Meditation Training and Classes
As the wisdom of the Eastern contemplative traditions has come to the West over the last several decades, more and more persons are interested in learning how to meditate.
If you are seeking meditation instruction, it's important to understand that there are different meditation methods, and there are different reasons why people meditate. Of course, meditation fosters spiritual realization. Yet meditation has been found quite effective for creativity and stress relief.
As an aspect of my transpersonal therapy/counseling practice, I offer individualized instruction and classes on different methods of meditation. The methods which he teaches include:
- Mindfulness meditation - This form, also known as insight or vipassana meditation, was originated by the Buddha. Over the past five decades this meditation technique has become more widely known to Westerners, thanks to such teachers as Jack Kornfield. The widely-understood term "mindfulness", an experience of presence wherein one is not identified with her thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions, originates from this tradition..
- Concentrative meditation - This meditation technique resembles what people commonly imagine when they think of "meditation". Staring at a candel, concentrating on the breath, the tip of the nose.... There are innumerable objects which can be used as an object of concentration. When sufficiently developed, concentration opens the you to different spiritual states and realization.
- Creative meditation - Moden research in personal creativity had discovered a fairly uniform protocol for how to generate creativity with regard to a given subject. This has been formalized as a meditation form.
- Nondual meditation - The nondual approach to spiritual realization has only recently become more popular in the West thanks to such teachers as Peter Fenner, Rupert Spira, and Adyashanti. This form is not so much a method of meditation as it is a way of understanding and realization which from the start brings you to rest in the culimination of the spiritual path.
My own experience in meditation includes my having practiced different meditation forms for more than 40 years. I have also been a scholar of meditation research (see Selected Bibliography for a sample of published papers).
Consider a free consultation
I believe it is important for you be able to explore your needs and the suitability of our working together at no cost to you. Therefore I offer prospective clients the opportunity to meet with me for a free 50-minute consultation.
The easiest way to arrange a consultation at a day and time of your convenience is to use this link >> Complimentary Consultation. Of course you may make your appointment by phone (503.226.2771) or email, but depending upon how busy I may be, I may not reply to you in a timely manner.
Directions and maps to my near-downtown office may be found using this "Portland office location" link.
Keep Informed of Michael's Meditation Classes and Workshops
Periodically I offer meditation classes and workshops. If you are interested in subscribing to email notifications of my classes, click here: Subscribe to Michael's Notificatons of Classes and Workshops .
If you are interested in some recommendations for books to read about spiritual practices, see: Resources
by Michael Nagel MA
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