We have three online meditations a week, on Wednesday morning, Thursday evening, and Saturday morning. You’re welcome to join us online for any of the 3 meetings each week. See our Events Calendar for more detailed information.
During the Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday online meetings, we “sit together” for meditation for half an hour. Meditations include guided meditations, meditations with some initial guidance and instruction, and silent meditations. The Wednesday morning meditation starts at 9:30 am, with half an hour of meditation, followed by half an hour of sharing.
On Thursday evenings there is a talk or discussion and sharing following meditation. Meditation is from 7:30 until 8:00 pm, with the talk and discussion ending at about 9:00 pm. The Saturday morning meditation starts at 8:00 am, with half an hour of meditation followed by half an hour of sharing.
This Thursday, on March 11, 2021, we’ll have a talk about determination. Determination is the act of beginning again…and again… and again….of returning to the practice. It is the tenacity and resolve that helps one stay committed to one’s intentions. The talk will explore how one can better understand and recognize determination in practice and in daily life. The following Thursday, March 18th, we’ll have a discussion about determination. You can bring questions from the talk, from the resources discussed below, or from your own experience. If you’re interested, over the next two weeks, you can begin exploring how determination can be incorporated into your own practice.
Most talks on Thursday evenings in the near future will be based on a set of qualities known as the Paramitas (perfections of the heart), and they are traditionally regarded as qualities that we develop as we move along the path to awakening, as well as the natural qualities of an awakened heart. There are 10 Paramitas: generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, determination, lovingkindness, and equanimity. Although the talks will be self-contained, there are a couple of good books that you could read if you’d like to learn more. One is Pay Attention for Goodness Sake: Practicing the Perfections of the Heart by Sylvia Boorstein, published by Ballantine Books. The other is Creating a Life of Integrity: In Conversation with Joseph Goldstein, by Gail Andersen Stark, recently published by Wisdom Publications.
If you can’t or don’t wish to join the online sessions you can just meditate at the same time as we’re meeting and know that there are others from the group who are meditating with you. I’ve had many people contact me to say they were doing that for our meditation sessions recently, and that can help bring a feeling of connection.
We can’t put out the donation basket on Thursday evenings, so you can use this online dana basket if you wish to donate to the meditation group.