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Any last minute advice?
misterCope
PA, USA Veteran
in Sanghas
I've mentioned this here before, but people come and go and opinions change, so I thought I'd ask again since the time is fast approaching...
This coming Tuesday, I will be assembling a meditation group on my university campus. This is turning out to be quite a successful endeavor; the university has provided us with a room to use, which we are sharing with the Muslim community (who had nowhere to pray on campus before), and anyone else who'd like to use it.
So, my question is simply: any suggestions or advice? Especially for a first meeting?
This coming Tuesday, I will be assembling a meditation group on my university campus. This is turning out to be quite a successful endeavor; the university has provided us with a room to use, which we are sharing with the Muslim community (who had nowhere to pray on campus before), and anyone else who'd like to use it.
So, my question is simply: any suggestions or advice? Especially for a first meeting?
2
Comments
Remember its not a psychotherapy group. You are not there to fix them.
Remember its not a discussion forum to fix the world.
As for the rest, I'm not interested in taking any real leadership role or anything like that. Ideally, we will be a group of equals who sit together, that is all.
People are often lonely or needy or restless. But their lonliness and need should be met as a side issue, and their restlessness should be pushed past firmly but gently.
Tell a story, one of my favourite:
http://sillysutras.com/kalu-rinpoche-the-zen-master-and-the-orange/
Start with walking meditation, most people find walking easier than sitting . . . strange but true . . .
Might be of interest to hear what meditation others have done . . .
Maybe play a youtube clip from a meditation master you admire . . .
Have fun.
ah well, good luck to the responsible @misterCope :wave:
Oh, and wear loose clothing.
Oh, and don't forget to breathe. Breathing is important.
Stay with it.....you'll be glad you did!
Let us know, please!
I'd suggest some early discussion to get clear about the purpose(s) of the group and what people want and expect. "Meditation" can mean all sorts of different things to different people.
::: Throws herself at @MisterCope's feet, wrapping her arms around his ankles ::::
DON'T DO IT!!! NO!! DON'T!
Just kidding. (sort of)
As for leadership/instruction, I'm kicking around the idea of bringing a radio and playing meditation instruction on it...I don't know about that, though -- anybody have any thoughts on that?
When it comes to "leadership" someone has got to be the patsy ... in this case, you. You don't need to parade it but neither can you shun the responsibility. It seems to me that if you play it straight -- expressing your own desires and uncertainties -- and ask for input, things are likely to run OK. Be as clear as you can be in your own mind about what you think is important: Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, but you need to be clear for yourself and as a kindness to others.
Just thinking out loud. Good luck.
Good organizational skills/ communication skills/ enthusiasm/ /charisma and Dharmic knowledge, pales compared to the example of how that person actually attends to the pressures of their own ego.
Ego is dynamic rather than a noun you have in your bucket. So right action/speech.
Is this a room where people will just come to meditate?
Is it going to be the practicing of a specific form of meditation.
Is it going to be affiliated with a Buddhist school or linage?
.
http://sujato.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/running-a-meditation-group/
Rather than focusing the first session on technique, I would suggest you focus on what are the practical benefits of meditation. This should give your group a sense of purpose and a motivation.
I think a good video that you could play is the one that @Jeffrey posted not long ago. It's the commencement speech by David Foster Wallace available at:
http://www.upworthy.com/the-earth-shatteringly-amazing-speech-that-ll-change-the-way-you-think-about-adulthood-4
Then you can explain that meditation will give one the ability to have that awareness which David Wallace refers to.
Since you said you wanted to use the vipassana method for the group, I would suggest you go to youtube and enter the search words "Vipassana testimonials". This will bring up tons of videos where ordinary folk give brief testimonials about their experience with vipassana meditation. You could listen to some of them and bookmark the ones which you think will be beneficial for your group's first session and play them there.
You could also share your own experiences on the benefits of meditation and ask other people in the group who have practiced meditation to share theirs too.
Good luck and anumodana Sadhu! (rejoicing in your act of compassion)
@how, the room is always open and available for anybody to use it. Muslims pray at certain times, five time a day, so they will have it then. But anyone else can come and go as they please. The group I'm starting will meet at a certain time, but I'm hoping some of them decide to meditate on their own as well. It won't be affiliated with any school or lineage. The University stipulated that no religious paraphernalia be hung on the walls/displayed. (For instance, Muslims can't pray in a room with a Ganesha idol set up). It's basically just a quiet little room. Aside from starting of with Vipassana meditation, I don't have any specific types set in stone. A lot of the people involved seem interested in exploring different types.
@lobster, thank you for the link!
That’s okay. You can’t please everyone.
We tried to have a very democratic and equal group one time. It was terrible. We had all sorts of disagreement. Do we sit in a circle or in a straight line? Is walking meditation done slowly or is it almost standing still? Does someone come up with a text or is it just sitting and shutting up? Will there be tea? When? How long? What tea? When you think about it there are hundreds of variables within the concept of a “meditation-group”.
My suggestion is; don’t fall into the trap of keeping all those variables open for discussion.
Take the responsibility to make the most important decisions.
The best beginners-meditation (imho) is counting the breath. It is not too complicated to explain. Vipassana is okay too, but it stays -in the head – the way I see it. It could turn into something too intellectual.
You are starting a practice group.
What about a handout e.g.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/meditation-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
Sounds like you have very little to do . . . if you manage to cut that down further but get regulars . . . should all work out nicely . . .
Thanks again, @lobster, I'm definitely going to use that!
Of course you are.
It's called practice.
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
My biggest worry is that I'll control the group too much. I'm often thrust into positions of authority as a student teacher, tutor, and president of a club on campus, so I'm used to taking up the reigns. I'd like very much to let go of my ego and have the group grow as a cohesive, organic unit. I don't mind being the cohesive, I'm just not looking to be the "leader," especially since I'm no expert on meditation!
@karmablues, thanks for the suggestions! I actually reposted that video on my Facebook. That's a good idea about discussing the benefits. I'll probably use most of the time the first day to do that and let everyone get to know each other a little bit.
The same is probably true for meditation, a pastime that bears more fruit in action than it does in the praise or criticism or explanation of it.
The first meeting was today. We spent most of the time talking -- getting to know each other, talking about our experiences in meditation, etc. Then meditated for about ten minutes and discussed it afterward.
Six people turned up for it and every one of them used the word "refreshing" to describe the experience, which I thought was pretty interesting. I encouraged them to meditate throughout the week and write about it in a journal.
Side note: one of the people who turned up was a young lady from Japan. She identified herself as Buddhist and when I asked what kind, she shrugged and said, "just Buddhist." She also said that she had never tried to meditate before. Go figure!
One of my very best friends is Muslim. I've known her for years and she has not, even once, ever tried to convert me. The room that I used for meditation was, in fact, provided to the Muslim community by the University for prayers. My friend invited me to use the room, vouched for me, and was one of the people that sat in meditation with us today. In actuality, a third of the people that showed up to meditate were Muslim and showed no evidence of a "maniacal obsession with converting people."
In point of fact, I am interested in Islam, no need to pretend. It, like most religions, is interesting. Every discussion that I've had with a Muslim about religion has been open, honest, and quite the opposite of pushy.
Stereotypes are nothing but ridiculous.
I'd imagine that some people in Japan are Buddhists in a similar way that some Americans are Christians: "Oh yeah, I'm Christian. Jesus all the way! What? No, no, I've never been to church. Read the Bible? I don't know...it's just so long. Check out my WWJD shirt, though!"
The university has started promoting the "meditation center" (it's a 7' by 10' room) and more people have been showing up to meetings. I feel as though I am doing a good job of trying not to hang onto a strong leadership role. This is how the meetings have been going:
-Introductions/some kind of question: "What is meditation to you? Why are you here?" etc.
-A short story or anecdote
-A description of seating postures/questions
-A brief guided meditation (which is super weird for me, I have to say)
-Some Q&A (most often, my answer is "I don't know")
-A ten-minute meditation
Altogether, it takes about 40/45 minuted depending on how many questions people ask.
I am, of course, still accepting advise, suggestions, comments, questions, and concerns!
Thank you, everyone!
In metta,
Raven
If they find an answer maybe they would share it next time . . . :wave:
The meditation group I started at my university has grown at an alarming rate. I'm now doing it twice a week in a packed room with numerous requests for more sessions on more days. Here are my questions:
I've been invited by the school to make the group "official." Which essentially means it would be recognized by the University, I could advertise for the group, and some other political junk. But the opportunity for networking with other clubs and accomplishing positive changes in the community would be greater. In order to become official, I'd have to raise $300 and appoint people as President, VP, Secretary, and treasurer.
Do you think I should do it?
Also, with the demand for more meetings, should I consider asking another person to lead the group on a day (or days) that I'm not available? I've tried really hard to keep the whole thing very simple, and I think that if someone is dedicated and willing, he or she could lead some days.
Do you think I should do it?
As always, thank you so much for your kind words, solid advice, and good wishes!
I think the real value of the group is the meditation practice that they do.
While the world will cry out for labels and titles and all manner of officialdom, consider carefully the worth of the Dharma of having the group reflect the simple accessibility of the meditation practice.
It needs nothing more than folks willing to practice it.
I have been closely involved in implementing official improvements to a local Buddhist organization and after many years concluded that while it offered some security to the monks, the real practice required none of it and more often than not, was hindered by it.
You will never need officials to sit. Next we will need a breathing committee . . .
Yes other people can facilitate on other days.
:wave:
Trust yourself and do what you need to do.
What's the alarms going off about?
Sure, someone else can run the sit.
Do you have someone in mind already?
BTW....positive changes can already be made in the
community....just takes planning and being serious
about doing it. What's the networking for?
What's your main intention with the
group? How is your feel for how it's rolling and going...???
I think that my worry is that the university might start interfering somehow. They have already been taking down posters because it's not an officially sanctioned group. They also shot down a request for improvements to the room for the same reason. My hangup on this is that I don't want this group to turn into some kind of rebellious thing; definitely not my intention.
@Vastmind, by "alarming" I guess I meant I was expecting sort of a small group of maybe under ten. However, There are something like 35 people showing up. So many that I had to split them between two days because we couldn't all fit into the room (and to fit easier into some of their schedules). I find myself startled every time I arrive at the room and find huge piles of shoes and backpacks in the hallway. So, not bad alarms!
I have a couple of people in mind. Not sure if they would be interested or not.
The networking...I'm technically not allowed to work with on-campus groups to do anything at. No posters, no "soliciting," etc. If the group were official, its existence would also be made known to all of the other groups on campus. My main intention is to help people. If more people know about it, I can help more people. Furthermore, once I graduate and am gone, the group would still exist to help people if it's been made official.
I think it's going really well. I guess what it really boils down to is: how large does it get before I need help?
Thank you all again, so much.
Dogen advised those wishing to set up places of training to stay as far away from kings and positions of power as was possible. The longer I practice, the wiser those words become.
&
If your practice was Zen meditation then I'd encourage having a different capable group member to officiate with every gathering but as my experience with guided meditation is nill..I'll pass.
Try to keep in mind that all the to-ing and fro-ing is YOUR practice. Someone always gets stuck with the slimy end of the stick, but sometimes the slimy end of the stick is a good way to bring the bright and beautiful end of the stick into a more realistic focus.
If the university is being a pain in the tush, how about going off-campus ... maybe a church that would rent you a room once a week or something like that. It's a question you might put to the group along with your reasons for suggesting it.