Meditation Training
Since 1990, meditation has been a major presence in my life. The shape and focus of my meditation practice have shifted and developed over time, but sitting and being still every day have not. I am very grateful that my life direction has supported my ability to honor the practice of daily meditation since I first thought, some twenty years ago, “I’ll give this meditation thing a try.”
The Benefits Of Meditation
I know I am supposed to write a list of all the benefits of meditation to convince you that you should do it. Truthfully, there are too many, plus the list would change daily if I wanted to stay current. For me, the aspect of a daily meditation practice that I am typically most grateful for is the experience of being present. Sharing with another person what “being present” feels like, or what it has cultivated in my life, is like trying to tell someone what love feels like and why it’s good if they have never experienced it. I am amused by today’s abundance of cute paperback books on mindfulness and being present, marketed for anyone and everyone, regardless of their lifestyle or personal/spiritual commitments.
Come join our Lunch Meditation Practice Online.
My Style Of Meditation
I often feel like I come from the Shaquille O’Neal School of Meditation. For those of you who do not follow sports, Shaquille O’Neal was a basketball player who was fouled often and shot many free throws, more than any other player in the league then. One would assume since he was a trained, professional athlete and wanted to master his craft, Mr. O’Neal would excel at free throw shooting or at least be proficient based on the amount of practice and repetition. He never achieved even mediocrity as a free throw shooter. I have always felt that this is my experience as a meditation practitioner. Just because I do it a lot doesn’t mean I am any good at it! I certainly am more competent and skilled than when I started, but mediation practice is a practice and not a perfection; at least, that is my experience, and it informs my teaching.
If you are feeling moved towards beginning or strengthening your meditation practice, I may be able to help. Before we go any further, I must share with you that it’s not easy and takes relentless commitment to sustain until we begin to experience the fruits of our labor. They rarely come quickly. Meditation is not a microwave process, more like a wood stove; it takes a while to get warmed up.
Sitting Still Doing Nothing – Meditation Training Experiences
“The essential Taoist approach to life is captured in the phrase ching-jing wu-wei, literally, ‘sitting still doing nothing.’
‘Doing nothing’ doesn’t mean sitting around all day like a lump on a log, but rather doing only those things that really need to be done and doing them in a way that does not run counter to the natural order of Tao and the patterned flow of cosmic forces.
It means engaging only in spontaneous, unpremeditated activity, doing things purely for their own sake rather than for ulterior motives, and living in harmony with rather than trying to conquer nature. Perhaps most importantly, wu-wei means knowing when to stop rather than overdoing things and knowing when to refrain entirely from inappropriate action.”
Daniel P. Reid The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity
Providence Holistic Counselor, Coach & Reiki Location and Rates
My offie is in Warren, RI. I do not accept insurance. I offer a sliding scale fee ($95-$175) based on your own discernment of need. I accept cash, checks, Venmo, Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express, and PayPal.
I invite you to contact me to see if we are a good fit to work together.
