Meditation Retreats
A time to meditate | Print Edition
Try a guided meditation session done by zoom to help manage your work-life stress
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Life has not been “normal” for a while and there is no doubt that everyone is stressed. Many of us long for some rest, something that will help us calm down. While our individual beliefs help us through difficult times, a guided meditation session can also be helpful.
The monks of the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery offer this free of charge.
“Our goal is to develop loving friendliness among busy, stressed office workers,” says the Ven Rohanakiththi Thera, chief prelate of the Mahamevnawa monastery in Kotte, who runs the “Meditate after work” program.
This program was conducted in English and took place on Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Prana Lounge. With strict health safety guidelines, this has now moved on to an online event via Zoom on Wednesday 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 8.30pm to 9.40pm.
Guided meditation begins with breathing exercises. Participants are reminded to be mindful of posture. Then there is a Dhamma sermon that will help you learn the original teachings of the Buddha as received in the Theravada tradition. The monks offer sutras to help deal with the burdens in the office that people go through in the workplace. “We help the participants see how they can work as a team and we help them to be satisfied with their work,” says the Ven Thera. “People raise their concerns about work, we discuss their problems and we offer advice.”
“It’s a very amazing experience,” says Vishaka, who has been participating in the after-work meditation program for over two years. “It’s very interactive. We can ask questions, clarify our doubts, ”she adds. “After the guided meditation and sermon, we end with a silent meditation.”
The Mahamevnawa monks also offer meditation retreats and classes in the Colombo area, including an online Dhamma school for children around the world conducted by the monks in both English and Sinhala.
For more information on the group’s activities, see:
Website:
www.serenecolombo.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ColomboDhammaFriends
WhatsApp Group – https://chat.whatsapp.com/FwqX6x6cH3RHrRouVqLsAj
Participate in the Meditate After Work program on Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. Sri Lankan time. Where: Via the Zoom app, Meeting ID – 681 200 1000 (N / A)