Meditation Classes

For a while i have been looking for a group or class in my area i could join. There have been a few I have found, a local pagan group, a theatre group and a comedy night held every friday night in a bar just outside of the town center. But none of them seemed quite right.  The one i keep coming back to is in the towns local buddhist society. They offer 2 sets of classes, one on a friday night, for introductory meditation that goes into buddhist meditations and buddhist teachings and one over monday lunchtimes which teaches 2 traditional buddhist meditations, mindfulness of breathing and loving kindness.

*quoted from their website* People attending our centres learn two essential Buddhist meditation practices: Mindfulness of Breathing, which enhances awareness and peace of mind; and Metta Bhavana, or ‘development of loving kindness’, which brings about a gentle but radical transformation of our emotional world.

The other thing i am aware of is how cheap they are. They don’t actually ask for payments however they suggest a donation, the friday night class is slightly more expensive but especially for low incomes and for the friday lunchtime class they don’t ask for more than 6 dollars. Which for me is brilliant as at the minute i am living of disability payments.

They also hold coffee mornings, have talks, they have monthly get togethers, and hold twice/ three yearly retreats to rivendell( not the elven rivendell;) but a country estate in my county, a really beautiful place which again are relatively cheap.

There are also yoga classes that they hold too, on 3 different days, both during the day and in the evening.

The last talk that they held actually looked really interesting, and for those that attend they ask everyone to bring in a vegetarian dish, which everyone gets together and shares afterwards.

*quoted from their blog* Women’s Day Sunday 8th March 2009. On the theme of being ‘Fearless’: How to Overcome Our Fears. Led by Atulyamati. Please note the change of date – previously advertised as 1st March. Please bring vegetarian food to share for lunch.

They have a creative writing group once a month, a music group and a various other groups. All seem very friendly with people being asked to bring in dishes to share. They have their own cafe, where they serve fairtrade drinks and food, and also a room they hire out to reiki healers and other groups as well.

The actual center is in the town center. It would mean spending time in a place that will make me uncomfortable. I do not have the problems i used to in town. I have problems with large groups of people. I feel intimidated and spook easily. I tend to feel less .. worthy somehow.. If i was to try and describe it, like a child amongst tonnes of adults and though i know my mind and my wants etc.. I think that others know better than me. I always get out of the way for people, and watch for what other people are saying/doing.

And it means meeting a whole new set of people, getting to know them etc which makes  me nervous. But they do seem really friendly. Like a community almost and that might well be good for me. All sorts of people, of all ages attend. The idea of community appeals to me a lot. Its one of the things that made this stand out against all the other things i found.

This actually really interests me, and i am considering this hard.

~ by chyldeofthenorns on March 11, 2009.