A smile comes over my face as I see the children crossing the Master Unit lawn in front of me. Some are skipping, others walking; one is holding Prema’s hand. They have just arrived from their primary school, 9 km away from our Master Unit, for the Sunshine Afterschool program they attend several times per week.

With the sunny spring weather the children choose the second floor of the bakery as the place to do their homework today. They settle in, some sooner than others and notebooks, textbooks and stationary scatter out over the long table. A cool breeze flows through the open area as silence sets in and young minds get focused on the tasks at hand. “Monkey!!” one child exclaims and all concentration is broken at once. The children rush to the back to see one of our frequently visiting hairy friends walk up and down the fallen bamboo in the forest behind the Master Unit. Eventually, as the monkey returns to the deeper forest, the children return to their work.

Those who have completed their homework make their own magic meditation mat from newspaper and colored sheets cut into snowflake shapes. They enjoy some free activities, being creative and help each other in the process.

As everyone’s homework is completed it is time for the yoga class. Whereas adults look forward to relax in a yoga class, the children have a rather different approach. Restless and fidgety we start. The children who have attended several semesters can do the exercises better, but the newcomers are keen to impress and are behaving better. Positive encouragement goes a long way as we try to change the classroom dynamics. Whereas usually negative behavior gets more attention from the teachers, by calling the child, asking him or her to behave better or pay attention, we try to do the opposite. We praise the children who are behaving well and are doing their best while ignoring small disturbances or attention seeking from others. Consequently, those who were not following the instructions or causing the disturbances shape up in an effort to get the positive attention from the teacher as well. It works!

At the end of the yoga class we sing kiirtan (“Baba Nam Kevalam” – Love is all there is”) and do some meditation together. Still some children are restless, and some don’t even seem to be trying. We make it a “Sadhana Shivir”, alternating short kiirtan with short meditations. The children who do their best in meditation get instruments to play along in the kiirtan for the next round. After 3 rounds, even the most restless boy is sitting quietly with his eyes closed, motionless. A moment of silence in their very restless lives…

After spiritual practice comes service and the children love to join in the gardening work. Watering the new boundary plants, vegetables and flowers is a favorite. As watering cans and hoses run out an innovative couple of boys fills up the wheelbarrow with water. They will find out later it is not easy to move but getting wet is all part of the fun and the fact that they are not shy to try new ways is the most important part of it all.

After all the hard work the children gather again for a homemade snack. If only they would eat such healthy food!

With 15 minutes left before returning home, the children pick up a ball and play their favorite game. As they are running around, laughing loudly, on the same lawn that they crossed hours earlier, a smile comes to my face once again. The circle of joy is round!