I teach meditation, Aikido, and nonviolence to kids in East Los Angeles who come from neighborhoods of violence, drive-by shootings, and drugs. The gangs the kids are sometimes pressured into joining reflect the battles their parents at home are fighting with drugs, low self-esteem, and a social and economic climate which is increasingly stacked against Blacks and Hispanics.
In working with these kids I have to express peace in my body and my actions. I have to BE PEACE or their anger, restlessness,
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I teach meditation, Aikido, and nonviolence to kids in East Los Angeles who come from neighborhoods of violence, drive-by shootings, and drugs. The gangs the kids are sometimes pressured into joining reflect the battles their parents at home are fighting with drugs, low self-esteem, and a social and economic climate which is increasingly stacked against Blacks and Hispanics.
In working with these kids I have to express peace in my body and my actions. I have to BE PEACE or their anger, restlessness, fear and discomfort just become a part of me. I don't want to idealize this situation. It has not been easy. But I was amazed that after a couple of weeks many actually learned to "breathe in calm, breathe out ease." I am finding ways to plant seeds of self-respect, and respect and caring for their fellow schoolmates, friends, family, and maybe even those who try to bring harm to them.
It is truly extraordinary how responsive these young people are to the practice of awareness. By learning, little by little, to give some attention to their anger, frustration, and fear—which is of very real violence—they are coming to sense some of their more truly creative capacities, their natural wit and intelligence.
Michele Benzamin-Masuda
Venice, California
