at Monterey Recreation Centre, Oak Bay ~ free parking, bus stop around the corner

to register: www.oakbay.ca  250-370-7300

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Living mindfully in the afternoon of life

this one starts next week — you can register on-line or in-person on the night of the first class

4 Mondays, 7 – 8:30 pm, Oct 3 to 31 (no class on Oct 10), $80

Ageing begins the moment we’re born, yet ‘old age’ can easily catch us unprepared. According to C.G. Jung, “We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning; for what in the morning was true will in evening become a lie.” Using the tools of mindfulness meditation, we’ll explore the view of not-knowing, cultivate gratitude and self-care, and tap our elder wisdom. In the words of Ram Dass, “We’re all just walking each other home.”

Article: “How mediation protects the aging brain from decline.”

How to cultivate mindfulness to cope with stress

4 Mondays, 7 – 8:30 pm, Nov 7 to 28, $80

If you’re relatively new to meditation, this course is for you. It’ll also serve as a refresher for seasoned practitioner. Being mindful means paying attention to the experiences of the present moment — with openness and curiosity, welcoming things as they are. It invites us to pause, breathe, observe, and connect with our inner experience. Jon Kabat-Zinn writes, “Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience”. During our time together we’ll use brief talks and guided meditation. For maximum benefit be prepared to practice between classes.

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What is mindfulness? 

I’ve been a student of Zen teacher Chozen Bays MD for 22 years. She writes, “Mindfulness is deliberately paying full attention to what is happening around you and within you—in your body, heart, and mind. Mindfulness is awareness without criticism or judgment.” Originally a Buddhist concept (sati in Sanskrit) it can be found in the early Buddhist teachings: 2600 years ago Siddhārtha Gautama (who became known as The Buddha) offered it as a practical tool with which to navigate a path leading to cessation of suffering. Living mindfully requires no religious, ethical, spiritual, or ideological commitments. 

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Authors cited above: Jung, C.G. (2011 reprint). Man in search of a soul. / Kabat-Zinn, J. (2007). Arriving at your own door: 108 lessons in mindfulness. / Ram Dass and Bush, M. (2022 reprint). Walking each other home: Conversations on loving and dying. / Bays, J.C. (2011). How to train a wild elephant.