Spirit Rock Meditation Center

Spirit Rock meditation center is a meditation retreat center that offers year round courses and sessions designed to assist people get the most out of their meditations. Founded in the belief that all people should have access to the skills needed to properly meditate, the Spirit Rock meditation center is one of the few places that will offer courses, sessions and training at minimal fees, or through a work exchange program. With a quarter of their costs paid for by donation, this center allows you to learn and experience meditation.

There are many different types of meditation that you can learn at the Spirit Rock meditation center, although the primary focus is on Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha, and the Vipassana method of meditation. There are a series of courses available, ranging from the raw beginner who wishes to learn the fundamental teachings of the Buddha, to those highly experienced in meditation. The majority of the classes operate under the rules of Dana, which is the practice of generosity. Fees for many of the classes only pay for the basic operations of Spirit Rock meditation center. Food, as well as building maintenance, are paid for by these fees. Dana is, in simplest terms, a donation system where the students give to the teachers as they see fit. As the fees do not give any portion to the teachers unless specifically mentioned, Dana is their primary form of compensation. As it is a core part of the teachings of the Buddha that all should have access to the knowledge of meditation, the system of Dana is how teachers are usually paid for their time.

The Spirit Rock meditation center is located in Marin, California. In picturesque hills, the center has a distinctive, Asian motif that goes far in emerging those coming to meditate in being absorbed by the cultures of India. Following proper tradition, shoes are not worn within the Spirit Rock meditation center Hall. While some meditation chairs and cushions are provided, the center operates as many traditional places do, and request that you bring your own if you have a cushion.

While meditation is suitable for those of all ages, the Spirit Rock meditation center usually works with teens, young adults, and families. It is expected that those who attend any of the sessions keep the atmosphere and tranquility of the Hall intact. Because of this, small children who are not interested in meditation are often suggested to not attend the courses.

BONUS : Stay Healthy - Learn To Meditate

Wondering how people who live to be 100 with a great quality of life do it? In his book, “Aging Well,” Harvard researcher, George Vaillant, M.D., found out just what centurions do. They cultivate a sense of peace, well-being and maintain a positive attitude. How? Here’s one of their biggest secrets: meditation. What’s ironic about meditation is, it has just become known in the West as a healing technique, but it has been practiced for ages in the East. So in my quest to give you easy sensible ways to purify your energy, I'll begin by defining meditation, then I'll show you how easy it is to apply to your daily routine.

Meditation Defined
Meditational exercises primarily use the experience of the body and thought as a means to reconnect with the environment and its healing power. Meditation, when practiced frequently, has been proven to promote inner peace and wellness. Meditation is also a mental practice in which the mind is directed to one area, often the breath. It draws its energy from the human connection to nature and creates a sense of unity or one-ness with it.

This unity has been shown to increase communication with the spirit of the body. It has also been known to allow positive thoughts in and to stimulate positive physiological and psychological effects. Meditation techniques are easy to learn and can easily be incorporated into any lifestyle. If practiced regularly, meditation will bring balance to your body and mind.

General benefits of meditation and breathing exercises include:

• Deep inner peace
• Improved self-esteem
• Increased creativity
• Physical health/healing
• Reduced medical care
• Slowing/reversal of aging
• Reversing of heart disease
• Stimulation of the body’s immune system
• Reduced stress

I have found there is really no one right ways to meditate. Here are a couple of my favorite meditational exercises that will get you started. Remember, there is no wrong path here. Try these, or simply sit in silence for 20 minutes, daily. You’ll be glad you did.

Meditative Grounding Exercise

• Sit with your legs crossed in a comfortable (Indian-style) position with your hands relaxed on you lap. Close your eyes and imagine a beam of light dropping from the base of your spine through the earth and connecting you to its center.

• Allow this beam of light to expand in width until it is wider than your own body and envelopes it. This is your personal space.

This exercise places you totally in your body and reminds you that you are anchored to the earth. Remember, the more grounded you are, the more aware you are. Sense the presence of your higher self: listen to its voice.

Energy Cleaning Exercise

Now that you are grounded, it’s important that you cleanse this personal space. Often we collect other people’s energies and are not aware of it. We do this both through interaction with others and basic activities of daily living.

• To remove all foreign energies from your space, imagine holding a brush and sweeping away the debris.

• Allow the debris to fall to the ground and become washed away. Let the light from the previous exercise envelop your body and spread its healing energy to the edge of your space, forming a protective force field around you.

Cleaning out the area surrounding your body will keep you grounded, define your personal boundaries and declare your space. Then choose who and what you wish to enter you space, keeping disease and illness out.

Breathing Exercise

• Follow your breath as you slowly inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Count with each exhale until you reach 10 then begin again at one.

• If you find yourself past 10, acknowledge this and begin again at one from wherever you are.

• Imagine your body’s cells being replaced with fresh, pure oxygen and positive healing energy from this power source. Picture yourself exhaling old cells, stress, illness and worries.

• Let your thoughts pass through your mind like drifting clouds. Let them in and gently let them pass through. If the mind should harbor a negative thought, refocus on the breath.

• Thank any persistent negative thoughts for coming into your mind then gently let them go.

• Listen only for the positive, pronounced voice; the voice of your body.

Retrieve Your Energy Exercise

Since foreign energy often resides in your space, let’s also assume that you leave energy in other places. After completing the preceding exercises it is necessary to re-energize and call energy back.

• Imagine you have an energy magnet used to attract your energy back to you. Visualize energy flowing back to you, filling your body with light, health and empowerment.

• Allow a few minutes for the process.

Journal Questions:

1. Record in your journal any problem or trouble you may be having – emotional, physical or otherwise. Let problems go and give them over to your meditation.

2. Do you notice solutions coming to you throughout the day? Do you notice with regular meditation that your body and mind are becoming calmer and clearer?

Ideas To Consider:

1. Make time for your spirit daily. Exhibit behaviors and self talk that show your reverence for yourself.