A Meditation Evening

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

Introduction: This a sample layout of how one group's meditative evening. They take turns meeting each other homes on Wednesday evenings. The Guelph Buddhist Meditation Group has been meeting for over 16 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 of a Candle:
Intention- To start the sitting and honour the groups coming together again.

Starting the Meditation:
The Intention- to take refuge (feel safe) in developing qualities of self-awareness, truth and friendships.

• Ringing of the bell 3 times
• Once for self-awareness: honouring our deeper nature of awareness & compassion
• Once for truth : to considers nature of things: the nature of Life and our human/spiritual nature
• Once for friendliness: learning to apply the qualities of respect and appreciation for ourselves and others

Ending the Meditation:
The Intention- Silently reflecting on experiences in the meditation period

• Sharing the merit (goodness) of the meditation with others
• Ringing the bell once lightly and serving of tea and goodies :-)

Discussion Topic:
Purpose- to listen to, 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