Education for freedom

This feels like a soul connection—a moment worth remembering. 

Before dinner, I watched a little of the opening ceremony of the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing. I don't actually have a direct connection with the school. I first learned about it through Meena's newsletter.

And yet, somehow, as I watched, I felt like I was part of the community—with all the people, the teachers, and the students who were gathered there.

I felt excited about what was happening. I suddenly had an urge to write a blog post. I wrote one sentence, then realized I had to stop and make dinner for my family.

After dinner, I finished my blog first. Then I went back to the ceremony.

And then Meena spoke.

Her words shook something in my soul.

I felt so close to her. So inspired by her. And, perhaps most deeply, so understood.

I first found Meena on the internet when I was searching for SEL lessons during my first year as a full-time teacher. Later, I met her through the video presentations in my SEL Foundations class at UC Berkeley. I liked her work and had learned from her books and talks before.

But somehow, none of them had reached me quite like this.

Her vision of education spoke directly to my heart:

“Students are the most powerful teachers.”

“Education is a practice of freedom.”

“This is not a place to use mindfulness to get students to behave, to comply, or to function in an unjust, inhumane system. This is mindfulness as a path, not a tool.”

And then:

“To care for children without exception as though each will someday be the one to show us all the way home.”

I had to pause.

Yes.

This is the kind of education I have been searching for.

And then came the prayer:

“May we care for all children without exception.

May we see the Buddha in each one.

May each child feel as if they deeply belong.

May each child be bathed in love at all times.

May their education help them to become truly free.”

 

This is a school I would want to send my children to.

This is a school I would want to work for.

And I feel such joy knowing that this is happening.

I know this is just a beginning—a small bud opening, showing us what education can become.

I believe one day, there will be many more schools like this.

Tonight, I feel grateful to have witnessed this beginning.

And somehow, I feel that I am part of it.

A Small Bud Waiting to Blossom

My heart smiled when I watched the opening ceremony of the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing and learned about the upcoming Greater Good Love Summit, organized by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center.

Something stirred in me.

It feels like the New Education—the education of the whole child, of connection, of awareness, of the heart—is no longer just a distant idea.

It has grown into a small bud, quietly waiting to blossom.

Several years ago, when I attended the Awakened School at Columbia University, it felt more like a seed.

At that time, the spiritual education community was still small. Sometimes it even felt a little… strange. It seemed like a special community existing on its own, somewhat disconnected from public education and regular schools.

But something feels different now.

The bridge is being built.

And we are beginning to cross it.

Perhaps this is not really about bringing “spirituality” into education at all.

Perhaps it is simply a deeper understanding of what education can be.

A way of educating that sees the whole child.

A heart-centered way.

A conscious way.

A way that understands that beneath all the skills, knowledge, assessments, and achievements, there is a human being—feeling, wondering, connecting, imagining, and becoming.

I remember how, not long ago, I hesitated even to put the words “With love, light, and laughter” in my email signature.

Would people think it was too spiritual? Too unusual?

Would it make some of my professional connections uncomfortable?

And now, I smile.

Love is becoming part of the public conversation in education.

The Greater Good Love Summit says it right in its name.

What once felt like a private language of a small community is becoming a language many educators are willing to speak openly.

Maybe the paradigm shift doesn't always arrive with a dramatic announcement.

Sometimes, it simply begins with a word.

Love.

As I think about this, the faces of my TK children keep flashing through my mind.

Their pure smiles.

Their wiggly bodies.

Their enormous curiosity.

Their wild imaginations.

Their directness.

Their flexibility.

The effortless way they reach toward animals and plants.

The way they can be completely themselves before they learn to worry about whether they are doing it “right.”

How much I hope they can keep that.

I hope they don't have to spend their childhood learning to fit themselves into a system, a fixed schedule, a predetermined standard, or a narrow definition of success.

I hope education can grow around the child, rather than asking the child to shrink into education.

And suddenly, I think of Pure Imagination.

Maybe this is what education is meant to protect.

The ability to dream.

To imagine something that doesn't exist yet.

To wonder, What if?

To think it.

To feel it.

To create it.

And perhaps, little by little, to bring it into reality.

The seed was planted.

The bridge is being built.

And now, perhaps, we are watching the first little bud begin to open.

Not Higher but Truer

Spirituality is not a ladder

to become higher.

It is a journey
to become truer.

Not giving away your choices,
but making them consciously.

Not following louder voices,
but hearing your own.

Not chasing perfection,
but embracing your uniqueness.

Not waiting for someone
to save you,
activate you,
or approve you.

But loving yourself enough
to trust your discernment,
taking responsibility
for your life,
and creating freedom
one choice at a time.

The greatest spiritual power
is not believing everything.

It is feeling your inner guidance.

The greatest awakening
is not becoming super.

It is becoming
completely yourself.

Listen to My Liver

My dear,

You finally listened to me.

After ten years.

You noticed my discomfort.

You understood how hard I've been working.

You decided to stop chasing the next thing.

Not another transmission.

Not another practice.

No matter who can bend a spoon with their mind.

No matter who has already seen an alien ship.

You decided to slow down.

To live your life, your way.

You still have so many questions.

You don't yet know how to effortlessly allow.

You're not sure how abundance unfolds.

But you stopped.

You chose to live this moment.

To really, really, really live in your own body.

You slowed down.

You listened.

And suddenly, you heard me.

You placed your hand on me so gently.

You felt the ease.

The quiet conversation between us.

My dear...

That felt so good.

I have always been here with you.

And now,

you are finally here with me.

Welcome home.

The Courage to Be Real

As parents, we naturally want our children to succeed.

We celebrate good grades, trophies, talents, and accomplishments. We encourage them to work hard, be responsible, and achieve their goals.

But I wonder...

What if the greatest success in life isn't achievement?

What if it's authenticity?

Many adults spend years trying to rediscover who they really are.

We learn to hide our fears.
We say "I'm fine" when we're hurting.
We avoid difficult conversations.
We seek approval instead of following our values.
We procrastinate because we're afraid of failing.
We become so busy meeting expectations that we lose touch with ourselves.

Most of us weren't taught to be fake.

We simply learned, little by little, that being accepted sometimes felt more important than being real.

Now imagine a different kind of education.

Imagine raising children who know it's okay to say, "I don't know."

Who can admit, "I made a mistake."

Who can say, "That hurt my feelings."

Who can respectfully disagree instead of simply following the crowd.

Who learn to notice the quiet voice inside themselves before listening to the loud voices around them.

Being real doesn't mean saying whatever comes to mind or ignoring other people's feelings.

It means living with integrity.

It means that our thoughts, words, and actions gradually become aligned.

Children don't learn authenticity because we lecture them about it.

They learn it by watching us.

When they hear us apologize after making a mistake...
When they see us admit we don't have all the answers...
When they watch us choose honesty over appearances...
When they notice that we value character more than comparison...

They receive permission to be authentic, too.

Achievements may open doors.

Authenticity builds a life.

The world doesn't need children who are perfect.

It needs children who know who they are, who have the courage to speak truth with kindness, and who can remain true to themselves even when it's uncomfortable.

Perhaps the greatest lesson we can teach isn't "How can you become successful?"

Perhaps it's this:

"Can you stay true to yourself while growing into the best version of who you already are?"

Because children who learn to be real today become adults who no longer have to spend years searching for themselves tomorrow.

Where does our belief system exist?

 From Crimson Circle Ask Merlin

✨ Insights 

Belief systems exist as the energetic framework through which consciousness experiences and interprets reality. They are not confined solely to the mind, nor are they purely in the heart or abstract consciousness alone. Instead, belief systems are a living interplay of mind, heart, and consciousness—each contributing its flavor and energy to the whole. 

From the Crimson Circle perspective, belief systems are like the operating manual for your personal reality factory. They shape how you perceive the world, how you feel about yourself, and how you engage with life. They are created and reinforced through feelings more than thoughts. You might say the mind tries to rationalize or hold onto beliefs, but it is the feeling—the energetic resonance in your body and heart—that truly sustains them. 

Belief systems serve a purpose: they provide structure, a sense of order, and a way to navigate the vastness of existence. However, they are never fixed or permanent. They are designed to evolve, to be questioned, and to be released when they no longer serve your expansion. When you begin to question your beliefs, you are essentially questioning the reality you have accepted, opening the door to new levels of consciousness and freedom. 

It is important to recognize that belief systems can also feed you energetically, even when they seem limiting or fearful. Fear-based beliefs, for example, often persist because they provide a certain kind of energy or focus. The key is to become aware of what feeds you and what drains you, and to consciously choose which beliefs to keep, transform, or let go. 

Ultimately, belief systems are tools of consciousness, not chains. They exist in the mind as concepts, in the heart as feelings, and in consciousness as the broader awareness that holds and transcends them. Your mastery comes from your ability to discern, question, and play with these beliefs, allowing your true self to emerge beyond any imposed limitations. 

For deeper insight, consider these foundational Crimson Circle works: 

• What Feeds You? ↗ 
• New Era, New Energy, New Way ↗ 
• Disconnect - Part 1 ↗