At ChristChurch,
Clarendon Park,
for the final session in the course, "Mindfulness". This
eight-week course is an interfaith opportunity presented
by Christians
Aware (as
part of its Faith
Awareness programme)
in association with Leicester
Serene Reflection Meditation Group.
Our
topic this evening is "The Faith-Specific Context",
facilitated by Ian Grayling and Kevin Commons, from the Serene
Reflection Group. The
emphasis this evening is on establishing and maintaining our own
practice.
To start, Kevin leads us through discussion of "object-based meditation"; that is, meditation on the body (breath, heartbeat, physical sensations), a mantra or visual objects (such as a mandala). This leads into talking about "just sitting", the style of meditation practised in Soto Zen.
The phrase "monkey mind" is used several times, meaning the tendency of the mind to run off if left unattended. When we're meditating and a thought arises naturally, we may notice it, but not engage with it. The same goes for any sensory stimulation.
One of the basic aspects of practising meditation is sitting comfortably - in a chair, on the floor, on a small individual bench (padded or unpadded), using cushions of different size and shape. We should be able to relax into a comfortable position - upright, but not "fiercely upright". We should not be trying to make a martyr of ourselves, physically.
We rearrange the seating, dim the lights (I'm designated "light monitor") then sit together in silence for fifteen minutes. Kevin starts and ends this period of group meditation by lightly tapping a brass bowl; the first ring signifies the start of the period of meditation, the second, a quarter of an hour later, its end. It's an unusual thing to do, just being with people rather than having to do something with them.
As the session - and the course - come to an end, we're encouraged to consider establishing our own practice, if we don't have one already. We're encouraged to find the opportunity to meditate regularly, either on our own as individuals or with others in a group - either an existing one or one that we might be able to form in our own community of belief.
Barbara Butler (Executive Secretary of Christians Aware) expresses our collective thanks to Ian and Kevin for having led us through this fascinating journey over these eight sessions. For those of us who've taken these first steps together, we're aware that the journey has only just begun.
To start, Kevin leads us through discussion of "object-based meditation"; that is, meditation on the body (breath, heartbeat, physical sensations), a mantra or visual objects (such as a mandala). This leads into talking about "just sitting", the style of meditation practised in Soto Zen.
The phrase "monkey mind" is used several times, meaning the tendency of the mind to run off if left unattended. When we're meditating and a thought arises naturally, we may notice it, but not engage with it. The same goes for any sensory stimulation.
One of the basic aspects of practising meditation is sitting comfortably - in a chair, on the floor, on a small individual bench (padded or unpadded), using cushions of different size and shape. We should be able to relax into a comfortable position - upright, but not "fiercely upright". We should not be trying to make a martyr of ourselves, physically.
We rearrange the seating, dim the lights (I'm designated "light monitor") then sit together in silence for fifteen minutes. Kevin starts and ends this period of group meditation by lightly tapping a brass bowl; the first ring signifies the start of the period of meditation, the second, a quarter of an hour later, its end. It's an unusual thing to do, just being with people rather than having to do something with them.
As the session - and the course - come to an end, we're encouraged to consider establishing our own practice, if we don't have one already. We're encouraged to find the opportunity to meditate regularly, either on our own as individuals or with others in a group - either an existing one or one that we might be able to form in our own community of belief.
Barbara Butler (Executive Secretary of Christians Aware) expresses our collective thanks to Ian and Kevin for having led us through this fascinating journey over these eight sessions. For those of us who've taken these first steps together, we're aware that the journey has only just begun.
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