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
Retreat Day Saturday, January 28, 2012 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Fellowship Hall
Past Watchful Dragons:
Christian Content in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
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 Saturday for our retreat day when Susan Raab gives us a taste of how Harry cast his global spell: the deeper meanings in J.K. Rowling’s enchanting system of heart-touching symbols.
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
February 3 Jacob Needleman: The Ten Great
Questions of Human Life 7 – 9 pm
Unitarian Universalist Church
February 4 Jacob Needleman: The Love of
Wisdom and the Art of Living
Unitarian Church 9:30 – 4:30
February 10 Taize at First Presbyterian 7:30 pm
February 25 MMG Retreat Day of Zen sitting
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
March 31 MMG Retreat Day
8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Summary of November’s Retreat Day
The teaching portion of our retreat day featured a DVD by Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun. The title of the DVD is “Good Medicine” and Pema focuses on ways we can open to becoming more compassionate human beings. One of the first hints she has for us is one we often run from: she invites us to have a more openhearted relationship with our own pain. The seed of happiness and well-being and compassion comes from our relationship with difficulty and pain.
Pema also teaches us about “Maitri”, or unconditional love and loving kindness toward ourselves. “Maitri” is the basis of compassion. “Maitri ” is unconditional friendship, acceptance, and kindness with oneself. “Maitri” is compassion for oneself. Pema encourages us to explore “Maitri” – to stop thinking that acceptance is going to come from outside ourselves and discover it within. We do this by feeling at home with our own mind and body. We learn this by ceasing the struggle against our pain. With meditation we learn how to become intimate with ourselves. When we are deeply honest with ourselves “Maitri” grows in us.
In closing,
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Rumi
Monterey Meditation Group 