Meditation FAQs
I can't meditate because I can't stop my thoughts long enough.
Meditation is not about stopping thoughts. We cannot stop our thinking, it is the brain's function to think. However, Meditation teaches us to not get caught up and entangled in our thinking. Through the classes, I teach how to become like the vast blue sky. The thoughts are like the clouds that float by. The clouds do not grab hold of the sky and drag it with them, and so we learn how to do the same with our thoughts.
I can't meditate because I can't sit on the floor like a pretzel.
You do not have to sit on the floor and imitate a pretzel. I will show various positions for sitting both on the floor and in chairs. The main thing is finding a comfortable position that allows you to be relaxed and alert.
Why meditate with a group when I can just do it at home?
Firstly, meditation should be practiced both at home AND as part of group, not one or the other. On a practical level group meditation helps us to establish a daily meditation practice. We all have busy lives, and even if you have the best intention to meditate at home, we can let the practice slip. Being part of a group can help you become more committed to your practice. Meditating with a group can help strengthen your own practice while at the same time, supporting the practice of fellow meditators. Additionally, practice in a group is often deeper, as you are able to connect to a more profound awareness that you might experience on your own.
Is meditation a religious practice?
No. What I teach is primarily a Zen-approach to meditation, with some meditation techniques from other disciplines introduced occasionally. Many spiritual traditions employ some kind of meditation practice, but meditation itself is not a religious or spiritual activity. There is no doctrine or belief system needed in order to practice meditation.
I don't have time to practice meditation.
You would be surprised how much time is underutilized thoughout our days, even the busiest ones. Meditation is primarily connecting with the breath and body. That can be done just about anywhere at any time. Devoting a few minutes a day to practicing the basic techniques is all that is required. The classes provide an ideal setting in a supportive atmosphere to learn the techniques. While it may require a little extra effort in the beginning, once the techniques are learned and you are disciplined enough, you can meditate doing anything. Meditation doesn't have to be limited to just sitting on a cushion.
Meditation is not about stopping thoughts. We cannot stop our thinking, it is the brain's function to think. However, Meditation teaches us to not get caught up and entangled in our thinking. Through the classes, I teach how to become like the vast blue sky. The thoughts are like the clouds that float by. The clouds do not grab hold of the sky and drag it with them, and so we learn how to do the same with our thoughts.
I can't meditate because I can't sit on the floor like a pretzel.
You do not have to sit on the floor and imitate a pretzel. I will show various positions for sitting both on the floor and in chairs. The main thing is finding a comfortable position that allows you to be relaxed and alert.
Why meditate with a group when I can just do it at home?
Firstly, meditation should be practiced both at home AND as part of group, not one or the other. On a practical level group meditation helps us to establish a daily meditation practice. We all have busy lives, and even if you have the best intention to meditate at home, we can let the practice slip. Being part of a group can help you become more committed to your practice. Meditating with a group can help strengthen your own practice while at the same time, supporting the practice of fellow meditators. Additionally, practice in a group is often deeper, as you are able to connect to a more profound awareness that you might experience on your own.
Is meditation a religious practice?
No. What I teach is primarily a Zen-approach to meditation, with some meditation techniques from other disciplines introduced occasionally. Many spiritual traditions employ some kind of meditation practice, but meditation itself is not a religious or spiritual activity. There is no doctrine or belief system needed in order to practice meditation.
I don't have time to practice meditation.
You would be surprised how much time is underutilized thoughout our days, even the busiest ones. Meditation is primarily connecting with the breath and body. That can be done just about anywhere at any time. Devoting a few minutes a day to practicing the basic techniques is all that is required. The classes provide an ideal setting in a supportive atmosphere to learn the techniques. While it may require a little extra effort in the beginning, once the techniques are learned and you are disciplined enough, you can meditate doing anything. Meditation doesn't have to be limited to just sitting on a cushion.