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Introduction to Zen Meditation: Sundays 10-11:15am (In-Person)

In-Person – Introduction to Zen Meditation
Sundays 10-11:15am in MCZC’s Zendo

Enjoy the ancient and timely practice of Zazen, Zen sitting meditation. Attend this class and be introduced to the three key elements of meditation – posture, breath and stilling the mind.

Join us for a weekly Introduction to Zen Meditation class offered in our zendo following our Sunday Morning Sit (8:30am) and Tea (9:30am). Participants are invited and encouraged to come to the tea time prior to the class to meet sangha members and the teacher.

Zen sitting meditation, zazen, is the simple practice of becoming more present to our own lives through the cultivation of mindful concentration. In this class you will learn the various styles of sitting in meditation; you will become aware of your breath as a vehicle of attention in meditation; and you will learn the simple technique of guiding your attention through the chatter of thoughts to a place of stillness and peace. Developing a regular meditation practice is a wonderful gift that you can give to yourself. Enjoy unfolding your awareness to your own intrinsic awakened nature.

This class is for those new to Zen or to any type of meditation as well as those who are new to Mountain Cloud. It’s also for experienced practitioners who may want to brush up on the basics of practice or recommit to practice. These Introductory classes are for both the curious and the committed.

Valerie Forstman will oversea this program and will teach or co-teach some of the classes. We have a roster of experienced practitioner/ teachers to lead these classes. Come any time, the classes are ongoing. There is no official start and end of the series.

Each class will include:

  • Posture instruction for sitting on a cushion or chair
  • Instructions for stilling the mind and working with your breath
  • Short talk by the teacher
  • Sitting meditation for about 15 minutes
  • Walking meditation or movement practice
  • Q&A

These Sunday classes will be offered on-site in our zendo only. Our online community can attend an Introduction to Meditation the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm MT as well as all Wisdom Wednesday classes which are suitable for newcomers, online and on-site.

Donations are gratefully accepted – The Sunday class is free of charge and requires NO registration.
Our free weekly events depend on your support. Please give generously according to your means: DONATE HERE.

Dana, a small donation as a way to thank the teacher, is also appreciated. You can leave dana in the basket located in the entry area next to the zendo.

Meet our Teachers

Our Introduction to Zen Meditation class is overseen by Sanbo Zen Teachers Valerie Forstman  and Scott Thornton and includes the following roster of trained teachers from our sangha….

Lisa Lincoln
Lisa is an avid meditator who started sitting at the age of 16 when her father asked her to try out meditation for stress relief. After years of trying to maintain her practice, she discovered Mountain Cloud, became a student of Henry Shukman and Valerie Forstman and felt she had found her home. Lisa has a passion for teaching. She works as a voice and theater teacher. Lisa writes, “I feel blessed to be able to teach the Introduction to Meditation Class with all the wonderful teachers at Mountain Cloud and share the life-changing gift of meditation and mindfulness with the students.”

Julie Hliboki
Julie’s meditation practice and study for the past two decades has been informed by Buddhist, Quaker, and Sufi teachings. She has been teaching for over twenty-five years in a variety of settings including university graduate courses, transformational workshops and retreats, and most recently to seniors in their 80s and 90s who wished to learn Breath Meditation! Julie is delighted to be a new member of MCZC

|Recurring Event (See all)

An event every week that begins at [first_occurrence_start_time] on Sunday, starting [first_occurrence_date] and repeating until December 31, 2023

Date
May 7, 2023
Time
10:00 am - 11:15 am
Event Categories
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