Meditation and Mindfulness

With Ray Nakano

Please Note:

We have made the difficult decision to suspend our regular meditation sessions until at least April 16th, 2020.  With COVID-19 now declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, and with the spread of the virus impacting all aspects of life globally and here at home, we take this decision with everyone’s health and safety in mind.  

Please monitor the website for updates.  Thank you for your continued support.  Please remember to follow the safety guidelines and remain safe and healthy.

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!

The two hour session will include:

• Guided Sitting Meditation
• Silent Walking Meditation
• Silent Sitting Meditation
• Dharma Talk
• Sangha SharingDharma 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 questionsyou can email Ray at mindfulnesspracticesangha@hotmail.com. or Denise Crofton at dcrofton@rogers.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.