Meditation Sitting Groups
For information about current monthly and weekly sitting groups please see Vipassana Sitting Groups
Starting a New Meditation Sitting Group
You can start a meditation group with as few as two or three people. In time, through word of mouth, there will be a core group of regulars with others dropping in occasionally.
1. Pick a Location
You need a relatively quiet room in order to have a sitting group. Someone's home is often an ideal location. You will need some chairs for people who can't sit on cushions on the floor. You might also need a CD or tape player if you want relaxing music playing as people arrive and for playing dharma talks if the group chooses to do so. In the room where you meditate you may want to light a candle or have a symbol of some spiritual figure important to you to help create a quiet, meditative atmosphere.
2. Set a Date
With a meditation practice, regularity is important. Ideally, if you can meet weekly it will be easier to make it a habit. You may find, however, that a schedule of every other week fits better into people's schedules.
3. Plan a Schedule
Set a time and start on time. Sit for 45 minutes. Someone will need to be a timekeeper and ring a bell when the meditation period is over. Follow the meditation period, however long you choose to sit, with some kind of discussion. You can read from a book, listen to a dharma talk, explore an issue or discuss something about your meditation practice. As the group grows you can rotate the responsibility for preparing something to share with the group. You might want to have a thermos of herbal tea prepared to share with the group after your sit.
These are some books you could choose to share after a group sit:- Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield
- Being Dharma by Ajahn Chah
- Living with the Devil by Stephen Batchelor
- The Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree by Ajahn Buddhadasa
- What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula
- Pay Attention for Goodness' Sake by Sylvia Boorstein
- Loving Kindness by Sharon Salzberg
4. Spread the Word
It's often not necessary to advertise a meditation sitting group. Communicate with other like-minded people. You could post flyers in your neighbourhood, at a yoga studio, health food store, community centre or public library.
