Tuesday Evening Meditation

7:30 pm to 9 pm

We sit together in silence, following our breath and open to wonder, for two 25-minute periods. In between, we take a 10 minute meditative walk—outdoors, weather permitting. We conclude our session with a brief tea ceremony.

We invite you to join us. Come for a one-time sit, or come as frequently as it works for you.

We make this space sacred,
and in this sacred space we are present.

We shape the space
... when we move furniture and set up the altar.

          It’s an open space; there is no clutter here.
          No distractions.

Leave shoes, coats, and other baggage of our life outside the circle.

We make it sacred

... by choosing to be here.

Joining this circle, we express our intention to trust each other
          and to be trustworthy.

As a group, we are here to practice simply being present:
          with compassion, without curiosity or judgment.

... by being aware of how we sit.

Care in sitting allows stillness throughout the sit.

 

Hips above knees;
Spine straight but not rigid;

Head rests, balanced on the spine;

Arms fall gently from shoulders;

Eyes unfocused.

In this sacred space, we are present.

No chants, no mantras, no visualizations.

We center our awareness on the breath.

Breathing is something we return to every day we are alive.

It’s something we share with other living beings.

Breath in, and feel connection with others breathing, in this group.
Feel encircled with support and awareness.

With each breath, rest awareness
... off the tip of the nose, or deep in the chest, or rising in the throat.

          Select a place to rest awareness, and feel the breath in that place.

In the silence, allow focus to give you freedom.

Breathe through impulses to twitch and itch;

Let go of thoughts or emotions.

As these arise, they give us the opportunity to relax, smile, forgive ourselves, and return to the breath.

This is the practice: to recognize those as distractions,
and choose to let them go.

We come to this place with minds swirling and churning.

The space we create is a container to hold our awareness.

Gradually, we can allow the sediment to settle.

Not because we are supposed to, but because come seeking the clarity of prolonged stillness.

And in that stillness and peace, we hold the possibility of compassion;
we can be touched by the whole.

In the end, we drink tea. We hold the clear hot water, cupped in our hands.

Our action is unified: we take our first sip of tea together.

The impact is individual: what did you practice?

How did it touch your soul?

How will you shape the world?

We make this space sacred, and in this sacred space we are present.

                    Breathing in, I am at peace

                   Breathing out, I smile.

                   Dwelling in the present moment,

                   I know it is a wonderful moment.