Beginner's Meditation Class March 2017

INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS FOR URBAN LIVING

This is a four weeks program, participants will receive instructions on Mindfulness Meditation with weekly group practice and daily self exercises at home.This intend for the class is to help establish mindfulness in your life.
  • What: Introduction To Mindfulness For Urban Living
  • Where: Jade Buddha Temple, 6969 Westbranch Drive, Houston, TX 77072-2163 U.S.A
  • When: Four consecutive Sundays in March and April | 3/12 – 3/19 – 3/26 – 4/2
  • Time: 8:00 am small group introduction and discussion | 9:00 am meditation practice in Kwan Yin Hall
  • Orientation: Sunday March 5 11:30 am (30 minutes, after EDG’s Dharma Talk); location to be announced.
Background: We live very busy and sometimes chaotic lives and at times wish there was a way to slow down and smell the roses. In the past twenty years, a wealth of scientific and medical research studies and programs have explored the benefits of Mindfulness Meditation.  It has even found its way into the corporate business world.

This class is an introduction to the Fundamentals of Mindfulness.  Consisting of four weekly sessions, the class focuses on the Mahasi method of Mindfulness meditation. It is aimed to introduce and develop the techniques for busy urban lives.  It is intended for yogis who want to develop a regular Mindfulness practice, learn how to work with obstacles and who are prepared and willing to commit to the program.

To make the program effective, the number of participants is limited.  The class is free of charge; donations to EDG are welcome.

Expectations and Schedule: To benefit from the program, all participants are expected to commit to class schedules and requirements.

The four classes are conducted from 8:00 am – 10:00 am in March/April.
Weekly instructions are given every Sunday for an hour starting at 8:00 am; participants will then attend EDG’s meditation program from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

Participants will be given daily mindfulness exercises and are required to keep a diary of short check-lists, provided by the instructor. You are encouraged to ask questions and actively contribute to the growth of the group.  There is a minimum requirement of 5 participants to start the program.

Details: The class is led by Josten Ma, a long-time member of Jade Buddha Temple and former manager of the English Dharma Group. His meditation practice evolved over more than 20 years, during which he participated in numerous meditation retreats in the US and overseas, lasting as long as four consecutive weeks. He has studied various popular meditation methods and as a result chose the Mahasi methods of the Vipassana practice as a place to let his mind rest in meditation.

Goals:
  • Participants get to know the “How to” of mindfulness meditation
  • Learn the basics of Mindfulness Meditation (Mahasi Methods)
  • Develop Mindfulness habits
  • Develop 24 x 7 awareness in Urban living (yes, even during busy office hours)
Orientation March 5: 

We will meet and greet; learn about the program with a brief introduction of techniques, set expectations and determine if the class is a good fit for you.

Why do you want to invest your time and efforts for four weeks? 
When Josten Ma was asked about the reasons for this class, he recalled the following story:  
Story of the “Truth of the World”
A man seeking the ultimate wisdom (Truth off the World) searched high and low for many years, to every corner of the world.  And he is growing old. Finally, when he was 80 years old, he arrived at the door of the wise man and then asked: “What is the ultimate wisdom of the world?”
The answer that came from the wise man was “Do good and avoid evil.” Immediately, the old man responded angrily and shouted: “Why did I search high and low for such a long time and every corner of the world for these words that even a child knows?”  He was so angry that he was about to strike the wise man. 
The wise man then kindly looked at the angry old man and said, “Yes, a child might know but not even an 80-year-old man can do.”

In these four weeks you will learn and practice mindfulness techniques that have been proven effective in dealing with difficult encounters. The program is designed to help you establish and strengthen your meditation habits.

Who should attend?
  • Anyone interested in gaining a deeper awareness of day to day busy urban living.
  • Anyone who would like to learn more about meditation practice in a group setting.
  • Anyone who is willing to commit to the program for four weeks.
Registration: Prior registration by March 1 via

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