Meditation Group
It's like a meditation class, but there's no homework and I'm not interested in calling myself a "teacher". That doesn't mean I'm a "facilitator" or whatever word the hippies use. All it means is that I'm not here to take care of you.
We meet weekly on Zoom for 45 minutes.
Meditation is a meta-practice.
This kind of meditation is for flaky people who have work to do: musicians🎵, artists, writers, athletes, solopreneurs, programmers. It helps you remove the blockages that prevent you from making things happen.
It doesn't matter how good you are at meditation. You don’t need to clear your mind or be good at concentration.
Don’t worry, it’s not group therapy and there’s no spiritual/new-age bullshit,. There are no hugs and you won’t be pressured into any public displays of emotion.
It’s good to be bad at meditation.
(“Beginner’s mind”)
How it works:
We meet on Zoom for 45 minutes.
- I talk for 5 minutes about a topic related to meditation.
- Then, I lead the group in a 25-minute guided meditation.
- Finally, we conclude with a 15-minute Q&A discussion.
The cost per session is $20 USD.
Once you walk through these virtual “doors”, you shed your worldly costume and the focus is entirely on meditation.
Nothing else matters. Not your level, age, gender, sexual orientation, or favorite video game. Nor does it matter what specific problems in your life brought you to meditation.
It’s only about the practice itself.
♀️👴♂️➿🎮👶
This isn’t about politics (meditation groups tend to lean in one direction politically, but I hate that). It’s also not about socialization.
It’s practical, not poetic. We focus on meditation as a skill.
Based on traditional Buddhist meditation, but only as a starting point.
It may change based on whatever I’m interested in that day. There’s no spiritual/new-age bullshit, do like to use metaphors at times. Oh, and I’m not always reverent. I can even be provocative. But, that’s not the point. The point is practice.
Sometimes I might guide the group in insight/mindfulness meditation, and sometimes in concentration practice. If you don’t like my instructions, you’re free to use your own technique.
We use simple meditation techniques, like watching the breath or observing sounds in the room. There’s no complex guided visualization.
Moment-to-moment.
At one group, I talked about how I got my first job as a church organist without knowing anything about playing the organ. (Yeah, it's irresponsible, but that's just how I roll 🤷‍♂️)
After the group, I was super-happy to get this message from a meditator who'd been on the fence about accepting a new job:
"I very much related to that one thing you said at the end: about how you (love) doing things you have no idea how to do and just do it anyway and learn it on the go. It gave me a good little push to sign that contract. I am shitting my pants, this is going to be OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!"
Fabienne Egger
My words are intended to stimulate experience.
My words are not there for intellectual masturbation. Just close your eyes and listen.
I’m not a meditation teacher. My job is to start and end the thing on time, to lead the guided meditation, to give my take on any questions asked, and to maintain the virtual space. Likewise, you’re not a student. You’re a meditator.
I made this because I wanted to provide a container, a space. So, I want to keep things as strictly defined as possible.
Just because I don't call myself a "teacher" doesn't mean this is a democracy. Make no mistake: I'm still in charge.
My job is to maintain the space.
Your job is to show up and go along for the ride.
Start and end on time
I'm strict about it.
Noble Silence until the Q&A period
That means no talking (not even to say hello). If you have something you absolutely must say, type it in the chat. If you need to leave early, don’t announce your departure. Just slip out quietly so as not to disturb anyone else.
Keep your camera on...
...unless you have to turn it off for technical reasons. This creates more of a sense of a group, which changes the meditation itself.
During the Q&A, you may ask whatever questions you’d like.
I try my best to give a good take on them, which may involve asking my own questions.
Don’t use this time for virtue-signaling. That means don’t tell the group how awesome meditation is and how much it’s helping your life. You can tell me that stuff privately, or tell your friends, or post about it on social media. Those are all fantastic options, but use the Q&A space for meditation questions.
A few words about posture
First, any posture is fine. We’re doing seated meditation, so you can sit in a chair, on a cushion, on your bed, whatever’s comfortable.
Please try to sit still, but you’re allowed to fidget. Meditation causes discomfort (it makes you aware of your body, after all). When I see people squirming, I don’t judge them. Instead, I send them metta (loving-kindness).
Values
Let me explain some values of mine which I want to put into this group.
Radical acceptance of internal experience
That means all thoughts, feelings, sensations, memories, etc., are “OK”. So-called “negative emotions” are just as good as “positive emotions.” We observe them without judgment and let them come and go on their own.
Compassion for all beings
We take ownership for our own triggers and don’t blame others. But, of course, since we’re human, we’re going to judge others. That’s OK, as long as we practice seeing the judgments as objects rather than being overly attached to them.
All domains of human activity are material for practice
We practice meditation because it makes us better at everything we do.
If this sounds like what you’re looking for, sign up on the calendar.
See you in the group,
Michael
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