One-Session Workshops

Come one, come all! This is my monthly free meditation instruction, open to everyone. I will present the background, benefits, and basic instructions for meditation. Then you will try it, with time for questions afterward, so that you will leave knowing how to meditate. You may also attend as a review of basic instructions, to remember how to practice correctly. Right practice gives you the maximum benefits! Instructions are not presented from any particular religious orientation--meditation is compatible with all religions. FREE. Please be on time--doors open at 7:15pm. First come first serve, no registration necessary. Dress comfortably, and bring something to take notes with. Held in the conference room of my office, at 3109-A Glen Ora. For more information about meditation, see my article "Meditation: Is It For You?" below.

Next offerings: Usually the 2nd Wednesday of the month, from 7:30 - 9 pm. Check your newsletter to confirm if scheduled this month! (1 meeting)

Article: Meditation--Is It For YOU?

What is meditation? One of my favorite descriptions is that it is a way to quiet the body, and quiet the mind, to experience your deepest nature. This would include your capacities for joy, love, inner peace, freedom, wisdom, and connection with others and life. It is supremely healthy for your body, your feelings, and your mind. Research has amply demonstrated these benefits, which include stress reduction, increased vitality, lessening of negative emotions, increase of positive feelings, enhanced creativity and cognitive capacities, clarity of mind and capacity for insight. The list goes on and on from there, and was amply summed up by Ken Wilber, an authority on this literature, "meditation produces a measurable positive increase along every identifiable line of adult human development."

Is meditation spiritual? Absolutely--and in the most natural sense, in which spirituality represents an innate capacity for experience that everyone has, which is independent of any particular way, path, or religion by which you support it. The meditative process is found at the core of all the world's major religions, and is compatible with every one.

Is it right for you? There are many misconceptions about meditation, and cultural associations, that may have put you off. Meditation is simply a mental practice. Period. The basic process was worked out long ago and hasn't changed since. It implies nothing about other parts of your life or beliefs. Think of it as you do physical exercise--of itself it is neutral but doing it is beneficial. And with meditation, there are incomparably greater benefits and not the risks associated with physical exercise.

I have been practicing meditation since 1972, and have been teaching others since 1978. I have studied with a variety of teachers, and met many extraordinary beings who are quite advanced in their own practice, knowledge, and expertise. I have been in the presence of those considered to be enlightened. I am deeply familiar with both Eastern and Western spiritual paths, and the role that meditation plays in them. The experiences gained from all of these explorations have been of inestimable value, absolutely transformational in their effect. Yet no one compares to the possibilities that exist now, in this present moment. It is meditation that helps remind me of this, that helps most to inspire continuing explorations into the mystery of life, moment by moment. No single other thing I have ever studied, tried, practiced, or even heard of has the same capacity or benefit as meditation to quicken the potentials for happiness, to help bring freedom from suffering. Now.

I invite you to learn how to meditate, and explore what it can do for you. How will you know unless you try? When you learn, it is important that you learn from someone who has a long experience with it, who is familiar with the various basic traditional instructions. It is virtually impossible to get it from a book. It is not a form of guided experience that you can get from listening to a CD with nice background music or nature sounds. It is not a specialized form of working out problems or thinking about deep philosophical subjects.

I offer FREE basic meditation instruction every month or two. Check above for dates. But whether it is from me or some other teacher, please consider learning how to meditate sometime before your life gets close to its end. You are likely to find that whatever the remainder of your life, it will be enhanced by your learning this practice. After learning the basic process, or if you are already a meditator, if you want continued support and/or further teaching, you can join my MEDITATION SUPPORT GROUP.

Introduction To Meditation FREE