Spirituality & Practice

By Po-Ting (Duke) Lin

My great-grandmother used to tell me, “Imagination is the true eyes of one’s mindset.” She often claimed, in a matter-of-fact tone, that this was the sole rule she followed in her lifetime. I long questioned this advice. I wondered if imagination truly had a purpose, or if it was a self-indulgent fascination compared to everything that the eyes see.

Ever since I was little, my great-grandmother had emphasized the importance of investigating the Buddhist teachings of the Four Noble Truths . . .

By Nathan Zhang for KidSpirit's Fulfillment issue.

There are 800 kilometers between the cities of Beijing and Kaifeng, a lengthy gap mercifully shortened by the invention of rail. What was originally a laborious six and a half hours by car is now a slight three by train, and therefore it is a matter of practicality that the train is the preferred method of transit when I divorce the capital to make my yearly visit south. The cars and facilities are cool and clean, and the moquette seats, though not quite comfortable, are adequate and spacious enough. Besides, boredom is never a consideration when traveling by rail, or it at least has never been a concern to me. The large windows grant me the ability to spend hours entertained by nothing more than the passing of the countryside, the blurring of gingko trees with stone terraces, the sloping hills which slowly cascade down into many fisheries.

I must admit, however, that I also have a few sentimental and personal reasons . . .

By Khawaja Mustafa Shah for KidSpirit's Fear and Anxiety issue.

“If you are going through hell, keep going.”
— Winston Churchill

While these words are meant to inspire people, some misinterpret them. These people say that each person should face their own problems by themselves and should not stop to take care of themselves or their state of mind. Such is the status quo of mental health issues in Pakistan.

There has always been a stigma around discussing mental health issues . . .

By Ameena Naqvi for KidSpirit's The Adventurous Spirit issue.

What are we searching for when we explore the unknown?
Humanity's interest in the unknown is universal and enduring.

Humans are driven to explore the unfamiliar, discover new worlds, and push the boundaries of our scientific and technical limits. This great desire has been incited by our need to challenge what is possible for humans and improve the lives of our communities.

Growing up, the greatest explorers of my childhood ranged from . . .

By Heer Cheema for KidSpirit's Unity and Division issue.

They are restless, moving backward and forward, surrounded by a miasma of uncertainty and despair. Sleeping in airports, caught in transition, they have no homes, because bans and war-ravaged countries are their reality. They are a reflection of my past.

Pakistani history and literature is rife with this familiar tale of displacement. Saadat Hasan Manto, an Indo-Pakistani writer, in his 1955 short story titled “Toba Tek Singh,” reflects on the anguish and loss associated with the divisions on paper that wrought destruction on millions of lives during the Partition of the Subcontinent in 1947. His protagonist, Bishan Singh, lies lost in “no–man’s–land,” unable to return home as a result of these arbitrary borders. “No–Man’s–Land” is not only a region in conflict but, as Manto highlights, a state of distress and disconnect.

Bishan Singh’s dilemma is universal . . .

By Nargis Kachrumathur for KidSpirit's Nature issue.

My relationship with nature has always been an odd one; sometimes I appreciate its beauty and benefits, while sometimes I despise things about it.

Mostly I’m in awe of it, baffled by the many phenomena one can see in it, and constantly wondering why things happen the way they do in the ecosystems of the world. We don’t follow any religious practices or cultural beliefs in my household as such, but the kinds of media, books, and places my parents expose me to have inculcated a natural connection with nature in me. Growing up, I have heard many stories and watched many movies in which nature is a big part and grown to learn that we should handle it with extreme caution and care, as it is the main reason we are alive today.

From the very beginning, I have been surrounded by nature . . .

By Kavya Shah for KidSpirit's Fear and Anxiety issue.

When you stand before what you are most afraid of, chills run down your spine, your teeth chatter, your knees shake, you get goose-bumps, and your pulse quickens. This is essentially your body’s way of acknowledging the presence of fear.

When this happens, your body has one of two instincts, fight or flight. It is our community and tradition that teach us how to react in the face of peril, by facing our fears or by running away. If you have been taught from an early age how to handle stressful situations, you will be able to perform better under pressure once you are older. Therefore, experiences, friends, family, and faith can help us respond to stressful situations and reduce our chances of feeling apprehensive.

People are unique, so how they react to stressful situations differs . . .

Artwork by Ranjita Lama.
Poem by Krish Gurung for KidSpirit's Society and the Individual issue.

My mom is my heart
She is the everything of my life.

A human who gave me birth . . .

By Fizza Raza for KidSpirit's Nature issue.

The earliest records of history show that nature, in all its shapes and forms, has served humanity. From rocks used as hunting tools to fruit used as sustenance, humankind has always looked to nature for survival.

This is not a dependency confined to ancient times; it seeps into our everyday lives today, too. Industries, households, and entire societies are powered solely on what nature offers us, be it water, coal, electricity, or energy in any form. Upon closer inspection, this seems rather odd. Human beings are, above all, characterized as fiercely independent and progressive: in fact, as the most intelligent species to colonize the planet. How is it then that humanity, this remarkable species, depends entirely on nature for its survival? Perhaps an even greater cause for indignation — how is it that we are destroying the very thing responsible for our survival and continued progression? Whether or not humans have a “right” to exploit nature, our survival depends on its survival. As the only species capable of saving the environment, we must now work to serve its interests in more ways.

Do we, as a species, deserve nature? . . .

By Rajvi Khanjan for KidSpirit's Fulfillment Issue

"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms."
— Zen proverb

I remember the first day of ballet very clearly, the nervousness bubbling up inside of me, but a sense of excitement, too. I remember wondering what it would feel like to dance so gracefully, as if on clouds.

As soon as I stepped into the class, though, all excitement dissolved. The scene in front of me was not at all what I was hoping for: 4-year-olds, all of them shorter than me by at least a head. I felt ridiculous.

We began the class with splits.. . .