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Recently, I visited the elementary school, Sung Nam Elementary School, in rural South Korea, from which I graduated 45 years ago. The playground, in which I used to run and get out of breath, now looked to me like a very small garden.
Standing before the old school building and playground, I fell into a deep meditation for a long while. In my eyes, many vivid pictures from the past 45 years of my life, starting with my days in this school, went through my mind.
In the middle of this quiet and peaceful state of mind, my life’s journey flowed on like a movie. In it, a small boy who played very joyfully in this playground became an older gentleman with gray hair – who now communicates an Earth Human culture by making worldwide tours and meeting many diverse people.
I also imagined the time remaining for me to live on this precious Earth. The thought came naturally to my mind that I should devote my life to sharing and serving humanity. This end is now much more important and meaningful to me than anything else I could be doing.
The principal of this school is an esteemed educator with a strong educational philosophy. However, he confided that his school, located in a rural area losing population, might be on the verge of closing – if only two more students transfer to other schools.
I felt very sad thinking that this school – from which my father graduated in its 10th term and later taught, and I graduated in its 35th term with the many memories of my childhood – might very soon simply disappear. I grabbed the principal’s hands and declared my heart’s intention to help revive “our” school so that it survives and even thrives. I promised that I would facilitate the teachers, parents, students, and him to become “one mind” in making a happy and creative school. I would contribute my expertise in Brain Education to be practiced in this school, so that children would want to attend it, even coming from distant places.
South Korea’s University of Brain Education, of which I am the president, and Sung Nam Elementary School set up a collaborative relationship, announced in the school’s hall, December 5, 2007, the same day on which the Charter of National Education is celebrated in South Korea. The school graciously declared this date henceforth be called “Ilchi Lee Day.” Because of the connection to my childhood, I was happier this day than the times when 10 American cities honored me by declaring various dates as “Ilchi Lee Day.”
I feel really joyful in imagining my young juniors in Sung Nam Elementary School growing up with a sensitive, artistic and empowered personality, because of their experience with Brain Education methods – such as HSP (Health, Smile, Peace) 12 Steps, a program for physical and mental strengthening.
With all my heart, I would like to recommend that people who graduated elementary school two or three decades ago, make a visit to their elementary schools. Then they too may have a meaningful opportunity to reflect on their lives and to make a new plan for living their lives and contributing to the betterment of other people. If the school needs help, it can be an even more meaningful visit.
A meditation tour to your elementary school... you can meet yourself there.
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