Mindfulness

Education Beyond Schooling

Daily practices are the cornerstone of Jhamtse Gatsal’s effort to live consciously and mindfully. 

Seven Foundational Elements of Growth

These elements are interdependence, equanimity, generosity, gratitude, love, compassion, and responsibility. We consider these basic skills that every child must be equipped with. They are fundamental for growth. Our PreK-5 classrooms are named after these principles. Each successive year focuses on a theme and builds on it as the child progresses from grade to grade. These skills are not only necessary for our young children; they are also needed for preteens, teenagers, and adults. Thus, the days of the week at Jhamtse Gatsal are named after these elements, with theme-based practices assigned to each day. These values are embodied in all our daily activities and tasks.

Karmayaan

Karmayaan comes from Karma, which means “actions or behaviors,” and Yaan, which means “vehicle.” Thus, Karmayaan is a deliberate introspection and self-analysis tool to help us understand the relationship between our actions and their consequences. Our actions lead us to desired and undesired destinations. The goal of Karmayaan is not just to stop inappropriate behaviors but to ensure that children learn, reflect, and engage in transforming.

At Jhamtse Gatsal, we use this practice, rather than rewards and punishments, to develop intrinsic motivation and a will to change undesirable behaviors. Karmayaan teaches responsibility by holding us accountable for our choices and behaviors. It also provides an opportunity to see better choices and the ability to make wiser decisions. As a mindful and reflective practice, Karmayaan ignites the self-awareness and self-control mechanisms needed to detect habitual behaviors and helps to stop unwanted behaviors and thus undesirable consequences. Karmayaan is included as a part of all daily activities and is an essential aspect of life at Jhamtse Gatsal.

Giving a Break to Mother Earth and Feeding the Hungry

This Jhamtse practice of giving up one meal a week acknowledges Mother Earth's generosity and gives her a small break from providing for our daily needs. The food saved from this weekly one-meal abstinence by our community of about 150 people can feed approximately 50 local children for one month. This simple practice helps us to embody the essence of interdependence at a personal level and meets the needs of others.