Greg has done a wonderful sermon on this, and it’s time to get a woman’s perspective.  This sermon will give examples of patriarchy experienced in the congregation and the world.  

A  CREATIVE TOOLKIT  OF  USEFUL  MEDITATIONS

 An 8-week class called A Creative Toolkit of Useful Meditations will start on Wednesday April 24 at 7:15 in Room 2 of Forbes Hall. After 7:00, participants can enter at the Arizona Avenue door, turn left, and walk up the stairs to Room 2.

Bill Blake will facilitate at least eight meditations, including Buddhist, Sufi, Quaker, and American Cardiology Institute. This package is designed to assist you at any moment of the day (present-time meditation) and with persistent personal issues (sit-down meditation).   

Why so many types of meditation for an 8-week class? This class is my ninth, and I’ve discovered that participants relate more to particular meditations than others, pretty much like everyone has distinct preferences for food, clothes, and exercise. When a participant finishes this class, he or she has a “toolbox” of meditations benefitting all areas of life. Often a participant chooses to practice one meditation for several months and then releases it for a few months or years—then vigorously re-practices it.

One brand of meditation is mindfulness, an awareness of our awareness, of our  full presence with our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. A second brand is inquiry (meditative questioning) that roots out unconscious beliefs plaguing us. Authentic inquiry can initially emotionally painful, but it pays off big time in the long run.

The overall goal is to wake up to a recognition of our Essence and to grow up into more happy, functional, loving relationships.

In sum, the class is experiential (not just cognitive/intellectual) and learner-centered (not teacher-centered). Printed descriptions of all meditations will be given to participants. We discuss each meditation, do it, and practice it during the week. Then we share our experiences at the beginning of the following session.

Participants will be expected to attend at least six out of the eight classes. Newcomers to meditation are 100% welcome.