This morning we welcomed Sister Metta, from Chithurst Monastery, to our school.

Pupils from Dragonfly (Reception class) organised a special puja to welcome Sister to the school and showed her pictures of their favourite toys, as well as toys that they had made, including some wooden-spoon puppets and cardboard robots.

After Sister Metta had toured the school, she also talked with pupils from Lotus class (Years 5 - 6) who told her all about their pets and upcoming SATS tests! Here’s what some of them had to say about the visit:

“I liked how Sister Metta guided us through the meditation and what she said about not having any regrets, but that she did have doubts about going to the monastery. We told her about our meditations, what we do, what we like and what our favourite meditations are.”

“She said she found happiness just by following one simple path and that she didn’t have to try many other things just to find happiness.”

“We’ve had different monks and nuns come and give talks and each brings something different. Sister Metta brought the feeling that you can change everything, but the one thing you always have is who you are and you can always find happiness in yourself.”

“Having visits like this grounds the Buddhist tradition back into the school and the reason they founded this school in the first place – because there were no Buddhist schools. Even though we’re not taught that we have to believe in the Buddhist faith, it is still interesting to learn from the one faith that is behind the ethos of the school.”

“I learned that happiness and compassion are a way out of suffering and that suffering comes from inside you. Happiness in myself and others can spread out and radiate around you.”