Links on mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhism

From SPCTools

If you would like instruction in meditation, I recommend the beginner class offered by the Seattle Insight Meditation Society, our local center for the practice of Theravadan Buddhism, a.k.a. insight meditation. They offer a class that meets in the evenings weekly for 4 or 5 weeks, usually in a space near the old ISB. Search their website for details. This organization also has a gathering every Tuesday evening at 6:45 at St. Mark's Cathedral on Capitol Hill for 45 minutes of meditation, then a 45 minute talk by an outstanding teacher, Rodney Smith. It's recommended that you take the beginner class first, but not required.

My favorite book on insight meditation is The Issue at Hand by Gil Fronsdal. It is a slim volume of very short, pithy, elegantly written essays. One essay gives brief instructions for meditation. You can borrow a copy from me, or obtain one (either hardcopy or electronic) from this web page. My introductory meditation class in 2000 was taught by Gil. He is highly intelligent, articulate, and warm-hearted.

The same website offers a treasure of excellent talks on Theravadan Buddhism and meditation by Gil and others that you can download or stream.

A more in-depth presentation on how to meditate is given by Bhante Gunaratana in his book, Mindfulness in Plain English (link includes web version of entire original edition). I have not read this myself, but I have read other works by this author, and I have heard many recommendations for this book.

There are many flavors/traditions of Buddhism. Mine is Theravadan, but there is also Zen (with its own sub-varieties) and Tibetan and others. And there are non-Buddhist methods of meditation, too. Theravadan was the second one I tried (the first was Zen); it suited me so I stuck with it. If it doesn't suit you, look around for others. If you want a completely secular framework, look for classes in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, such as those offered at M'illumino in the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle.

I always like talking about meditation practice, so feel free to sit with me at lunch, or ask me to join you, if you'd like to discuss, ask questions, share experiences, or get some help with your practice.

I have a small library of Buddhist books at my desk, which you are welcome to borrow.

Terry Farrah
ISB
December, 2011