A meditation center is a great place to begin your odyssey into self-enlightenment. Whether you’ve attended classes before or you’re just getting started, there’s no better way to learn what meditation is about than through meditation centers. In these quiet, idyllic settings, you will feel a sense of deep meditation and relaxation as you begin your journey. Hopefully, you will acquire enough skills and practice before you leave to carry over into your everyday life. Here are a few of the centers across the nation.
In Los Angeles, the Kadampa Meditation Center is a comfortable white building nestled in the Elysian Valley between Griffith Park and Dodger Stadium, with convenient access from Highway 5. They offer a number of classes, day courses, study programs and retreats. Kids, individuals, couples and families can all attend classes, which focus on breathing techniques, meditation, a short lesson and discussion time. Their website explains Kadampa Buddhist teachings as such: “If we do not maintain a peaceful state of mind we are not happy even if we have ideal conditions. On the other hand, when our mind is peaceful we are happy even if our external conditions are unpleasant.” Rigorous study programs, meditation teacher programs, lunchtime meditations and temple ceremonies are all available. For more information, visit www.nkt-kmc-california.org.
In 1976, the Advaita Meditation Center opened in Massachusetts to help individuals “quiet the mind, open the heart and know yourself.” Their curriculum studies the texts of literary greats like Ralph Waldo Emerson, hosts open meditation evenings for seasoned pros and offers special open houses and introductory sessions for beginners. Mantra meditation, involving the repetition of a low sound, is one of their effective methods of teaching, but they also use breathing techniques, contemplation and reflection. Seminar participants can learn more about Sanskrit, yoga, Kabbalah and spiritual questioning. Weekend retreats are centered on relaxation, meditation, social gathering and healthy eating. To learn more, visit www.adavitameditation.org.
The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts is one of the most frequented meditation center programs in the United States. Nearly 2,700 people attend their retreat centers each year. The main center has been operating since Valentine’s Day, 1976, and given its success, a second location (the Forest Refuge) opened in 2003. The retreat center offers 25 meditation courses, 7-9 day retreats, courses for teens, courses for people of color, courses for women and retreats for families. Some individuals can stay at the secluded Forest Refuge for a year or more on their personal journeys. For more information, visit www.dharma.org.
Rene Lacape is a seasoned insurance agent. He has been dealing with both corporate and individual accounts for several years up to the present. If you need him, you can check his website and give him a call. Act now.
