Please note that Urban Zen sessions have ended for the summer and will resume in the fall. Please check back for updates!
How do we find calm in an urban environment? Zen meditation is practicing being awake. We’ll begin with a short period of silent meditation. While we will focus on meditation and mindfulness training, we will also do some free writing and explore what thoughts and feelings arise on the page. Then we'll have a cup of tea and some 'real talk' about our ideas and dreams and how we can live a more peaceful and happy life by understanding and working with our emotions. In particular, we will work with the teachings of Suzuki Roshi and read short texts by masters ranging from Kobun Chino, Trungpa Rinpoche to Pema Chodron—to see what they have to add to our conversation of what it means to be truly free. The evening will end with another short period of meditation.
You don't have to be experienced in meditation or writing. In fact, first timers are encouraged! As Shunryu Suzuki Roshi said, "Beginner's mind is the mind of compassion. When our mind is compassionate, it is boundless." We’ll come together to share our efforts to sit in awareness and to be awake and alive in this crazy world.
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