[StPete-news] Mindfulness Meditation on October 24th at Yoga Moves

[stpete-updates at floridamindfulness.org]

Please join us on Wednesday evening, October 24 at 7:15 p.m. for our
mindfulness practice at the Yoga Moves studio, 1045 9th Avenue North, St.
Petersburg. Our evening will include seated and walking meditation,
followed by a sangha discussion about the First Mindfulness Training.

Our sangha (practice community) has decided that we would like to meet
weekly so that we may support one another in our practice in a more
consistent way.  Our teacher, Fred Eppsteiner will continue to offer
teachings two evenings each month.

Earlier this month, we shared our ideas about how we would like to
practice together as a sangha.  Both new and regular participants offered
suggestions and there was general concensus about the basic format for the
evenings when Fred is not giving a dharma talk.  We will begin these
evenings with sitting meditation and walking meditation, followed by
another period of seated meditation.  A short reading and our sangha
discussion will follow.  On Wednesday, October 24th, we will read and then
discuss the First Mindfulness Training.

The ‘Five Mindfulness Trainings’ is the name that Thich Nhat Hanh has
given to the traditional five Buddhist precepts.  If you wish to review or
study the first or any of the trainings or precepts, you could easily
conduct a search on line, using five Buddhist precepts as your key words. 
Thich Nhat Hanh’s book, "For a Future to be Possible," is focused on the
Five Mindfulness Trainings and will give you the words he uses to
articulate the meaning of the training.

These resources are just suggestions for anyone who wishes to become more
familiar with the topic.  There is no expectation that we prepare in
advance for the discussion.  We all agreed that we would like for everyone
to feel free to attend regardless of how much study someone has done or
experience one has.  By knowing that the topic or reading will first be
read out loud, we hope everyone will feel welcomed to participate in the
conversation – sharing from our own experience with respect to the
reading.

We will continue with the other four trainings or precepts on our
subsequent sangha discussion evenings, when Fred is not giving the
teaching.

Many other wonderful suggestions were offered during our conversation and
we were in agreement about using the general format as described.  We also
agreed that we want to allow for spontaneity if someone wishes to share
another idea when they feel they have been inspired by something in the
past week.  This may be an added or alternative reading, a song, a poem,
guided meditation or another idea that fits the spirit of nuturing
practice and inspiring conversation.

We look forward to seeing you at our next gathering.

Enjoy your breathing