new to meditation and lack confidence in leading students through it themselves . As students listen , they visualize the people they decided on and imagine their own loving kindness moving from their own hearts to these people .
Being Japanese , and growing up in a culture rich in Buddhist and Shinto influences , our students have at least heard of meditation , and many have a general idea of what it is . But most have never tried it . Trying it for the first time in an English class gives some students pause . However , after going through the handout and learning about some of the positive effects of meditation , and then practicing breathing , they seem generally willing to try . Practicing and memorizing the four sentences is language practice , which they value . Visualizing the four categories of people is straight forward , and the activity is unthreatening as it does not force students toward any overtly spiritual aspect of meditation .
Most college students are very busy with school , part-time jobs , social activities , and so on . So stopping and taking time to meditate in class can be a rewarding opportunity to release the stress they may be carrying . We have students write their reflections after each class and the comments on meditation are typically very positive , such as , “ Meditation made me really calm ,” “ I would like to do meditation when I get a lot of stress ,” and “ This topic was a little difficult , but I think meditation is very important .” We hope that introducing our students to a tool they can use to manage stress and enhance health and happiness is worthwhile whether they actually take it up as a habit in the future or not .