The reasons for this are as follows:
1. MindUp Program is teaching the fundamentals of Buddhism to our children.

• The term “mindfulness” was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, a Buddhist and a trained Dharma teacher.

• Mindfulness is the seventh aspect of the eightfold path of Buddhism to reach nirvana or enlightenment where profound insight obtained by mindfulness meditation result in the end of suffering or the cycle of rebirth.

• Buddha discovered that focusing entirely on his breath would allow him to see reality and reach meditation more quickly.

• This body and breath relationship of mindfulness taught in the MindUp curriculum is the gateway to the teachings of Budda.

• The MindUp curriculum has disguised the teachings of Budda by changing buddhist terminology of insight, suffering and impermanence to prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus. MindUp curriculum claims it is based on neuroscience when in reality it is based on Buddhism.

2. Neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury) of our children's young brain to think in a specific way when conflict arises.

3. It teaches our children to empty their minds and this is contrary to many other religious views. For example, Christianity teaches to fill our minds with "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).

4. It lacks evidence of benefit. There is however, much evidence that mindfulness meditation produces long-term ill effects like paradoxical anxiety "because you simply can't control" everything in life.

Mindfulness meditation is to Buddhism as prayer is to other religions of the world. Therefore, as prayer is not a part of public school curriculum, mindfulness meditation should not be part of public school curriculum. Hence, the MindUp curriculum needs to be removed from Parkland School District.