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Meditating with others

naturelovernaturelover
edited November 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Just wanted to let folks know I found a meditation center that asks for a donation of $5 for each session, but doesn't keep track of who donates. I went last Thurs. and really enjoyed it. It's a lovely space, and there was a short talk and conversation afterward.

Problem is they don't know how long they're going to continue these sessions. It's a Shambalya (sp?) place. They give classes in that, but that's not the strain of Buddhism I want to practice.

But for the next Thurs. I'm golden. :) One moment (or Thurs. at a time).

Comments

  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited November 2010
    You don't need a dedicated space. When I first started practicing, there was a group of us who met on Friday evenings at someone's house. We shared a simple meal, meditated (in the living room), then either shared our thoughts and experiences, or sometimes we read aloud from some spiritual themed book or other. It was a wonderful group of people, and I miss them very much. Several of us have moved, and others have left the area entirely. As long as there are two of you, and someone has a free floor to use, why not just carry on even if the dedicated space goes away? You'll enjoy it!
  • username_5username_5
    edited November 2010
    There is a men's movement that has a presence darn near everywhere these days in the US and after one attends a retreat they are given access to the worldwide community of men who have attended the retreat and from the local retreat a local group forms. This local group is shepherded by a trained instructor for several weeks and then the instructor leaves and the men are left to continue the group for as long or short as they wish. There is no formal space for these groups, the men find it on their own or do not. There is no organizer, the men determine for themselves when and if they will meet. There is no agenda at these meetings, the men determine this for themselves.

    What I am trying to say is that having experienced leadership heading up a group is wonderful, but often it's the individual people that make the overall experience worthwhile and it's not necessary for formal leadership to exist in order to meet up with the people. If the individuals wish to continue meeting up they can reach out to various teachers to come visit.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Got any more information on that?
  • username_5username_5
    edited November 2010
    Mountains wrote: »
    Got any more information on that?

    Sure, it's the New Warrior Training Adventure. Not Buddhist, but in my opinion completely compatible with it. It gets a lot of it's cues from Jungian psychology and the various archetypes of mythology the Jungian school uses to express it's concepts.
  • FoibleFullFoibleFull Canada Veteran
    edited November 2010
    nature lover wrote: »
    Just wanted to let folks know I found a meditation center that asks for a donation of $5 for each session, but doesn't keep track of who donates. I went last Thurs. and really enjoyed it. It's a lovely space, and there was a short talk and conversation afterward.

    Problem is they don't know how long they're going to continue these sessions. It's a Shambalya (sp?) place. They give classes in that, but that's not the strain of Buddhism I want to practice.

    But for the next Thurs. I'm golden. :) One moment (or Thurs. at a time).


    Exactly. If you have a thirst, any ladle of water is good. I have had contact with Shambala teachings, and they are not "my way" ... but I have benefitted from incorporating them into the school of Buddhism that I follow and they had helped make me a "better Buddhist". All paths lead to Rome, so to speak.
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