Hello friends,
We will meet again on Wednesday, October 14, 5:30 in the Quilt Museum.
Meditation does not have to be exclusively associated with the sitting posture. The Buddha taught mindfulness practice in the “four postures:” sitting, standing, walking and lying down. The instruction is to “know” each posture, and to maintain a continuity of bodily awareness in each posture, and all movements, no matter how minor. The point is to prevent us being carried away by distracting thoughts, and anchor us to the present moment reality of our lives.
When we practice walking meditation together on Wednesday night, we know it looks like zombies have taken over the Quilt Museum, but it’s so important to learn how to remain calm and aware in the midst of movement! This week, we’ll practice sitting, standing and walking. Note that lying down meditation is usually not practiced in a meditation hall with others, as it often leads to snoring. 🙂 Analayo, a German scholarly monk, says, “By performing even the least important movement of the body in a conscious and deliberate manner, the most mundane activities can be turned into occasions for mental development … Diligent practice … will bring the mind’s tendency to distraction considerably under control.”
That sounds good to me. See you Wednesday.