May 2013

Posted on May 24, 2013 by

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at 1st Presbyterian 

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in May and June from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are practicing group contemplative listening.  We listen to a short reading from a contemplative author or poet, sit together for a period of silence, and share our reflections with the group.  This is a wonderful way to practice deep listening to each other.  All are welcome to join us at any time 

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays.  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

May Retreat Day

          Saturday, May 25, 2013   8:30 am – 1:00 pm                      In the Fellowship Hall

“The Human Condition:  The Evolutionary Model” 

Our next retreat day will feature a video of a presentation by Father Thomas Keating from the Spiritual Journey Series.  This is the first tape in his series of teachings on the Human Condition as it relates to the practice of Centering Prayer.  Father Keating teaches that as we progress in the practice of Centering Prayer or meditation, we develop the need for a more conceptual background to understand what is happening.  One of the great benefits of contemporary psychology is the way it gives language to what the human condition actually is.  With this knowledge, we can begin to see how Centering prayer and meditation addresses the disease of our human condition – an illness that needs healing.

All are welcome to join us.  A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                               Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

May 17,18                            Fr. Cyprian Concert and Retreat

Unitarian Universalist Church

RSVP 644-0231

June 29                                MMG Retreat Day – Day of Zen Sitting

8:30 – 3:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall

July 27                                  MMG Retreat Day

8:30 – 1:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall

Oct. 18/19                            Save the Date for Retreat with

Ruben Habito

Summary of April Retreat Day

Our retreat day with Fr. Cyprian had many facets.  The day

included three conferences.  Each conference included an

opening prayer liturgy, the chanting of a psalm, a scripture reading,

song singing, a teaching talk, and intercessory and closing prayers.

It was a blessing to hear Fr. Cyprian’s gift of music – his voice and guitar playing bring a deep presence to the gathering.

Fr. Cyprian brings his Christian roots to his teaching on mediation, and also includes the teachings from the ancient scriptures of other traditions.  We had readings from the Upanishads, the writings attached to the end of the four Vedic books in the Advaita Vedanta. These writings included secret knowledge that was passed from guru to disciple in the Hindu tradition.  This secret knowledge is about the journey inward.  Everything we are looking for outside is actually deep within us.  Out there and inside us are not two different things.  Fr. Cyprian teaches that meditation is about turning our gaze within.  At the beginning of each meditation sitting, we remind ourselves why we are sitting.  We recognize our body is the place where meditation happens, and we do it to re-establish the right relationship with God within.

In closing,

Late Have I Loved You 

Late have I loved you, O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new!

Late have I loved you.

And behold, you were within, and I was outside, and out there I sought you.

Deformed, I ran after those forms of beauty you have made.

You were with me, and I was not with you.

Those things held me back from you,

things whose only being was to be in you.

You called; you shouted; you broke through my deafness.

You flared; you blazed; you banished my blindness.

You became fragrant; and I inhaled and panted for you.

I tasted, and now hunger and thirst for you.

You touched me; and I burned for your peace.

When at last I cling to you with my whole being

there will be no more anguish or labor for me,

and my life will be alive indeed, because filled with you.

 

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

 

 

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March/April 2013

Posted on April 3, 2013 by

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at 1st Presbyterian 

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in April and May from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are practicing group contemplative listening.  We listen to a short reading from a contemplative author or poet, sit together for a period of silence, and share our reflections with the group.  This is a wonderful way to practice deep listening to each other.  All are welcome to join us at any time.

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays.  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

April Retreat Day

          Saturday, April 27, 2013   9:00 am – 4:00 pm                                                        In the Fellowship Hall

                          

The Universal Call to Contemplation

A Presentation and Workshop by Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, O.S.B. Cam.

During this Saturday retreat, Fr. Cyprian will draw new insights about the interior way from the foundational teachings of Jesus, St. Paul and the desert fathers, as well as from the Universal Wisdom that is contained and articulated in other great spiritual traditions. The day will include meditation, music and chanting, sacred reading, teaching, prayer and discussion.

Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, O.S.B. Cam. Cyprian Consiglio is a monk of the Camaldolese Congregation, musician, composer, writer and teacher. Much of both his music and his teaching revolve around the Universal Call to Contemplation through spirituality and the arts. A student of the writings of Bede Griffiths and Abhishiktananda, Cyprian has a great love for comparative religion, has done work in inter-faith ritual and world music, and regularly leads conferences on meditation, He has written numerous articles and a book, Prayer in the Cave of the  Heart: The Universal Call to Contemplation, for Liturgical Press. Fr. Cyprian is known for his soulful voice and engaging, multi-faceted perspective on the spiritual journey, which has made him a favorite retreat leader in Monterey.

Suggested donation is $30.  Please bring a sack lunch.  All levels of meditation experience are welcome.

To reserve a space please contact Janet at 831-484-1686 or hoffmanjms@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                    Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

May 25                                      MMG Retreat Day

June 29                                     MMG Retreat Day

July 27                                      MMG Retreat Day

Oct. 18/19                                Save the Date for Retreat with

Ruben Habito

Summary of February Retreat Day

February’s retreat was an extended day of Zen sitting.  We had two sessions of sitting (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) of three 25-minute meditations with walking in between.

The focus of Rev. Hei’s teaching was the Kanzeon Sutra.  This is a chant used in Zen practice.  “Kanzeon” or “Kannon” is the Japanese name for the Bodhisattva of Compassion.   The name Kanzeon can be translated as “one who listens to the world”.  For Hei this chant has been beneficial in his mediation practice, as it has helped him listen to his own self with compassion.  With practice, we can begin the journey to see our true selves; that part of us within who listens to the world and has qualities of purity and joy that never end.  In this chant, Buddha represents the enlightened one within us who listens to the suffering of the world.  This teaching shares that this Mind of compassion is available at all times and at every moment.

Historically, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, “Avalokiteshvara” was an Indian figure of masculine form.  When Buddhism arrived in China, the Chinese people regarded compassion as a feminine quality and portrayed the Bodhisattva of Compassion as “Kwan Yin”.

Kanzeon continued as a feminine figure in Japan.  Some scholars believe that the resemblance of Kanzeon to the Blessed Virgin of Christianity may not be a coincidence.  Asian artists may have been inspired by early missionary paintings of Mary.

In closing, 

Kanzeon Sutra

Kanzeon, One with Buddha

Directly Buddha

Indirectly Buddha

One with Buddha, Dharma, Sangha

Pure, Joyful, True Self, Eternal

Morning Mind Kanzeon

Evening Mind Kanzeon

This Very Moment Mind Kanzeon

Never let it go

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February 2013

Posted on February 26, 2013 by

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at 1st Presbyterian 

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in February and March (except Maundy Thursday March 28) from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are practicing group contemplative listening.  We listen to a short reading from a contemplative author or poet, sit together for a period of silence, and share our reflections with the group.  This is a wonderful way to practice deep listening to each other.  All are welcome to join us at any time. 

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays.  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

February Retreat Day

          Saturday, February 23, 2013   8:30 am – 3:00 pm                    In the Fellowship Hall

A Day of Zen Sitting
Rev. Hei Takarabe will lead our February retreat day with a focus on Zen meditation.  We will have three sittings of meditation in the morning, a time for listening to a Zen teaching, a lunch break, and conclude with another three sittings of meditation.  Come join us as we learn from Zen practice how to deepen our silence and bring more love and peace into the world.  Please bring a sack lunch.  Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.  A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                    Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

No Saturday retreat day in March

April 27                                     MMG Retreat Day with Fr. Cyprian

9:00 – 4:00 pm in Fellowship Hall

Summary of January Retreat Day

For our January retreat day we were treated to Susan Raab’s second talk in her series on the Harry Potter books, “Christian Symbolism 101”.  We were invited to come along on an adventure to go deeper and explore J.K. Rowling’s second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.   The Harry Potter books appeal to so many of us because they describe a journey that leads to the discovery of our spiritual center.  Susan helped us uncover the symbolism used by the author to convey her spiritual message.

My favorite part of the talk illustrates how J.K. Rowling used the character of Malfoy to show the hurt that prejudice causes in our lives.  Malfoy represents the Purebloods, who don’t want the Mudbloods (part mogel/ part magic) included.  This is a big social separation in the Harry Potter books and is a reason for prejudice.  It is a symbol for the prejudice we experience in our lives.  Malfoy represents a tribal leader, and the Mudbloods represent gentiles, guijin, or the people not of our tribe.  These “others” are “separate” and pose a threat to tribal leaders.  In this book, Harry talks to outsiders (like the character Dobby) as equals.  This shows Harry to be like Jesus in including all people as equals.

In closing,

God is a circle whose centre is everywhere,

Whose circumference is nowhere

Voltaire

 

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January 2013

Posted on January 15, 2013 by

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at 1st Presbyterian 

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in January and February from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are practicing group contemplative listening.  We listen to a short reading from a contemplative author or poet, sit together for a period of silence, and share our reflections with the group.  This is a wonderful way to practice deep listening to each other.  All are welcome to join us at any time.

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays.  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

January Retreat Day 

          Saturday, January 26, 2013   8:30 am – 1:00 pm                    In the Fellowship Hall

 

Past Watchful Dragons:

Christian Content in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Can it be that the real reason the Harry Potter books are so successful is that “all souls are Christian souls” and resonate with the “true myth” of Love’s triumph over death? Join us January 26 when Susan Raab taps into the second book to reveal how Harry cast his global spell: the deeper meanings in J.K. Rowling’s enchanting system of heart-touching symbols.

A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                    Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

February 23                              MMG Day of Zen Sitting

8:30 – 3:00 pm  in Fellowship Hall

April 27                                     MMG Retreat Day with Fr. Cyprian

9:00 – 4:00 pm in Fellowship Hall

In closing,

Out beyond our ideas of right-doing

And wrong-doing there is a field.

I’ll meet you there.

                     Rumi

 

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November/ December 2012

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

Meditation Opportunites

Thursday evenings at 1st Presbyterian 

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in November (except Thanksgiving Day) and December (except Dec. 20 and Dec. 27) from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are practicing group contemplative listening.  We listen to a short reading from a contemplative author or poet, sit together for a period of silence, and share our reflections with the group.  This is a wonderful way to practice deep listening to each other.  All are welcome to join us at any time. 

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays.  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

November Retreat Day

          Saturday, November 17, 2012   8:30 am – 1:00 pm                    In the Fellowship Hall

                              Smile at Fear

This Saturday, in addition to our two hours of mediation, we will watch a portion of a Pema Chodron DVD titled “Smile at Fear”.  Pema is a Buddhist monk and gifted teacher who has much insight to help us in our meditation practice. In this video Pema explains that what she teaches is Bodhisattva training – work on the self so that we become spiritual warriors in order to serve others with courage, fearlessness, and love.  She emphasizes the importance of this work to help others, for the healing of the earth, and to relieve the suffering of others.

 A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                 Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

December 13                         Cookie Party after Thursday evening

Meditation   8:00 – 9:00 pm

December 14                        Taize at First Presbyterian

7:30 – 8:30 pm

Summary of October’s Retreat

In October we had an extended retreat with guest presenters Kenton Smith and Jim Peterson from Soul Work Studio.  The title of the retreat was “Reversals:  Healing Disruptions in the Spiritual Life”.  The rhythm of the retreat included presentations by Kent and Jim, participant sharing, and time for inner work and meditation.  Kent and Jim used four movements delineated by Alexander Shaia that correspond to the seasons of the year to help us see our experiences of difficult times as a potential for spiritual growth.

Autumn is the time of the summons into disorientation.  These are the sometimes sudden, sometimes planned painful and devastating experiences we have of loss that may involve illness or death, relationship issues, work issues, or loss of faith.  The experience plunges us into a time of loss of control and not knowing what to do.  St. John of the Cross says, “We journey on an unknown way to an unknown end”.  It all feels unfamiliar.  In this space our first response can be resistance, denial, or to give up.  Our second response is to consent and say “yes” to the summons.

This plunges us into the darkness of Winter, where we live into the disorientation.  St. John of the Cross calls this time “the dark night”.  It is a time when God feels absent.  We need to be patient and wait for the fruits of this season to teach us a deeper and truer view of reality and ourselves.

As we live in the chaos of the darkness, we begin to get hints of seeds of a new way of being sprouting within.  Once we begin to claim these graces, when the “new wineskins (Matthew 9:17)” begin to form, we enter into the movement of Spring.

What is given to us in the spiritual season of Spring is given for the community.  When the time is right, Summer begins as we bring the fruits of our disorienting experience back to the community in service.   We bring only what God gives.  It may take time to integrate this new way of being into our lives.  We must not rush the answers to the questions:  “How shall I relate to the community?” or “How shall I serve?”

Our retreat ended with a remembrance of the story of how Monterey Meditation Group came to meet at First Presbyterian Church.  It involved the Autumn season of being asked to leave El Estero Church, the unknowing time of Winter and wondering what would happen, the glimmer of hope as we interviewed churches and found a match, and now the Summer of sharing the fruits of meditation with our community.  We are grateful for the guidance of the Spirit and for the deepening of trust that we gained from this painful experience.

In closing,

You have turned my mourning into dancing;

You have taken off my sackcloth

And clothed me with joy

So that my soul may praise you and not be silent

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever 

                Psalm 30: 11 – 12 

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October 2012

Posted on October 17, 2012 by

Meditation Opportunities 

Thursday evenings at 1st Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in October and November (except Thanksgiving Day) from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are practicing group contemplative listening.  We listen to a short reading from a contemplative author or poet, sit together for a period of silence, and share our reflections with the group.  This is a wonderful way to practice deep listening to each other.  All are welcome to join us at any time. 

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays.  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

October Contemplative Retreat

Reversals:
Healing the Disruptions in the Spiritual Life

October 19 & 20, 2012

                                       HELD AT                                                    SPONSORED BY              First Presbyterian Church of Monterey                      Monterey Meditation Group                 501 El Dorado Street, Monterey, CA                          http://www.MontereyMeditation.com

Our spiritual journey is one of small and large points of apparent reversal, or finding ourselves at an intersection where what “worked” before no longer seems to work or to be true in the same way, or no longer provides support.   These times are usually ones of letting go of what is old to become open to what may be being birthed in us.  But it is a scary time as we are in it, and a time that calls for trust and patience.

Join us to explore this theme in a series of short presentations followed by times of reflection, meditation, spiritual exercise, and sharing.

Soul Work Studio, a non-profit organization begun with seed funding from the Presbytery of San Jose, offers spiritual direction services for individuals, church boards and organizations, faith-based non-profit organizations, and other institutions.

 

                                    FRIDAY                                                                  SATURDAY

                             October 19, 2012                                                       October 20, 2012

                            7:00 pm – 9:00 pm                                                     9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Suggested Donation for Friday is $15, for Saturday $40, and $50 for both days (lunch included).   All are welcome.
For more information, contact Janet at hoffmanjms@gmail.com or 831-484-1686  

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                 Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

Ongoing                                  Satsang – with Mokshananda

Unitarian Universalist Church

490 Aguajito Road, 624-7404

2nd and 4th Tuesdays 7 – 9 pm

November 17                        MMG Retreat Day / 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

Bhakti Yoga:  Yoga of Devotion

December 13                        Cookie Party after Thursday evening

Meditation   8:00 – 9:00 pm

December 14                       Taize at First Presbyterian

7:30 – 8:30 pm

No December Retreat Day 

In closing,

 “What is the use of praying if at the very moment of prayer, we have so little confidence in God that we are busy planning our own kind of answer to our prayer? 

                Thomas Merton     (Thoughts in Solitude)

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September 2012

Posted on September 16, 2012 by

Meditation Opportunities 

Thursday evenings at 1st Presbyterian 

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in September and October from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are practicing group contemplative listening.  We listen to a short reading from a contemplative author or poet, sit together for a period of silence, and share our reflections with the group.  This is a wonderful way to practice deep listening to each other.  All are welcome to join us at any time. 

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays (except Sept. 11 and 18).  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

September Retreat Day

Sacred Poetry:  An Exploration

          Saturday, September 29, 2012   8:30 am – 1:00 pm                    In the Fellowship Hall

                              Meditation, discussion, sharing

Poetry in all its beauty and truth has the potential to open our hearts to the mysteries of life and the wondrous workings of the Spirit in our lives. It can deepen our appreciation of the simple but profound truths that are found in our experience.  We can soar with the poets who fling themselves into heart of things.  Join us as we recite and share poems of gratitude, prayer, longing, and the timeless search for wisdom.

A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                           Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

Ongoing                           Satsang – with Mokshananda

Unitarian Universalist Church

490 Aguajito Road, 624-7404

2nd and 4th Tuesdays 7 – 9 pm

September 25                Spirit, Soul and Body / Cyprian Consiglio

7:30 – 9:00 pm

Holy Cross Parish Hall, Santa Cruz

October 5                      Taize at First Presbyterian Church

7:30 – 8:30 pm

October 13                    Zazen Instruction with Rev. Issho Fujita

Carl Cherry Center, 4th & Guadalupe,Carmel

1:00 – 3:00 pm, Donation $25

Call Sara 659-1552/ sarahun@comcast.net

October 19/20            Reversals: Healing the Disruptions in the

Spiritual Life

7:00 – 9:00 pm,   9:00 am – 4:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall

November 17              MMG Retreat Day / 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

Bhakti Yoga:  Yoga of Devotion

December 13               Cookie Party after Thursday evening

Meditation   8:00 – 9:00 pm

December 14              Taize at First Presbyterian

7:30 – 8:30 pm

 

Summary of July’s Retreat Day

For our July retreat day we watched a Pema Chodron DVD entitled Smile At Fear.  In this video Pema explains that what she teaches is Bodhisattva training – work on the self so that we become spiritual warriors in order to serve others with courage, fearlessness, and love.  She emphasizes the importance of this work to help others, for the healing of the earth, and to relieve the suffering of others.  We are needed.  This path of meditation we are on is important!

So what is the path to this way of fearlessness?  The first step is to stop running from our anxiety and fear and to get to know it.  We need to stay present when we begin to fear what we see.  When we get to know our fear, we turn our fear into a vulnerable place that can be touched and not hardened against.

This is not an easy process – thus the term “spiritual warrior”.  In order to get to know our fear, we have to slow down and actually feel it.  It sometimes leads to things we don’t like about ourselves, but it helps us see the truth about ourselves.  And this leads to being a more genuine person.  All of this starts with a gentle determination to know our self completely.  And Pema teaches that a meditation practice is a method of being with ourselves completely and honestly.  She believes meditation is the safest environment to take on this project of being more genuine.

 

In closing,

 “Perfect Love casts out fear” 

                1John 4:18

 

 

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