Monks and Montessori
How the two became one
One hundred years ago, Maria Montessori learned by observing children and translated what she saw into applications that have revolutionized education. Read more
One hundred years ago, Maria Montessori learned by observing children and translated what she saw into applications that have revolutionized education. Read more
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Private School Expo - Fall 2025 Yes, I want to attend
Access school reviews, insights, and comparisons through our comprehensive reports below.
These are the leading schools that Our Kids editors have covered most extensively so far, providing detailed insights and thorough analysis of their programs, student life, and more.
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Meet them at the Expo: Oct 19
"Established in 1901, Hillfield Strathallan College is one of Canada’s leading co-educational independent schools, offering academic programs from Montessori Toddler and Pre-K to Grade 12, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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"St. George's School in Vancouver offers university-preparatory program to Canadian and International boarding students from Grade 8 to 12. The School's mission: Building Fine Young Men. One Boy at a Time.
—From the school
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Meet them at the Expo: Oct 04
"Our Beyond the Books approach provides opportunities for students’ academic & personal growth, nurturing students' confidence & self-esteem and willingness to take risks through the classroom & organized activities.
—From the school
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Richmond Hill, Ontario Bayview/Hwy 407 "Lauremont School is a leading, accredited independent school that offers a unique design of Montessori and International Baccalaureate programmes. Our students thrive in academics while building a foundation for life." —From the school
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Victoria, British Columbia "We identify experiences that enhance learning, empowering individuals while fostering a community of collaborative contributors. This is achieved through interdisciplinary projects that are seamlessly integrated." —From the school
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Burlington, Ontario Walkers Line/Fairveiw Street "Ashwood Glen, an IB World School from JK to Gr, 1-8, fosters leadership, global citizenship, & a growth mindset. Our warm, inclusive community & personalized approach empower confident, future-ready students to thrive!" —From the school
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Oakville, Ontario Trafalgar Road/Dundas "TRMS uniquely provides enriched French as a second language (FSL) instruction for all levels from Preschool to Elementary. We give students a head start in their educational journey, instilling a "Love of Learning!"" —From the school
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Oakville, Ontario Winston Churchill/Lakeshore Road East "Clanmore is one of the few schools offering authentic Montessori programming from Toddler - Middle School. Our culture is warm and inviting and our philosophy empowers us to support each child as a unique individual." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Spadina Ave/College Street "Authentic, CCMA accredited Montessori Schools located in downtown Toronto, offering programs for Toddlers, Casa, Elementary and Adolescent children in beautiful settings with large and expansive natural playgrounds." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario "At Central Montessori School (CMS), young minds are inspired to be creative, innovative, and inquisitive. We cultivate bright, young leaders and strong communicators ready for the 21st century." —From the school
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Richmond Hill, Ontario Yonge Street/Silverwood Ave. "Century Private School is located in Richmond Hill, and our campus occupies 12 acres of land. Our programs runs from preschool to grade twelve, with small class ratio to ensure best learning for our students." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Lakeshore Road/Southdown "Peel Montessori and Carrington College div. students learn above grade level for subjects of strength. Individualized curriculum, advanced academic strategies, and character development give students a personal edge." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Cawthra Road/QEW "Our mission is to empower students to become compassionate and engaged citizens who are capable of using their academic, artistic, and environmental knowledge to effect positive change in their communities." —From the school
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Oakville, Ontario QEW/Ford Drive / Ninth Line "La Villa Montessori is an AMI recognized school that adheres to Dr. Montessori's principles. We provide a nurturing environment that fulfills the child's emotional, social, physical and intellectual needs." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Hurontario/Queensway "Shepherd Montessori Private Catholic School in Mississauga offers Casa Montessori programs for children a ged 2.5 to 6. Before- and after-school care and summer camps also available." —From the school
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Whitchurch-stouffville, Ontario Ninth Line/Main Street "Toronto French Montessori offers French and English programs from pre-school to grade 8 in North York, and Toddler programs in Stouffville. Its average class size is 15 students." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario University Ave./Dundas street "Cornerstone students love to shape the future. They INSPIRE learning, DISCOVER their potential, EMPOWER themselves to be innovative citizens. Our boundless learning strategies open doors for successful learning." —From the school
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Newmarket, Ontario "Grace Christian Montessori School acknowledges each child as a masterpiece of God, unleashing their potential through a holistic blend of Montessori principles, STEAM, academic excellence, and biblical teachings." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Queen Street East/Glen Manor Drive "Our objective is to guide children with respect and understanding, developing in them a love of learning. Our aim is to create a nurturing environment full of intellectual, social and moral learning and development." —From the school
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Unionville, Ontario Kennedy Road/16th Avenue "UC offers year-ahead advanced programs from pre-school to Grade 10. We blend high standards for academic success with the social and emotional development of the individual child." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Erin Mills Pkwy/Millcreek Drive "Western Heights offers an enriched Montessori program that fosters a love of learning. The school actively engages its close-knit parent community to offer an enriched curriculum that adapts to each student's needs." —From the school
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Richmond Hill, Ontario Major Mackenzie/Bayview Avenue "Richmond Hill Montessori Private School offers programs from pre-school to grade eight. Its average class size is 20 students." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Tomken Rd./Eglinton Ave. E "Northstar Montessori offers an accredited Montessori curriculum from Toddler age to Grade 8. Our goal is to develop strong character and contributing citizens who understand that their involvement makes a difference." —From the school
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Brantford, Ontario Charlotte St/Chatham St "Located in Brantford, Ontario, Montessori House of Children provides excellent programs for grades Nursery to 3 and helps young children reach their learning potential with both independent and self-directed learning." —From the school
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Brantford, Ontario Fairview Drive/North Park Street "Braemar House School is a nurturing community where academic excellence meets innovative learning. With small classes and enriched education, we cultivate well-rounded, confident, and compassionate students." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario Kennedy Road/Steeles Avenue "Located in Markham, Ontario, Town Centre Private Schools is an IB Continuum World School offering a Montessori Pre-School program, IB Elementary School, High School and optional IB Diploma Programme." —From the school
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St. Catharines, Ontario Edinburgh Dr/Scott Street "We provide students with opportunities to explore real-world concepts and issues, broadening their sense of responsibility, develop their critical thinking skills, and empower them to take action in a global community." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario Woodbine/16th Avenue "Trinity Montessori School offers programs from toddler to grade six in Markham, Ontario. Its average class size is nine students." —From the school
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Oakville, Ontario Lakeshore Road East/Bel Air Drive "Offering Montessori programs from Toddler to Grade 8, Dearcroft is accredited by CCMA and staffed by dedicated teachers. We have three campuses in Oakville, delivering exceptional Montessori Programs." —From the school
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Pickering, Ontario Kingston/Altona "École Montessori is Durham Region's premier French private school dedicated to transforming your child into a bilingual critical thinker with our enriched curriculum that fosters the genius within each student." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario "Guiding Light Academy is a Catholic private elementary school in Streetsville, Mississauga. We offer an enriched curriculum for JK, SK and Grades 1 to 8. We are located just minutes away from the Streetsville Go Station." —From the school
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Oshawa, Ontario Wilson Road/Adelaide Ave "At G.B.MS, D.E.P.S and Durham Academy Secondary school focus is on each individual student and helping them meet their unique potential and goals. We believe in excellent customer service and families have a voice. Throughout the year we enhance our programs through program enhancement and enrichment." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario York Mills Road/Don Mills Road "Ace Acumen Heights is accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Education, located in Ontario, Canada, with ten years of experience in providing quality education and modern teaching facilities." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Dundas St W./Mississauga Rd. "The Erindale Academy is a private middle and high school located next to the University of Toronto Mississauga. We combine holistic education with critical innovation to make every student a success story." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Glen Erin/Dundas "Kaban Montessori School is a CCMA accredited school in the west area of Mississauga . Our environments foster each child's interests and abilities while supporting them to achieve their full potential." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario Woodbine/HWY 7 "Wishing Well Schools offers an accelerated, enriched curriculum in a supportive, family-focused environment, where students thrive, lead, and develop a lifelong love of learning." —From the school
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Vaughan, Ontario Major Mackenzie/400 "Balanced Academics, Arts, Athletics & Student Wellness. We value best practices & evidence-based approaches. University preparatory & 21st Century Tech-Rich & Future Proof school. Enriched and rigorous curriculum." —From the school
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Burlington, Ontario Walkers Line/Fairview Street "Fairview Glen Montessori offers academically stimulating education for children 18 mo.-14 yrs. Our collaborative and supportive community, also specializes in French, Music, Visual Arts and Phys-Ed programs." —From the school
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Oakville, Ontario "Rotherglen School - OAKVILLE offers programs for students age 4 to grade eight. The average class size is 18 students." —From the school
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Ottawa, Ontario Baseline Rd./Woodroffe Ave. "Bishop Hamilton Montessori School, a not-for-profit independent school in Ottawa, provides an authentic Christian Montessori approach for children 3 months to 14 years." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario Brimley Road/14th Ave "Founded in 1990, Yip's Montessori Program caters to children from 1.5 to 5 years old. Yip's campuses are located in Markham and Unionville." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario Woodbine Ave/Major Mackenzie Dr E "Royal Cachet has authentic Montessori programs for infants to grade 6 in our healthy and safe environments. We focus on the Language & Math areas of the Montessori Curriculum & encourage our students to grow and succeed." —From the school
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Richmond, British Columbia "A Preparatory Daycare featuring over 100,000 sq ft of Academic, Arts and Athletic Facilities, all on site, at the new Belvedere Club in Richmond, BC." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Hurontario St/Matheson Blvd E "ABC Montessori is one of Mississauga's premier private schools. We offers montessori and traditional school programs from preschool to Grade 5 with an emphasis on developing literacy, numeracy, sciences, and arts." —From the school
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Richmond Hill, Ontario Leslie/Elgin Mills "In addition to providing high-quality Montessori education, YMS offers French and Music, on-site after-school classes, off-site field trips, theme-based summer camp, parent education workshops, and family social events." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario Denison/Warden "Our curriculum are designed to build essential skills and concepts that help with the cognitive, social, creative, emotional, and physical development of your child with the aim to be a successful learner for life!" —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Bathurst St./Eglinton Ave. West "Please bring your child for a free trial and let him or her experience the difference. Don't be surprised if he or she doesn't want to go home at the end of the day! SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AVAILABLE!" —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Finch Avenue/Islington Avenue "Nile Academy offers small class sizes and a low student-to-teacher ratio, while also following the Ontario Curriculum, ensuring our students are well prepared for the rest of their educational pursuits here in Canada." —From the school
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Ottawa, Ontario Donald St/Frances St "Promote academic excellence that stimulates the acquisition of language skills, the development of scientific and artistic competencies as well as the formation of a critical mind, in a multicultural environment." —From the school
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Nepean, Ontario "R.I.S.E. Academy empowers youth with personalized, experiential learning rooted in equity and the UN SDGs.We focus on inquiry-based, culturally relevant education that fosters creativity, leadership, and community impact" —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Lakeshore road/Southdown road "Rooted in Christian values, Meadow Green Christian Academy combines academic rigor, personal attention, and a safe, nurturing environment to empower each student’s unique potential." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario ""Alderwood Academy nurtures the heart, mind, and soul of every child through holistic education rooted in love, culture, and Catholic values—where learning becomes a joyful journey."" —From the school
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Ottawa, Ontario Bank Street/Marché Way "Our programs find the interaction of youth’s developmental characteristics, the Ontario curriculum, and the requirements of the adult world to create the focussed engagement that naturally leads to personal excellence." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario John/Richmond "At BBMS our prime goal is to ensure the overall health, safety and well-being of each child while in our care. We look forward to working together with families in the best interest of their children." —From the school
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Kanata, Ontario Eagleson Road/Stonehaven Drive "For 50 years, Kanata Montessori has offered excellent learning environments for students to grow emotionally, socially and academically into a positive global citizen." —From the school
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North Vancouver, British Columbia Keith Rd/Lynnmouth Ave "Collaborative and engaging, North Star's programs put students at the center of their learning and quest for knowledge." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario "Rotherglen School - MISSISSAUGA is a montessori school that offers programs from JK to grade eight. The average class size is 18 students." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Lawrence Ave./Bathurst St. "The Clover School's innovative curriculum combines Montessori essentials with heart-centred learning practices designed to nurture the mind, heart, health, and soul of each child." —From the school
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North York, Ontario Bayview/Sheppard "Bannockburn provides a strong academic foundation anchored in the principles of the Montessori philosophy that supports your child’s intellectual, moral, social, and emotional development in a nurturing environment." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario 14th Ave/Kennedy "Trillium School is a private school that offers programs from pre-school to grade twelve in Markham with Montessori-based kindergarten." —From the school
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Pickering, Ontario whites/kingston road "Montessori Learning Centre is a non denominational, inclusive school in operation for 40 years. We acknowledge religious and cultural events supporting our whole life philosophy education." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario "Humberside Montessori School is internationally recognized and accredited by Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Our AMI certified teachers provide an authentic Montessori experience for our students." —From the school
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Etobicoke, Ontario Royal York/Eglington "Etobicoke, ON JK to 8 | Coed $13,500 International Baccalaureate, Christ-centered, nature-immersed, entrepreneurship-driven, academic excellence, real-world experiences, leadership development, holistic education." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Dufferin St/Lawrence Ave W "LDVA provides foundational education and challenges students to develop to their full potential. Officially recognized by the Italian Government, our unique curriculum incorporates Italian language and culture." —From the school
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North York, Ontario York Mills/Leslie "We follow the Montessori philosophy: connection before instruction. We customize, personalize, and honor the individuality of every child, nurturing growth through trust, respect, and thoughtful guidance." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario Brimley Road/14th Ave South "Established in 1974, Somerset Academy is an independent, not-for-profit private school that provides education to students in JK Grades 8. Somerset Academy has an average class size of 13 to 18 students." —From the school
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Oshawa, ON, Ontario "DMS is a Montessori school servicing children at the early childhood level. DMS offers authentic Montessori programming with the Montessori pedagogy at the core of the children's day." —From the school
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Ottawa, Ontario Alta Vista Drive/Industrial Road "OMS Montessori is a non for profit, independent school offering separate French and English programs within a world class Montessori environment." —From the school
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Whitby, Ontario Brock Street South/Dundas Streer West "The Hatch House Montessori School is a very child centered school where each student is respected for their uniqueness and is guided through learning accordingly. Ask about our unique, fully bilingual elementary program." —From the school
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Aurora, Ontario St. John Sideroad/Yonge St. "Aurora Montessori offers an enriched Montessori program for students, Toddler to Grade 8, with an option of an OSSD credit in Grade 9 Math. A unique Mindfulness and Technology program develops key 21st-century skills!" —From the school
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Some 1,500 years ago, Bodhidharma observed the animals and noted how they exercised and taught their young. He shared his knowledge with an order of monks who were weak from sitting and writing all day without exercise. The monks were the Shaolin, and they revolutionized the arts of exercise and combat while achieving incredible levels of intellectual and emotional development.
The parallels of the two philosophies continue. Each recognizes the importance of a well-rounded education and believes in educating through mentors in a mixed-age grouping. Each believes in the benefits of encouraging the student to explore and develop his or her interests. Each respects diversity and individualism. Each cares about the planet and creating a better world. Each is respected by those that understand its philosophy, and has met prejudice from those that do not.
I was unaware of the parallels when I went to see the Shaolin perform their legendary kung fu as part of Toronto's Chinese New Year celebrations. I was only aware of their entertainment value. As head of Toronto Montessori Schools (TMS), in Toronto, Ontario, I attended as a guest of Xinping Li, a producer who is involved in Montessori in China. She was co-ordinating the troupe's Canadian tour and offered me front-row seats.
After the amazing show, Xinping took me backstage to meet Master Liu, the highest ranking monk after the Shaolin Temple's abbot. In a brief time, I learned the Shaolin are a national treasure of China and that "kung fu" translates to "achievement." Master Liu explained their martial arts training is defensive, not offensive. The Shaolin seek individual enlightenment, and despite their reputation in the West, they are more concerned with building brains than breaking boards.
I also learned that scientists, philosophers and athletes had for decades been coming to China to study with the Shaolin.
Because of that serendipitous meeting, I was able to arrange for a historic enterprise. For the first time in their history, the Shaolin would come to North America to share their philosophy of life. They would share it with our students, their parents, our staff and anyone else we invited. This would not be a series of lectures, but actual sharing of philosophical and historical information with questions, answers and interaction.
The paperwork took some time, but finally four Shaolin monks, a translator and Xinping arrived to stay for two months. They would teach at our school, but they would live at my house.
There was a learning curve as our two cultures tried to understand one another, and of course, a language barrier the translator bridged. But within a very short time, we understood one another. It is amazing how much a smile, a wave of the hands or a roll of the eyes can communicate.
The Shaolin helped us create a series of classes. Before school, we held Mind and Body exercise, breathing and meditation classes for teachers and parents. After school we offered exercise and kung fu for the students. As well, we held half-day, one-day and three-day retreats for parents and members of the business community.
Between training sessions, the monks visited our classrooms to discuss Asian studies and cultural differences. Not once did they break a board and, to my surprise, no student asked them to do so.
During these encounters we realized how well informed the monks were about the arts, the sciences and life in general. "We are much like a university," Master Zhuang, the eldest of the monks, explained through the translator, "where we strengthen our bodies so that we can strengthen our minds."
TMS benefited in many ways from their visit, including incredible amounts of wonderful publicity as a school reaching out to learn. But my family and I were the greatest beneficiaries. Living with the monks taught us to truly understand living in the moment (as opposed to living for the moment), investing the very essence of your existence in what you are doing at any given time.
There are two memories that will live with me forever that exemplify this Shaolin philosophy. The first is Master Zhuang cooking in my kitchen. Without rush, he laid out the ingredients for our meal as a small amount of oil heated in the wok. Each step of preparation was a moment he savoured. He took time to study the shell of an egg before cracking it. He arranged the ingredients as if posing them for a still life. Then, relaxed with one hand resting behind his back, oblivious to all else, he peacefully cooked a meal for the six of us.
The second occurred late one night, when I opened the door to our bedroom and peered over the railing into the foyer after hearing soft laughter. In the dark, framed in moonlight, Master Zhuang was standing in front of our two normally rambunctious dogs. One hand was again behind his back. The dogs were sitting at attention, focused on him. When they heard me, they turned their heads but instead of running toward me as was their habit, they turned their attention back to the smiling, gentle monk. He was teaching them to meditate! The gentle laughter was his as he shared the meaning of the moment with the animals.
To say, "We learned much from the Shaolin," does not approach telling the story. Nor is the impact of their visit covered with, "They touched the lives of everyone they met."
I can only share with you how they touched mine.
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