April 2008

April 8 - Meditation / Presence Practice Group (Free) Commences 8-week Study of Chogyam Trungpa's "The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation "

This is a continuation of the informal drop-in meditation/presence practice group that had been meeting on Tuesday evenings.

Beginning April 8, the group will study for eight weeks Tibetan Meditation Master Chogyam Trungpa's, "The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation.."

Beginning April 8, the group will study for eight weeks Tibetan Chogyam Trungpa's book, "The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation." Chogyam Trungpa was a Tibetan meditation master who pioneered the introduction of Tibetan Buddhism to the West. The Amazon books write-up on "The Myth of Freedom" states:

"Freedom is generally thought of as the ability to achieve goals and satisfy desires. But what are the sources of these goals and desires? If they arise from ignorance, habitual patterns, and negative emotions, is the freedom to pursue these goals true
freedom—or is it just a myth?

"In this book, Chögyam Trungpa explores the meaning of freedom in the profound context of Tibetan Buddhism. He shows how our attitudes, preconceptions, and even our spiritual practices can become chains that bind us to repetitive patterns of frustration
and despair. He also explains how meditation can bring into focus the causes of frustration, and how these negative forces can aid us in advancing toward true freedom.

"Trungpa's unique ability to express the essence of Buddhist teachings in the language and imagery of contemporary American culture makes this book one of the best sources of the Buddhist doctrine ever written."

If you are interested in sharing this study, I am offering to purchase the books in bulk from Amazon. The street price for "The Myth of Freedom" is $16.95. Amazon sells it for $11.53 plus shipping. If you wish for me to purchase a copy of the book for you, please inform me no later than end-of-day, Monday, March 31.

If you do plan to share this phase of the group work, please let me know so that I can adequately plan seating.

This an informal drop-in practice group. We meet to practice meditation and different techniques for developing presence (being present, here, now). There is no cost. Although we will be studying a text during these eight weeks, still you need not attend every evening, and you may come and go as you need.

The group is intended to support clients and friends of clients who wish to develop further their skills in meditation and presence.

Qigong (pronounced "chee-gung") is a Taoist energy practice intended to further physical health and spiritual unfoldment through the cultivation and distribution of the body's biophysical energy ("qi" or "prana").

Over the millennia, numerous qigong forms have been developed. The two that are presented in this workshop are short forms allowing them to be integrated easily into our busy lives. The two forms are "Monk Longevity" qigong and "Many Masters" qigong self-massage.

The Monk Longevity qigong form takes less than 5 minutes, and is intended to benefit your health.

The Many Masters qiqong self-massage form takes approximately 15 minutes. It stimulates the body's basic energy points and energy meridians through which the qi is distributed.

Although these qigong forms are short, they are quite effective. They easily can be integrated with a meditation practice or exercise routine, helping to bring the health-fostering benefits of energy work to your daily life.

The class will be limited to 10 persons. To reserve your place in this class, please register by clicking on the red arrow beside the above event title.

May 2008