"Mindfulness and Meditation allow us to open our hearts, relax our bodies, and clear our minds enough to experience the vast, mysterious, sacred reality of life directly. With Practice we come to know for ourselves that eternity is available in each moment.

Your MMM Courtesy Wake Up Call:
Musings on Life and Practice
by a Longtime Student of Meditation

Be Still and Know: An Interfaith Day of Mindfulness


This one-day retreat offers you the opportunity to break away from the devices (electronic, psychological, and social) that propel most of us through our busy, fast paced, stimulus-rich lives.  This day of shared practice offers you the opportunity to deepen your meditation practice. 

 

Open to all practitioners of silent meditation practice, contemplation, centering prayer, etc. -- experienced and beginners alike -- the day will provide a supportive environment to explore the inner dimensions of your own consciousness through sustained periods of silent practice.  

As many the world’s sages, saints, and have proclaimed, there is an Ultimate Source of peace, happiness, and fulfillment.  This Silent Presence is a wordless quality of heart and mind that lies within us --and beyond us -- each moment of our lives. It is a matter of experience, not merely belief.  We can be still – and know this for ourselves!  We merely have to open to what my first Zen teacher called the Soundless Sound.

There will plenty of Silence during the day. The morning session and afternoon sessions each provide about two and a half hours of Silent Practice, divided into periods of 20 minutes of Sitting Meditation and 10 minutes of Walking Meditation. 

The day will begin with an Opening Heart Council Circle at 9:00 am to introduce one another and the day’s agenda, and to share our individual aspirations and intentions for the day before entering into 

Silent Practice together.

There will also be a Midday Circle at about Noon, then a 40-45 minute lunch break until 1 PM.  You can bring in a bag lunch or eat out at the Coop or a variety of restaurants within easy walking distance.  We will then share a Closing Circle at about 3 PM to share our experiences of the day and explore what our aspirations and intentions may be for our practice in the future.  

Although at least a half day’s practice is preferable, you are welcome to join and leave at any point of the day.  Please move mindfully as you enter and leave.  It is customary to bow open entering and leaving the Practice Space but, like everything else in a life practiced mindfully this is a matter of choice.

For more info: Lance Smith thishazymoon@gmail.com  (847) 502 6204

At this point VAX and Masks are necessary.

Pre-registration through Community Yoga is requested. Donations are appreciated but not necessary. You can do this through the Community Yoga Website or at the studio.

 


"Mindfulness Practice isn't just about escaping to some magical inner realm devoid of life's challenges. The Practice is about calming your mind and opening your heart enough to engage Life directly, to be more fully Present in a kind, clear, and helpful way."

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