The pilot plan of an elementary school in Foshan, South China’s Guangdong province to replace its customary afternoon nap for students with zazen meditation¹ was recently ended after being tried for only two days, due to the complaints of parents. Comments:

中国南部的广东省佛山市的一所小学试点计划，最近学生用坐禅冥想代替它的午睡习惯，最近由于父母的投诉，在尝试只有两天结束后。下面是来自各方的一些评论：

It is understandable, and should be appreciated, that the principal of the elementary school introduced his 20-year experience of zazen meditation to his students with the best of intentions. However, those good intentions deprived some students of their right to have an afternoon nap. Therefore, to better solve the problem, the school should offer students the choice of sleeping or meditating²。

这个行为是可以理解的，并且应该得到赞赏，这所小学的校长用心良苦给学生们传授自己20年的坐禅冥想经验。然而，这个好意剥夺了孩子们午睡的权利。所以，为了更好的解决这个问题，学校应该让学生自主选择是午睡还是打坐。

Rather than either mandatory³ zazen meditation for all students or sleep, the school authorities could discuss with the parents and let the children make their own choice. Those students who are interested can try zazen meditation during the noon break while those prefering a nap should be provided with a quiet sleeping environment. This would best respect the different needs of the students。

不管是打坐冥想还是午睡，校方领导应该和学生父母商量，然后让孩子自己做决定。喜欢打坐的同学可以利用午休时间打坐，而喜欢午睡的同学，校方也应该给他们安静的环境来休息。这样会尊重不同的需求。

Huaxi Metropolis⁴ Daily, Sept 7

华西都市日报，9月7日

As long as it is practical and does not put the students in danger, it is worth trying to introduce zazen meditation as part of the noon break at school. Students in some southeastern Asian countries do zazen meditation and it has been shown to have long-term positive effects. If schoolchildren could indeed meditate⁵, it would help them experience inner peace and concentration. In this sense, the public should adopt an inclusive attitude toward the elementary school’s attempt。

只要是可行的，对孩子安全的行为都值得尝试，就可以试着让学生把打坐冥想作为午休的一部分。在亚洲东南部国家的学生经常打坐，并且长期以来效果很好。如果学校学生可以打坐冥想，这将会帮助他们平静内心和提高注意力。从这个角度想，公众应该对这所小学的行为持更为包容的态度。