with Sydney Hall & Rachel Nixon
Four Tuesdays, March 16-April 20, 6-8 p.m.
Via Zoom... link provided with registration.
“The mind is very wild. If we can train ourselves through meditation to be more open and more accepting toward the wild arc of our experience, if we can lean into the difficulties of life and the ride of our minds, we can become more settled and relaxed amid whatever life brings us.” Pema Chödrön
Many people come to meditation or mindfulness to “quiet the mind” but is that really possible or desirable? Instead, what if we get to know the “wild arc” of our experience, including our mind and emotions? What if we become curious about our monkey mind and welcome everything to the path.
In this six-week class, we will explore meditation as a practice to support wholehearted living. Guided by the wisdom of American Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön, we will learn how to work with our minds. Participants will be guided through the basics of meditation, including:
-
preparing for practice,
-
getting grounded in the body,
-
learning to be with the breath,
-
working with thoughts, emotions, and sensations,
-
and letting go.
The instruction will be sensory-based and embodied. Together, we will experience meditation as practice. We will work at it, stay with it, let it go, and keep trying. We will learn about the science of mindfulness and how we are re-wiring the brain for self-compassion and positive thought patterns.
The atmosphere will be kind and playful. It is important not to take meditation too seriously. The core teaching will be How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema Chödrön. We will also draw on other Buddhist voices through videos, podcasts, and readings. Participants will leave with specific tools to continue a meditation practice with joy and support.
This offering is part of the year-long program, Making Friends with Ourselves & Our World, January-December, 2021.
Class book: How to Meditate by Pema Chödrön. Please order a copy from a local bookstore or online.
Level: All are welcome. This is great class for beginners and an excellent refresher for “advanced” practitioners.
Registration: Kindly complete payment below or contact Rachel at [email protected] to register and discuss other payment options. Donations in any amount are graciously appreciated. In addition to online payment, you may send checks to: The Dancing Elephant, 14 School Street, Rockland, ME 04841. Please register by email first. Thank you!
If you are able to pay the full amount, you will help someone else participate. Thank you!
Rachel Nixon has been exploring Buddhist teachings since 1999. Over the years, she has been inspired by Pema Chödrön's writings and has trained at Shambhala Buddhist Centers in the U.S. and Canada. Rachel attended the seven-week Yarne Retreat with Ani Pema at Gampo Abbey in 2019-2020. Rachel has also studied with Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and the Mangala Shri Bhuti community, as well as at the Insight Meditation Society. She has been trained as a Shambhala Path Meditation Instructor and a k-12 Mindful Schools Educator. Rachel loves to teach meditation and explore the Buddhist teachings with people of all ages. She also loves sailing, hiking, and swimming.
Sydney Hall has been practicing meditation since 2008. She has practiced and studied at Shambhala Buddhist meditation centers in Colorado, Vermont, New York City, and Brunswick. Sydney trained as a Shambhala Guide and has facilitated study groups and assisted at weekend retreats for the local sangha in Rockland. She and her family have lived in Hope for nearly 40 years. Sydney is a retired art teacher, and she and her husband have sailed extensively in Maine and the Caribbean.The Dancing Elephant is by donation so that everyone can participate. Donations in any amount are graciously appreciated.