Prairie Insight Meditation Community:

Please come to our Day of Mindfulness Sunday, February 19 from 10:00 to 3:00.

In this traditional Mindfulness, or Insight Meditation, day long retreat, the emphasis will be on deepening into the silence that allows for the awakening of the heart. There will be instructions in both sitting and walking meditation; in mindfulness of the body, the breath, emotions, and thinking, as well as time for discussion.

We will be meeting as usual at 716 Queen Street at 10:00 and all are welcome to stay for the day.

There is no fee for this retreat.  It is an opportunity to practice dana or generosity.

Please bring lunch.

Our Sunday morning meditation group meets from 10:00 to 11:30 at our new home, 716 Queen Street, Saskatoon, the 8th Avenue entrance.

Jennifer leads a 30 minute meditation followed by a talk, discussion and tea, served at 11:00.  Everyone is welcome!

There is no fee for this group. You are welcome to practice the tradition of dana, or generosity, by leaving a donation.

Other Meditation Groups:

Insight Meditation Group: Contact:  Jeanne Corrigal jeannecorrigal@sasktel.net. Meditation and discussion Sunday nights from 7:30 to 9:00 at Hot Yoga on 20th, 117 20th St. West.  Metta practice the last Sunday of each month.

Wednesday Night Sitting Group:  Contact:  Jeanne Corrigal, jeannecorrigal@sasktel.net.  Meditation and discussion Wednesday nights 7:00 to 8:30 at Hot Yoga on 20th, 117 20th St. West.

Community of Mindful Living: Thich Nhat Hanh Zen Mindfulness Practice: Contact Emer O’Hagan, emer.ohagan@usask.ca. Weekly mindfulness meditation practice Monday nights 7:00 at the Unitarian Church.

Saskatoon Cha’an Meditation Group: Contact Simon or Doris Shum at 955-9288 shums@sasktel.net
Silent Illumination method taught by Dharma Drum Mountain http//www.chan1.org/ Meditation and discussion Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 to 9:00 pm

University of Saskatchewan Meditation Group – 20 minute meditation followed by tea and discussion. Tuesdays, 11:45 am to 12:45 PM on campus. For information contact Donna Lindsay at:  donna.lindsay@usask.ca

For more information about groups and retreats, check out our website:  www.saskatooninsight.com.

Metta or Lovingkindness Practice

Metta, which can be translated from Pali as friendliness or lovingkindness, is the first of the brahma viharas, the “heavenly abodes”. The others, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, grow out of metta, which supports and extends these states.

Metta is one of the most important Buddhist practices. Most simply, it is the heartfelt wish for the wellbeing of ourselves and others. When describing metta, the Buddha used the analogy of the care a mother gives her only child. It is the softening of the heart that allows us to feel empathy with the happiness and sorrow of the world.

Metta practice is the cultivation of our capacity for lovingkindness- it does not involve positive thinking or the imposition of a positive attitude. Rather, we meditate on our intentions, however weak or strong they may be.

In doing metta practice, we gently repeat phrases that are meaningful in terms of what we wish, first for ourselves and then for others. Some traditional phrases are:

May I be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.

May I be peaceful and happy.

May I be healthy and strong.

May I live with ease and freedom