About this episode

Sharon Salzberg speaks with Sumi Loundon Kim about the impact of meditation and mindfulness on children and family systems.

For episode 276, we are continuing a new series on the Metta Hour, centered on kids, in honor of Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl , released on December 9th!  Written with Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness .  In this podcast series, Sharon speaks with educators, caregivers, and researchers about the ways meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness can impact children of all ages and the family systems that support them.  For the fifth episode of the series, Sharon speaks with Sumi Loundon Kim. Sumi is the Buddhist chaplain at Yale University. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, she is the founding teacher of Buddhist Families of Durham (NC). She is the author of  Blue Jean Buddha ; The Buddha’s Apprentices ; Sitting Together and of the children's book Goodnight Love: A Bedtime Meditation Story .  In this conversation, Sumi and Sharon speak about: Sumi’s early life in Zen community Sumi’s first visit to IMS at age 16 The value of spiritual practice during adolescence  Teaching meditation to kids through song Benefits of group practice for…

People in this episode

Host: Sharon Salzberg

Guest: Sumi Loundon Kim

Topics covered

• children's meditation
• mindfulness
• lovingkindness
• spiritual practice
• family systems
• education

Keywords

• meditation
• mindfulness
• children
• spirituality
• kindness
• family
• education
• self-regulation
• psychological fluency

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yale University, Harvard Divinity School

Books & works: Kind Karl, Lovingkindness, Blue Jean Buddha, The Buddha’s Apprentices, Sitting Together, Goodnight Love: A Bedtime Meditation Story

More episodes of Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

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• Ep. 283 – Engaged Compassion: Valarie Kaur · March 31, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Ep. 282 – Elisha Goldstein · March 17, 2026 · 59 min
• Ep. 281 – Engaged Compassion Series: Jerry Colonna · March 4, 2026 · 58 min
• Ep. 280 – IMS 50th Anniversary w/ Dipa Ma · February 18, 2026 · 60 min
• Ep. 279 – Jack Kornfield · February 3, 2026 · 1h 11m

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