bravery

Alaya Preschool's Principles of Practice

Alaya Preschool's Principles of Practice

Over the next couple of years, and as a part of honoring Alaya Preschool’s 40th anniversary (!), we will be exploring our Principles of Practice. These are 15 different expressions of what happens here at Alaya; they provide a direction and purpose to our work, and perhaps even to our lives altogether.

The Rhythm of the Day at Alaya Preschool

The Rhythm of the Day at Alaya Preschool

The rhythm of the day is the discipline in which the young child’s work is given some predictability. This rhythm allows the children and their teachers to relax within the forms of their day. A child’s experience throughout the day at Alaya arises out of the following forms and rhythms.

Tiger, Lion, Garuda & Dragon - What Do These Names Mean?

Tiger, Lion, Garuda & Dragon - What Do These Names Mean?

A recent community night at Rowan’s preschool (which was founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master and lineage holder), reminded me how lucky I am to send my son to a school honoring the tradition of Shambhala Buddhism (the teachings of which are grounded in the premise that there is a basic human wisdom inherent in human experience, where bravery and fearlessness are cultivated and a ‘basic goodness’ in ourselves and one another is celebrated).

5 Ways To Help Children Be Who They Are

5 Ways To Help Children Be Who They Are

Genuine relationships are what inspires many parents to have their children here at Alaya, many teachers and staff to teach and work here, and is a guiding principle for many people.  But what is it?  What is the experience of being genuine?  How is genuineness cultivated in ourselves and how is it taught, if it even can be taught?