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I would like to ask that you please do something to help remove Mindfulness
Meditation and Mindfulness-oriented programs, from all public schools in your
District. I would also like to notify you of an online petition which is seeking to
remove all Mindfulness Meditation and Mindfulness-oriented programs, from
Canadian public schools. If you visit that petition:
https://www.change.org/p/minister-of-education-please-remove-the-mindfulness-
program-from-canadian-public-schools you will see there is undeniable proof that
Mindfulness sessions are in fact Mindfulness Meditation sessions. Mindfulness
Meditation sessions qualify as Guided Meditation and Buddhist Meditation. The
aforementioned petition notes the following facts:
In addition to all of this, I would like to make you aware that the aforementioned
petition clarifies how legislated meditation is not lawful in Canada (under Section
Two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms). The petition also outlines how
all provinces and territories in Canada have their own additional laws that designate
public schools as secular schools. For example, Section 76 of the BC School Act says:
All schools and Provincial schools must be conducted on strictly secular and non-
sectarian principles. The highest morality must be inculcated, but no religious dogma
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or creed is to be taught in a school or Provincial school. This means Canadian public
schools can briefly teach students about what Buddhist Meditation is, but they violate
the rights of the students if they solicit them into practicing it.
The petition also outlines how the Media has reported how some people have
experienced negative side effects from practicing meditation. Here is one example:
A UBC psychiatrist told me on the weekend he has had six patients who had their
first psychotic episodes while meditating. To say the least, it was stunning to hear
such a high number. All in just a few years. However, it is not exactly new in the
world of psychology and psychiatry. vancouversun.com; Article: "Can Meditation be
Dangerous to Your Mental Health?" Publish Date: 01.23.2012.
Besides the above-noted News article, the Mindfulness Petition lists three other News
articles which outline the documented risks associated with practicing meditation:
1) https://health.spectator.co.uk/what-mindfulness-gurus-dont-tell-you-meditation-
has-a-dark-side/ 2) https://www.good.is/articles/when-meditation-is-bad-for-you 3)
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/aug/25/mental-health-meditation 4)
And this 2009 Case Study which highlights the risks associated with meditation:
http://spu.edu/depts/spfc/happenings/documents/13_2009_Lustyketal_MM_safety_
AMBM.pdf
In light of this information, I think you are obligated to help remove Mindfulness
Meditation from all public schools in your District. Mindfulness Meditation should not
be mandatory and cannot be legally legislated upon all students. At the very least:
1) Parents should be informed that these programs involve meditation; 2) Parents
should be informed of the risks associated with meditation; and 3) Parents should be
required to sign waivers (opting their children in or out of Mindfulness Meditation
sessions).
Thank you,
Sincerely,