The Thursday morning discussion group recently knocked around ideas for more meditation time together and agreed to kickoff a new weekly 30 minute session on Sunday evenings at 8:30pm. The first meetup will be Sunday 10/4/2020 @ 8:30. Zoom invite to be sent by email. I'll be the host with minimalist duties described below.
The primary motivation for this is group silent meditation, the feeling being that, with a regular discussion group meeting every other Thursday, more silent time together will be useful for some of us.
Here's how I'd like to do it the first time:
- Open the Zoom session @ 8:15 so people can arrive and settle in, prior to the start of meeting; Zoom host need not be present.
- Start the meeting @ 8:30 with a few words of welcome and a short description of what we're doing; sometimes there might be reminders about setting the intention to meditate; settling into your body; watching your breathing. I ask that those attending contribute to establishing a meditative intent by not speaking beyond short, informal greetings.
- @ 8:35 ring the bell for the start of silent meditation
- @ 8:55 ring 3 bells for the end of meditation
- offer a few closing words and end the meeting @ 9pm
Afterward we can gather feedback by email and adjust for next time.
We now have
- 60 minutes of discussion time every other Thursday morning
- 90 minute sessions every Wednesday morning combining roughly 20 minute meditation, 10 minute presentation, 30 minute mindful discussion, & 30 minute open social time.
- 30 minutes every Sunday night for silent meditation