Nashua Buddhist Meditation Group
The Nashua Buddhist Meditation Group offers a regular space for UU Church members and community members to join together to practice meditation and to provide opportunities to study the dharma with longtime practitioners and students of Buddhism. All forms of silent meditation are welcome.
Meditation Practice
Every Wednesday from 7-8pm, sitting and walking meditation is practiced as a group. If you are new to meditation, instruction in both types of meditation is offered, free of charge.
The method offered is from a Tibetan Buddhist lineage, an open-eyed meditation called Shamatha, or "peaceful abiding." It is not necessary to practice Shamatha in order to participate in this group.
Some meditation cushions are available. Straight-backed chairs are also available. Feel free to bring your own meditation cushion if you have one. Wear comfortable clothes. Bring a sweater for cooler weather.
Open Meditation
Every Wednesday evening, 7-8pm, church auditorium
Open House ˜ Open Book Discussion
Every first and third Wednesday, 8-9pm, Youth Room
Work, Sex, Money by Chogyam Trungpa will be discussed into early winter of 2013. Each discussion will be facilitated by a teacher and guide or senior group member.
Participants are encouraged to have their own copy of the book and to keep up with the reading assignments.
Day-Long Meditation Retreats
Three Saturday all-day meditation retreats have been scheduled during the 2012-2013 year. The retreats are scheduled from 9am to 4pm during the winter/spring of 2013 (dates to be announced). These retreats provide students with an opportunity to deepen their meditation practice and to meet with a meditation instructor. Fee $10. Registration for the day-long retreats is encouraged. Contact Martha Roberts 
.
Dharma Study Opportunities
In addition to our Open House Book Discussions, we offer a variety of Dharma Study opportunities through teacher facilitated classes, and talks throughout the year.
Work with a Meditation Instructor
Anyone pursuing a meditation practice is encouraged to work with a Meditation Instructor or a Shambhala Guide. This relationship is based on friendship, mentoring, and confidentiality. Arrangements are entirely individualized, from a meeting or two to an ongoing relationship involving more regular meetings. (This service is a generously offered by the teachers free of charge.)
Meditation Instructors are people who have years of commitment to personal practice, and are carefully trained to provide instruction, support, and direction to students. They are often Shambhala Training Directors and Assistant Directors, teachers of Buddhist classes, and group Meditation Instructors. Shambhala Guides can provide initial meditation instruction on a one-on-one basis, give follow-up sessions, and then refer students who want an ongoing relationship to a Meditation Instructor.
As a participant of the Meditation Group, you are invited to choose a Meditation Instructor by contacting Martha Roberts .
Teachers and Associations
There are five teachers connected with the Nashua Buddhist Meditation Group: Binny Clark, Michael Levin, Janet Romaine, Emily Weidman, and Jim Katz. All are long-time practitioners (30 years) and students of Tibetan Buddhism. Their teacher was Chogyam Trungpa, a Tibetan Buddhist who is renowned for making Tibetan Buddhist and the Shambhala Buddhist teachings accessible to the West. For more information about the Shambhala organization, please visit www.shambhala.org
Service Opportunities
The Nashua Buddhist Meditation Group is supported by volunteer effort. There are a number of ways to support this group: serving as the meditation time keeper (umdze), greeting, assisting with set-up and take down of the meditation room, publicity and assisting with day-long meditation. Please contact Martha Roberts if you are able to assist.
For church members, we also welcome you to consider being a key holder, someone who opens and closes the building for our programs. Please contact Karen Fitzpatrick if you are interested in being a key holder for the group.
Donations toward the church for operational expenses and group needs are always welcome. Please contact Martha Roberts .
For more information on the Nashua Buddhist Meditation Group or to subscribe to the email list, contact the program coordinator contact Martha Roberts .
