Living Waters Sangha
Guided Meditation
We begin with a guided 20 minute meditation. During this period the person who is leading the session for the
evening may say a few phrases designed to help direct or focus the meditation. If they are helpful, use them.
If they aren't, simply let them pass, continuing with the approach that you are using in your practice.
If you find these phrases distracting, or notice that you have some particular mental or emotional reaction to them,
you may find it helpful to carefully direct your attention toward that reaction. What does it consist of? How does
it feel, mentally, emotionally, physically? See if you can be fully aware of this reaction, instant by instant.
Walking Meditation
A 10 minute period of walking meditation will follow the guided meditation. The purpose of this segment is to practice
being mindful in the midst of activity. We walk in a counter-clockwise circle, at a pace which
times the breath roughly to each step.
As you proceed around the room simply keep returning your attention to
one or more aspects of the actual experience of this activity. Perhaps this is the sensation in the soles of your
feet as each step presses against the floor. As with sitting meditation, the breath can be a useful point of attention.
Maybe a wider, more general awareness is appropriate. What sounds arise? Did you feel the motion of the air from the
overhead fan? Did you fully experience the wonderful, creaking board?
Silent Meditation
Following the walking meditation, we have another 20 minute period of sitting meditation, this time in silence.
Dharma Discussion
Dharma Discussion is a time in which we can share as a communtity. For the person speaking it is an
opportunity to place issues before the group. These may be issues relating directly to practice, or may be regarding
aspects of the broader practice of our lives. For those not speaking, it is an opportunity to practice mindful
listening, to give full attention to the person speaking, and to receive their openness with compassion and freedom
from judgement.
In popular culture it is often the case that our communication with one another contains far more talking than listening.
Silence, both outwardly refraining from creating distraction while another is speaking, and the inward silence of an attentive
and undistracted mind, is an integral part of discussion which lives up to the full potential of genuine communication.