Guiding people down the dharma path.

Published on April 4, 2005 By dharmagrl In Philosophy

I'm having a little get together at my house today.

I'm teaching people how to meditate and about the basic precepts of Buddhism.

'Teaching' is really the wrong word to use....it's more of a guidance process. I'm not telling them anything they don't already know; I'm just opening the door and pointing them in the direction of the dharma path.

It's going to be good for me to have other people to talk to about this; I've been practicing mainly solo thus far and a sangha (community) would be a really nice thing to be a part of.

I'm nervous as all get out. Meditation for me is a very personal thing....for me to show other people how I meditate is like inviting someone to sleep with me (not have sex, but sleep with in the literal term).

Well, here goes nothing....!

Comments

Reiki-House

on Apr 04, 2005

One would think it difficult to teach to others something that is a personal thing. And what's meditation exactly? When I hear that word I imagine sitting cross-leged, hands open in front of you, and with eyes closed, humming. What do you think about? Is it like imagining nothing, like a blank piece of paper? To me, meditation with eyes closed etc... is impossible. If I was meditating, trying to keep a blank mind would be work in itself, kind of. Know what I mean? Are you supposed to think happy thoughts? Or pretty ones? Like a field of nice flowers or something? Are you taught what you're supposed to be thinking about while meditating? To me I think it's like hypnotism. I don't see how anyone could ever be hypnotized. While the guy's trying to put me under, I think I'd be laughing to myself about how I could never be hypnotized.

foreverserenity

on Apr 04, 2005

This sounds very interesting. Good luck Dharma. I'm sure it will turn out well.

Myrrander

on Apr 04, 2005

Yes, spring has come
This morning a nameless hill
Is shrouded in mist.

--Basho

alison watkins

on Apr 04, 2005

Sounds like an interesting group of people. I'm sure you're get together will be an enlightening success. Meditation is a personal thing, but I think it's a great way to get a group of people together.

dharmagrl

on Apr 04, 2005

What do you think about?

Nothing. At first you follow your breath to get yourself focused, but then...you try and clear your mind and think of nothing. Thoughts will arise, yes, and you acknowledge that you're thinking about something and then let that thought go.

When I hear that word I imagine sitting cross-leged, hands open in front of you, and with eyes closed, humming.

That's how we sit. We have pillows called zafu's and mats called zabutons that we sit on to help with our posture, and yes, we sit with our hands on our knees, open palms up, or with them in our laps, palms up. Sometimes we chant " Om mani pade hum' which means "Hail to the jewel in the lotus', but not everyone chants out loud. Some folks have malas (like me) that they use to count the number of chants they do, some people have singing bowls that they use and they follow the sound....it varies. My job today was to help people attain the proper position and provide and atmosphere that was condusive to meditation...the rest they did on their own. Then we sat and talked about the dharma and the Buddha, did a little yoga, drank some tea....it was very peaceful and very relaxed and I had an excellent time.

Yes, spring has come
This morning a nameless hill
Is shrouded in mist.

Thank you, Myrr. I'll share that with the next class.

Meditation is a personal thing, but I think it's a great way to get a group of people together.

It is, because the layers of pretention were stripped away and we were no longer the people we wear daily..the mother, the prison officer, the cop...we were all just humans trying to walk the dharma and be better humans.

KarmaGirl

on Apr 05, 2005

Sometimes we chant " Om mani pade hum' which means "Hail to the jewel in the lotus', but not everyone chants out loud.

I chant (not out loud) Om Tare Tutare Ture So Ha. (but, I meditate on Green Tara, not Chenrezi). I'm such a rebel LOL

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