First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist of Northborough, Massachusetts
Buddhist Meditation Group
"We gathered here to celebrate our joys and sorrows, to delve into the deepest recesses of our human spirits, we are not without our own rigidity of beliefs about what will bring us absolute happiness and freedom from pain, even as we know there is no such freedom, no such happiness. Our challenge as people of faith, seekers after whatever truth we can know, is to be open to the experience of the Buddha, to sit beneath a tree, and wait for truth to descend upon us or arise from within us. So be it."
-Rev. Nancy D. Dean
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Buddhism is a 2,500 year old practice, based on the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha gave teachings for 45 years in order to share with us the path to enlightenment that he had actualized himself, to give us the tools to deal with life’s difficulties, and to show us how to live a meaningful life. The Buddha presented several approaches to practicing “Buddhism” based on the different dispositions, inclination and interests of students. The First Parish Church, Unitarian Universalist, Northborough, is offering instruction and practice in two contemporary and established Buddhist traditions: Insight Meditation (Vipassana), and Tibetan Buddhism. The classes are open to newcomers and advanced practitioners alike. Each class meets one time per week for 1.5 hours, in the Burns Room, upstairs in the Meetinghouse. Enter through the rear door, near the parking area.
- Insight Meditation (Vipassana) meets Monday mornings from 7:00 pm to 9:30 am. Vipassana is based on the Buddha’s earliest teachings (the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eight-Fold Path) and core meditation practices, such as mindfulness and concentration. The focus of the weekly class is on meditation, both sitting and walking, and is appropriate for newcomers and advanced meditators alike. Instruction for beginners is available at 6:45 am. Books and readings will be recommended for home study. The group is currently focusing on the foundations of mindfulness.
- Tibetan Buddhism meets Thursday nights from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The class will study a classic 14th century Tibetan Buddhist text, Lam Rim, the Gradual Path to Enlightenment. The emphasis of the weekly class is on studying the meaning and application of 21+ guided meditations contained in the Lam Rim. Students will continue their investigation of the meditations (one per week) at home during their personal meditation practice. It is recommended that participants have experience in meditation and an established home practice. (Newcomers and beginners should consider participation in the Insight Meditation group first.)
Cost: Donations are voluntary.
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First Parish Unitarian Universalist
40 Church Street
Northboro, MA 01532 USA
Phone: (508) 393-6422
Fax: (508) 393-8938