RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ESO 2

A story with a moral lesson (Mindful session) Lesson 8

'The jar'

A philosophy professor is before his class with a jar on the table in front of him, like this one.

When the class begins, he picks up the empty jar and fills it with stones.

Then he asks the students if the jar is full. And they say: - Yes, it is.

So the professor then picks up some rice and pours it into the jar. He shakes the jar. The rice, of course,

rolls into the open areas between the stones.

Then he asks the students again if the jar is full. They say: - Yes, it is.

The professor picks up a box of sand and pours it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining

open areas of the jar.

Then he asks one more time if the jar is full. The students say: - Yes!

“OK” - says, the professor, “Pay attention... this jar represents your life. The stones are the important

things – your family, your friends, your health, your personality – these things mean that your life is full. The

rice is the other things that matter less – like your job, your house, your car, your money. The sand is the

small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continues, “there is no space for the rice or the stones. Exactly

the same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have

space for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your

happiness. Be honest. Be authentic. Be yourself.”

“Take care of the stones first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. Choose your stones. The

rest is just sand.”

You must learn a lesson for life: 'Don't try to copy out others'

Be yourself!

Background music to provide atmosphere in your classroom

María Quintas