Meditation and Mindfulness
With Ray Nakano & Denise Crofton
Our classes are every third Thursday evening 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
If you would like to join our Meditation classes please send an email to:
Ray Nakano at mindfulnesspracticesangha@hotmail.com or
Denise Crofton at denisecroftonyoga@gmail.com
Mindful Meditation
Are you suffering from stress? Are you considering if meditation and living your life more mindfully could make a difference? Then you may want to attend our meditation sessions.
Ray Nakano has been leading two hour meditation sessions at the Toronto Buddhist Church since October, 2015. Come out and join us!
When: Every third Thursday evening from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Where: Toronto Buddhist Church – Mezzanine Level (2nd Floor)
Ray Nakano is a member of the Hamilton and Toronto Buddhist Church. Since retiring from the Ontario Government, he has volunteered for various organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Toronto Green Community and 350.org, an organization building a global climate change movement. Ray is a meditation facilitator with the Mindfulness Practice Community of Toronto. He is also currently working with the Earth Holder Sangha. Ray enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, playing bridge, snowboarding and is an avid wall climber.
Denise Crofton is a member of the Toronto Buddhist Church. She has been teaching Hatha and Yin yoga for 10 years, and is passionate about both mindful meditation and yoga. She is currently an Aspirant with the Mindfulness Practice Community of Toronto, training to be a bell master with Ray Nakano and Tuyen Nguyen.
The two hour session will include:
- Guided Sitting Meditation
- Silent Walking Meditation
- Silent Sitting Meditation
- Dharma Talk
- Sangha Sharing Dharma talks may include the 4 Noble Truths, the 8 fold Noble Path, the 5 Skandhas, etc.
Practices may include recitation of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings, Beginning Anew, Touching the Earth, etc.Please arrive at least 15 minutes early in order to allow time for “settling in” so the session can begin promptly at 7:00 pm. Doors will be locked at 7:10 pm.
If you have any questions you can email Ray at mindfulnesspracticesangha@hotmail.com. or Denise Crofton at denisecroftonyoga@gmail.com
What is sitting meditation?
Stillness. Sitting meditation is like returning home to give full attention to and care for ourselves. Like the Buddha, we too can radiate peace and stability. We sit upright with serenity, and return to our breathing. We are able to maintain a relaxed and upright position when our posture is stable. Using the right cushion or bench will enable us to be steady by allowing our weight to be balanced and supported on three points: our buttocks and our two knees. We bring our full attention to what is within and around us. We let our mind become spacious and our heart soft and kind.
Sitting meditation is healing. We realize we can just be with whatever is within us – our pain, anger, and irritation, or our joy, love, and peace. We are with whatever is there without being carried away by it. Let it come, let it stay, then let it go. No need to react, to run away from or to push, to oppress, or to ignore. We observe the thoughts and images of our mind with an accepting and loving mind. We are free to be still and calm despite the storms that might arise in us.
We will sit for periods of 20 or 30 minutes. If our legs or feet fall asleep or begin to hurt during the sitting, we are free to adjust our position quietly. We can maintain our concentration and support others in their practice by following our breathing, as we slowly and attentively change our posture.