It was my great pleasure to host the October Vipassana Support International Facilitator led Saturday Sit. The theme for the day was focus on positive and loving kindness.
I thank everyone for their support and kindness during the day. I really loved teaching the students new to meditation. They are so open and willing to explore. I think it is always a good idea to remember to have a "beginners mind" no mater how long we have been meditating.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Metta Loving Kindness Meditation
Metta or Loving Kindness Meditation is a very special meditation practice. It cultivates compassion, friendliness, appreciative joy and equanimity. It bring about positive changes in attitude as it systematically develops a quality of loving acceptance.
What better gift can we give to ourselves, the people around us, and to the world. It is a chance to take an action when you feel overwhelmed by difficulties and negatvity.
Loving-kindness is a meditation of the heart and should be taken outside" to the streets" so to speak and not just a formal practice. Applying the practice to daily life is a matter of directing a friendly attitude and having openness toward everyone you come in contact with, without discrimination.
The Loving Kindness Meditation:
1. Settle into a relaxed posture with eyes closed
2. Bring attention to the heart area
3.Imagine a warmth and softness there
4. Say to yourself"May I be safe from internal and external harm." and really try to imagine that feeling
5. Next say"May I be happy, at peace, content." Use images, internal talk, memories, etc. to help with the feel
6. Next say " May I be healthy, strong, balanced."
7.Next say "May I be free from worry and live my life easily"
8. These are said to onesself. then to someone we love, then to a person we feel neutral about, and then to someone that we have difficulty with.
9. It is then said radiating out into the world in all directions to all beings.
What better gift can we give to ourselves, the people around us, and to the world. It is a chance to take an action when you feel overwhelmed by difficulties and negatvity.
Loving-kindness is a meditation of the heart and should be taken outside" to the streets" so to speak and not just a formal practice. Applying the practice to daily life is a matter of directing a friendly attitude and having openness toward everyone you come in contact with, without discrimination.
The Loving Kindness Meditation:
1. Settle into a relaxed posture with eyes closed
2. Bring attention to the heart area
3.Imagine a warmth and softness there
4. Say to yourself"May I be safe from internal and external harm." and really try to imagine that feeling
5. Next say"May I be happy, at peace, content." Use images, internal talk, memories, etc. to help with the feel
6. Next say " May I be healthy, strong, balanced."
7.Next say "May I be free from worry and live my life easily"
8. These are said to onesself. then to someone we love, then to a person we feel neutral about, and then to someone that we have difficulty with.
9. It is then said radiating out into the world in all directions to all beings.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
breath meditation reminder
For all of those who attended the first meditation class at GCC ,
Thank you for your attendance! I think there were about 40 people there. I hope that all of you had a good experience! I am going to give you a review or reminder of the technique that we used in case you forgot or got confused. I hope you find time this week to practice.
I want to let you know that I will not be there next Wednesday , but I have a wonderful teacher coming, George Haas. He has a lot of teaching experience and is currently teaching at Against the Stream. Check out his classes at againstthestream.org
Guide to Restful Breath Meditation
1. sit comfortably and straighten your spine
2. relax and settle into the posture
3. bring your attention to your breath
4. soften the belly
5. breathe normally in a relaxed manner
6. notice where you experience the breath
7. on the out-breath notice a relaxing quality and relax with it
8. if your mind wanders, gently return to the breath when you are aware of it
9. you can make a mental note of "relax" saying it to yourself or aloud on the out-breath to help with focus
Thank you for your attendance! I think there were about 40 people there. I hope that all of you had a good experience! I am going to give you a review or reminder of the technique that we used in case you forgot or got confused. I hope you find time this week to practice.
I want to let you know that I will not be there next Wednesday , but I have a wonderful teacher coming, George Haas. He has a lot of teaching experience and is currently teaching at Against the Stream. Check out his classes at againstthestream.org
Guide to Restful Breath Meditation
1. sit comfortably and straighten your spine
2. relax and settle into the posture
3. bring your attention to your breath
4. soften the belly
5. breathe normally in a relaxed manner
6. notice where you experience the breath
7. on the out-breath notice a relaxing quality and relax with it
8. if your mind wanders, gently return to the breath when you are aware of it
9. you can make a mental note of "relax" saying it to yourself or aloud on the out-breath to help with focus
Saturday, October 3, 2009
New Meditation Class
I am very excited about teaching a meditation class at Glendale City College ! The first class is Wednesday Oct.7 from 12 to 1 , and is open to both students and faculty at the college.It will be a great opportunity to share some very wonderful and powerful techniques that I have learned over the years.
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