A Meditation Evening

Intention: To show how one meditation group arranges their gathering.

Introduction: This a sample layout of how one group's meditative evening. They take turns meeting each other homes on Wednesday evenings. This group has been meeting for 14 years and has no leader. From time to time new aspects are tried and sometimes added. There are many other ways mediation groups can be setup depending on the members interest.

Lighting a Candle:
Intention- To start the sitting and honour the groups coming together again.

Starting the Meditation:
Intention- as a gentle reminder of these three safe/refuge principles.

• Ringing of the bell 3 times
• Once for awareness: honouring our deeper nature of awareness & compassion
• Once for truth: courage to recognize and accept the true nature of things
• Once for community: to learn from and apply the qualities of love.

Ending the Meditation:
Intention- Reflection on the various experiences in the meditation period

• Offering the merit of a clearer mind to all beings
• Ringing the bell lightly, once
• 1-5mins of quiet time, reflecting on the meditation.
• Serving of tea and goodies

Discussion Topic:
Intention- to listen and learn from others and share from our own personal experiences.

• Sometimes a tape, a reading or poetry
• Often a posted topic suggest by a member the week before.

Discussion Ends:
Intention- To have social time of friendly connection with others.

• Group chooses next week's discussion topic
• Group choose next week's sitting location

Example:.

• March 16, Equanimity by Sharon Salzberg
• March 23, Equanimity by Ken McLeod
• March 23, What makes a spiritual life? Personal Reflections
• March 30, How do others meditate? Personal Sharing