MONDAY SITTING GROUP

We are holding a social event on 21st August, at St. Margaret’s Institute, in North Oxford, from 7:30-9pm (note the later time!). Come in through the front door, bring any snacks you’d like to share and, if you can, £2-3 to cover costs. There will be a half-hour meditation, some tea-drinking, and some interactive activities.

From Autumn 2023 we will meet on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month in person at the Friends Meeting House, and on the 2nd Monday of the month online. We are currently looking for a new venue, so do check your emails if you’re signed up to the mailing list, or look here before coming. Meetings start at 7pm and end by 8.30pm. The group is inspired by and associated with the Insight meditation tradition of Gaia House. The aim of the group is to provide a place for regular meditation practice and discussion of the dharma with other members of our Oxford community (sangha).

More experienced group members take it in turn to facilitate, with some visiting guest teachers. Each facilitator will guide the evening in a slightly different way, but the general format does not change.

The evening generally includes these elements:

· Welcome and introductions

· Guided meditation

· Short break for tea and an opportunity, if you wish, to chat informally

· Dharma discussion with a topic decided by the facilitator(s)

The sitting group is open to both experienced practitioners and those who are new to meditation. If you have not meditated before you may wish to look at the audio page in our resources section, which includes a number of links to short guided meditations that you might like to listen to before coming along.

Meeting dates and venues

– All meetings will start at 7pm, ending at 8.30pm

4th September – in person

11th September – online

18th September – in person

2nd October – in person

9th October – online

16th October – in person

6th November – in person

13th November – online

20th November – in person

4th December – in person

11th December – online

18th December – in person

Please note the group is not intended to be a therapeutic group; it is a group led by people with experience of meditation and the dharma, but who are not trained teachers or therapists. We have a minimum age limit of 17.

Cost: To help us cover the cost of the venue and refreshments, we will invite a small contribution from those attending in person meetings: £5 waged/£3 unwaged. If this is beyond your means, we won’t turn anyone away.

Contributions can be made in cash at the meeting or online by payment into this bank account:

·Account Name: Oxford Insight Meditation

·Sort Code: 08-92-99

·Account Number: 65851252

You are warmly invited to join the sessions: we welcome people irrespective of religious or political beliefs, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability and culture. We aim to create a safe and welcoming space for all who wish to come and practice with our community. We believe the path of awakening and the benefits of meditation should be available to all.

There is no need to book a place – please simply turn up. If you would like to speak to someone about coming to the group, please contact Jenny on 07766 676371

To receive reminders about the sessions, including the Zoom link for the online meetings, please sign up to the group mailing list: mondaysittinggroup@gmail.com