A Day of Stillness: What Zen Teaches Us
Faithfully Explore! with Laura
A calm, mindful journey for kids ages 5–12 and their grown-ups
Episode Overview
What if an adventure didn’t involve rushing, noise, or doing more — but instead invited us to slow down and be still?
In this gentle and grounding episode of Faithfully Explore!, Laura guides listeners into the world of Zen, a tradition within Buddhism that teaches mindfulness, compassion, simplicity, and acceptance. Through storytelling, imagination, movement, breathing, and play, kids learn that stillness itself can be a powerful adventure — and a skill they can use anytime life feels loud.
What We Explore in This Episode
What Is Zen?
- A kid-friendly introduction to Zen and its roots in Buddhism
- The story of Bodhidharma, the monk who brought Zen (Chan Buddhism) from India to China
- How Zen later traveled to Japan and developed into two main schools:
- Rinzai Zen (koans & riddles)
- Sōtō Zen (quiet sitting meditation)
Life in a Zen Monastery
- What a typical Zen day looks like: meditation, work, study, and rest
- Zen gardens, bells, cushions, and teachers called Zen Masters
- A reminder that Zen can be serious and joyful — humor and warmth included
Zen Around the World
- How Zen and mindfulness are practiced today across the globe
- A spotlight on modern Zen teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh and his teaching: “Peace in every step”
- Why simplicity and presence matter in a busy world
Guided Imagination: A Zen Mountain Temple
Listeners are invited to imagine:
- Walking barefoot into a quiet Japanese temple
- Moving gently like bamboo in the wind
- Sitting in stillness as a bell fades into silence
- Discovering a calm place they can return to anytime with one breath
Friendship Bridge: Zen & Other Traditions
We cross our Friendship Bridge to discover how stillness and reflection appear in many belief systems:
- Christianity – contemplative prayer
- Islam – dhikr (remembrance)
- Hinduism – meditation and yoga
- Judaism – quiet, personal prayer and reflection
Different paths, shared values — a core message of Faithfully Explore!
Game Time: The Stillness Switch
A brand-new interactive game that helps kids:
