Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at 1^st 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)