Writes Dr Timothy Birtles, Teacher of Philosophy and Religion
Dr. Birtles’ GCSE Philosophy and Religion class is on a quest for enlightenment this term, starting each RP lesson with three minutes of Buddhist meditation. The technique, known as mindfulness of breathing, involves focusing on the breath while simply noticing thoughts non-judgementally. This practice, called mindfulness meditation, helps students observe mental activity without clinging to it, gradually discovering what some traditions call the inner witness—a detached awareness beyond passing thoughts.
Alongside meditation, students are grappling with tricky Zen Buddhist sayings, including the famous paradox: “If you meet the Buddha, kill him.” To deepen understanding, a class competition is underway for the best interpretation of this quote. The winning entry so far comes from Suraj D. (Divs), who offered two insightful responses:
- Philosophical Response: Destroy attachment to all fixed ideas and authorities—even the Buddha—because truth must be discovered through direct experience, not imitation or dependence.
- Religious Response: Let go of external images of the Buddha so that his true teaching—awakening, compassion, and non-attachment—can fully happen within your own mind.
The verdict is still out on whether anyone is closer to Nirvana, but the journey is proving thought-provoking. Next stop: enlightenment…
