Q and A with Ajahn Jayasaro
The Venerable Ajahn Jayasaro kindly visited Panyaden School to meet students, parents and teachers. Our students prepared a list of questions to ask him.
“Why are you a monk?” asked Nova from K2- K3. Because I thought it was the best way to become a better person and create a better world, Ajahn Jayasaro replied. Lily from P1-P2 asked, “Why do you meditate?” He responded that it helps calm the mind and keep us in the present moment.
Praise the behaviour, not the child
In the talk with parents, Ajahn Jayasaro cautioned against telling your children ‘You are smart’ or ‘you are beautiful.’ This can impose a fixed identity on a child that is difficult to shake off and encourages children to focus on an attribute that may not be beneficial to them, such as physical looks. We should instead praise effort. Enjoying one’s own effort is more likely to lead to happiness, regardless of ultimate success or failure.
