We might struggle conscientiously to change our limiting qualities; we might saturate ourselves with instructions and help, both concrete and subtle.
Yet in the end, it is the direct, naked encounter with our own Awareness that shifts our understanding of who we are and gives us the power to stand firm in the center of our being. No one else can do this for us. Only meditation unlocks those doors."
Swami Durgananda (Sally Kempton) in "The Heart of Meditation"
Meditation is a silent return to the still center of the turning world.
It is the practice of invoking the incandescence of your Self and the universe, and dancing with that luminosity for the benefit of ALL of Life.
"Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance."
Susan Wilkens began her "yoga dance" at the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago in 1995. In September 1996 she entered the Temple's Seminary program, where her in-depth yoga studies included:
. Kriya Yoga Philosophy . The Laws of Karma . Meditation . Hatha Yoga . Esoteric Astrology . The Language of Symbols . Dreams . The Upanishads . The Bhagavad Gita . Sanskrit . World Religions . Rituals . Pastoral Care/Spiritual Guidance
She was ordained as a swami in the Kriya Yoga lineage on the summer solstice weekend of June 2002.
She received her Meditation Teacher Training and Certification at Ananda's Expanding Light Center in Nevada City, CA.
Her current explorations in spiritual spheres include the study of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation as taught by Yogi Bhajan, and the devotion and discipline of meditative mantra practice.
Meditation Instruction
“If you’re interested in learning to meditate, please call or email me so that we can talk about setting up one-to-one sessions.
“I’ve discovered through experience that individualized, personalized instruction works very well in the realm of meditation.
“If there are two or three of you, in the same household or workplace or circle of friends, a small group works well also.
“We can explore a variety of sitting meditation techniques, learn relaxation methods, do some moving meditation and body-based practices, work with mantra and chanting, affirmation, visualization, cultivating compassion, breathing techniques – there are lots of possibilities! There is time in each session for discussion, for questions, for feedback. We’ll talk about what you’ve been practicing on your own since our previous session. We will practice new techniques during out time together so that you’re clear on the procedure and so that you get a real experiential taste – so that you have the experience of meditating and not just of talking about meditating. I will also give you practical guidelines for establishing your own regular meditation practice and for dealing with common sidetracks and stumbling blocks as you encounter them. I may give you reading assignments, and I will definitely give you homework: to practice meditation! I’ll provide you with informative and inspiring handouts, CD samplers and a resource guide to books and CDs.
“I have a meditation space in Forest Park complete with all the items we’ll need for meditating comfortably.
“Each session generally lasts 60 minutes. If we have a small group we may go to an hour and 15 minutes to allow time for each person’s questions and comments. We can meet weekly or bi-weekly. I’ve found that in the beginning it’s best not to let more than two weeks go by between sessions.
in the midst of the noise and fear of the mind’s chatter, she stays sitting with both eyes closed and holds fast to meditation.
by wandering away from the seat of her own heart, even though she may bathe at holy places, wandering the seven seas, this world is lost and the next world is lost.
in the middle of difficulties, illusion and distraction, she sits, and in this way, this way of sitting, the strength of the spirit emerges.
i speak truly – listen and understand completely. one who practices this act of love realizes God.
~guru gobind singh
if you catch a fragrance of the unseen, like THAT, you won’t be able to be contained. you’ll be out in empty sky.
~rumi
Meditation at Mather’s: Fridays, 8:15 – 9:15 am Meditation: It’s Not What You Think!
If you’ve every felt that you can’t learn to meditate because you can’t sit cross-legged for hours without moving a muscle or thinking a thought – join us for meditation that doesn’t require any of that!
Four weeks of introductory classes (September 2009) will give you the basic principles and theory of meditation, along with beginning practices.
Every week after will focus on a new technique, and with dozens to explore, you're sure to find several that you enjoy and can practice with ease.
If you're looking for more peace, contentment, energy, balance, relaxation, or just to enjoy your life more fully, learn to meditate, because it's not what you think!
Classes are held at Mather’s - More Than a Café, 3235 N. Central, Chicago. $3 per class; $2.25 with a Mather Advantage Discount. Advance registration is not required; walk in and sign up. For more information about Mather’s contact the receptionist at 773.205.3300.
**Update: November**: We have been having a wonderful time in these weekly classes! We practice, we discuss, we read and consider, we share experiences and insights and ask questions. Superb questions! Most of all -- we practice. Lovely! Please join us whenever you can.
Telephone Meditation Classes for Seniors: Intro Series
In April 2010 Susan will be repeating the four-week series of phone meditation classes that were so well-received in May 2009.
Themes for these classes include:
1. Meditation for a Happy Heart Learn simple, easy to do on your own breathing and focusing techniques to release worry and anxiety and bring a smile to your face. Reduce your stress level and multiply your happiness factor – create inner peace and outer joy, and enjoy your life more from moment to moment.
2. Meditation for a Clear Mind An abundance of recent research shows that certain meditation practices help to keep our minds sharp and clear as we age, in addition to warding off symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and mental fogginess. Learn these specific “brain exercises” to help prevent memory loss and cognitive impairment.
3. Meditation for Endless Energy Did you know that you can meditate in order to bring more vim, vitality, and vigor into your body and mind? Even if you tend to have “down times” of feeling sleepy, lethargic, and unmotivated, you can learn simple practices for instant pick-me-ups, and also to increase your energy levels over the long term. Wake up and meditate!
4. Meditation for Sound Sleep Deep, restful, rejuvenating sleep on a regular basis is a cornerstone of good health at any age. Regular use of certain meditation practices in the evening hours increases your likelihood of falling asleep easily and staying in a peaceful slumber all night long. Learn to help yourself sleep like a baby with meditation!
Four Mondays: April 5, 12, 19 & 26, from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Mark your calendar!
For more info or to register for these classes, seniors should contact Kate Paz, Director, Programs Without Walls Mather Lifeways 3235 N. Central Avenue Chicago IL 60634 (Tel): 773.205.3306 (E-mail): teltopics@matherlifeways.com www.matherlifeways.com
Telephone Meditation Classes for Seniors: On-Going ~ Biweekly
Beginning in May Susan will teach meditation by phone to seniors on a biweekly basis. This regular addition to the Telephone Topics program is a result of the keen interest in and huge response to the four-week telephone meditation classes that Susan has offered through Mather Lifeways.
The meditation techniques taught and practiced each session will be arranged around a timely theme. Background information on different schools of and approaches to meditation will be shared, as well as facts and figures pertaining to the lastest scientific research into the effects of meditation on the human brain, body and health.
There will be opportunity for questions and comments at the end of each session, and handouts will be sent to participants, summarizing the information presented and explaining how to do the meditation techniques practiced during that session.
And of course -- we will Meditate! Meditate! Meditate! Together. On the phone. Amazing!
Susan will also be available be phone and e-mail to continue conversation about meditation with anyone who participates in a session.
Biweekly sessions begin Monday, May 3 and 17, from 2:00 - 3:00 pm.
Interested seniors should contact Kate Paz at Mather Lifeways -- see contact info above.
"MEDITATION IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT. You can think that meditation is a good thing to do. You can accept the proposition that it can benefit you on many different levels. You can have an intellectual understanding of what it is and how to practice it. You can read books on it, have discussions about it, attend classes where it is taught, and commit yourself to the idea of it. You can even feel good about yourself for recognizing the value of such an esoteric art!
BUT even a commitment to meditate is not the same as meditating.
Until you meditate, you haven’t meditated."
"the mystery does not get clearer by repeating the question, nor is it bought with going to amazing places . . . "
why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?
move outside the tangle of fear-thinking. live in silence.
flow down and down in always widening rings of being.
