Leading Light | It Is Time To Protect The Minds Of Our Students
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We need to teach our children how to have non-violent communication, how to broaden their vision and how to develop patience. This is where spirituality comes in
The secret to a happy mind lies in our breath. By controlling the breath, you can become calmer, collect yourself and remain centered. (AI Generated)
It is so saddening to hear about the recent student suicide. This incident should come as a wake-up call. Especially now, when there is so much uncertainty, when emotions in people sway from tension and aggression on one side, to depression on the other, mental health has become the biggest challenge in the world.
We need to improve the quality of life of our students. Just look at children when they are in nursery school or kindergarten — there is so much joy, happiness and celebration in their life. But as they grow older and go to high school, do you observe these same qualities in them? Do they grow in joy and bliss, or are they moving towards unfriendly behaviour, frustration, agitation and dullness? Is this what we are doing to our children? Are we spending so much money only to bring suffering upon them? And this is not an isolated instance. This is a widespread issue all over the globe, especially in developed nations and metropolitan cities.
Did you know that every 40 seconds one person is taking their life? It is so painful to even know this. We have to wake up. We can stop this if we all collectively decide to bring about a change in society. When you see a sad face, do not just pass by. Stop and talk to them. Ask them what the matter is and whether you can help. When we do this, we open up people’s hearts and minds.
Neither at home nor at school does anyone teach us how to handle our mind and our emotions. Education is not just collecting information. It is learning to know who you are and what your capacity is. It is learning to understand the layers of your existence — body, breath, mind, intellect, memory, ego and the Self. We are totally ignorant of these layers, so we do not know how to handle ourselves when anger or depression rises within us.
We need to teach our children how to have non-violent communication, how to broaden their vision and how to develop patience. This is where spirituality comes in. Meditation can help us transform negative emotions into positive ones.
The secret to a happy mind lies in our breath. By controlling the breath, you can become calmer, collect yourself and remain centered. Techniques like pranayama and Sudarshan Kriya help students feel empowered, happy and become kind and compassionate as they move forward in life. This has to reach every school and every home if we want a happy society. When you meditate, you will feel that difference. All your past scars that have been bothering you will disappear in no time.
Your life is precious. Do not lose it over someone else’s actions or some small failures. Know you are deeply loved and needed on this planet. You should value yourself more than anything else in the world, because you are the centre of your world.
If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
The author is a humanitarian leader, spiritual teacher and an ambassador of peace. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
November 24, 2025, 09:24 IST
