“Why do you meditate?” we asked a group of 5 and 6-year-olds at the Instilling Goodness Elementary Schools. Watch the video to hear what the kids think of meditation. Bhikshuni Heng Yin, principal of Instilling Goodness Elementary and Developing Virtue Secondary Schools [IGDVS], discusses the benefits of integrating meditative practice with the K-12 curriculum.

IGDVS is founded on the core virtues of kindness, filial piety, respect, trustworthiness, fairness, citizenship, integrity and humility. The schools provide an environment for students to achieve their full academic potential and become outstanding citizens who will contribute to making our world a better place. In a unique, monastic environment, students gain a deep appreciation of their own spiritual natures and inherent wisdom.

Bhikshuni Heng Yin has been a Buddhist nun for 20 years ordained under the guidance of the late Venerable Master Hsuan Hua. She is a translator for the Buddhist Text Translation Society as well as the principal of the Instiling Goodness Elementary and Developing Virtue Secondary Girls’ Schools at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Bhikshuni Heng Yin holds an MA in Translation of Buddhist Texts from DRBU.