Meditation Workshop

This past Sunday, we welcomed a special visitor to the Lighthouse. Sissel, a member of the Puget Sound Zen center, met with our class to share about Buddhism.

Sissel showed us how to pay attention to our breathing. We each placed a beanie baby on our tummy and practiced breathing, watching the animal rise and fall. Paying attention to one's breathing is a first step in learning meditation.

We practiced meditating together, counting how many times Sissel rang the singing bowl. Then we shared what we'd learned about Buddhism in our classes. Sissel was impressed with how much we'd learned and remembered about the Buddha's life.

We played a card game to explore the idea of impermanence. We sorted through the cards to find things that become something else: water becomes ice, young people become old, seeds become plants.

Sissel challenged us to think beyond the concrete. How can something old become young? How can we link a series of cards, so that two seemingly unrelated things are now connected?

We ended with a walking meditation, each person keeping pace with the person before them.

We really enjoyed Sissel's visit and learning more about Buddhism. Thank you Sissel for joining us.