Accident leads to meditation practice

January 15, 2010


Accident leads to meditation practice

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

When Chuck St. Romain was granted a new lease on life, he also received a new view of how to live that renewed oppportunity more fully.

A hunting accident came perilously close to killing St. Romain, but his traumatic journey through that experience led to an appreciation of meditation and a spiritual awakening.

"I was duck hunting south of here," St. Romain said. "I slipped, heard a bang, got shot and was bleeding from my head. At first, I was terrified. Then that shifted into sadness, and I told those with me to tell (wife) Barb and (daughter) Claire that I love them, because I didn't think I'd see them again.

"Then I shifted into this incredible awareness of my breath. I was so present with my breath, so connected. My terror had eased dramatically."

The surgeon at the hospital in Cameron Parish told St. Romain that if the bullet had been a half-inch from where it was, he would have died instead of suffering a frightening scalp wound.

"I wanted to understand," said St. Romain, a licensed clinical social worker.

"It was no accident that it happened. I was overwhelmed. I wanted to let the universe teach me. I decided to go investigate meditation."

St. Romain has been practicing meditation for 14 years now. He has translated that discovery into Spirit Path Meditation and Spiritual Enrichment Center in Lafayette, which provides weekly meditation sittings, frequent retreats and book study for clients.

He also teaches courses through UL's Potpourri program, this spring offering Insight Meditation.

"Lafayette has been amazingly open (to meditation)," St. Romain said. "There are a lot of wonderful things going on."

As with his brush with death, St. Romain starts participants on their journey by Vipassana, a focus on breathing. They grow to appreciate Metta, compassion and loving kindness practices.

"Most who try meditation are experiencing some kind of distress," St. Romain said. "We try to help them. Some come through curiosity, and they love the idea. But you can't come and sit one time and expect a miracle. It's a daily thing. In our culture, people plan. They can't just be in the moment.

"Some are afraid of what it will do to their religious beliefs. But I'm gentle with that. Some are afraid, because as you get quiet your body begins to reveal the tension it has.

"The body is incredible. It's wounded. Emotions come out. People get afraid and want to move. In our culture, we do a lot not to reveal pain. But they need to get that fear out of the way. The human condition is that we have a great capacity for unbelievable joy and pleasure."

St. Romain guides clients through those stages of hesitancy, concern and uncertainty to a calm state. It's something that takes patience, which he has learned.

"We deal with impatience," he said. "They begin to feel tense and agitated. But you have to be present for everything. You have to stay with that breath, stay in the moment."

Advanced meditation practitioners can find themselves in an "altered state."

"I sometimes have the feeling I'm levitating," St. Romain said. "Of course I'm not, but we're so not used to the capacity we have."

That awareness can come on the cushion on the floor during sessions, or in exercises focused on each movement in walking. Touching a car door handle or brushing teeth are other opportunities for previusly unrealized sensasions.

"We have the capacity to experience life fully," said St. Romain. "I've come to appreciate the moment."

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Calendar of events

This Week In Mankato

Mondays



Meditation

7:00 pm to 8:15pm



Location: First Congregational United Church of Christ

150 Stadium Ct, Mankato


This is a meditation class good for experienced and beginneing open thinkers. Discussion is followed by guided meditation.



Wednesdays


Sutra Discussion group





6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)



A group discussion of Buddhist sutras, beginning January 20th.



Meditation Group II

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

This is a meditation class for open thinkers. Discussion is followed by guided meditation.



Sundays





Meditation

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

We will practice Metta meditation for about 40 minutes, followed by Dhammapada studies. The Dhammapada is a collection of Buddha's Dhamma teachings on the way of life that leads to ultimate happiness.

Paramitha Group

4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

This is a committed group that studies the practical application of Dhamma in day-to-day life. We share specific documents via e-mail and read them prior to the meeting. Contact Bhante Sathi for information on joining this group.



Announcements

*** Precepts Observing/Renewing Ceremony 2010

for more info Click



*** Buddhist Teacher Certification
(Course 1 - Buddhist Teachings for Daily Life) more info Click


***Journey to TGN's second home in Chanhassen, MN

For more information click here

Five tips for better meditation

This posting is from yesterday's Chicago Tribune. Enjoy!



For some novice meditators, the quest for inner peace can get a bit … stressful.

Do I "om?" Picture a white-sand beach? Breathe white light out of my nostril? Can I scratch that itch on my back before I lose my mind?

Studies show that meditation has many health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to boosting happiness. But nothing defeats the purpose like stressing out about it. So let's keep it simple.

Stephan Bodian, a California psychotherapist and author of "Meditation for Dummies," recommends mindfulness meditation as best for stress reduction. In mindfulness meditation, you let yourself be fully present in the moment by focusing on your breath.

Bodian offered five pointers:

1: Breath: Breathe naturally, without forcing anything. Notice the sensation at your nostrils, and the rise and fall of your chest and belly as you breathe. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.

2: Posture: Feel free to sit cross-legged, kneel, sit on a chair or lie down — whatever's most comfortable. The most important thing is posture: Your back should be straight but not rigid, so imagine that you're being pulled toward the sky with a string attached to the crown of your head. Try not to fidget or squirm; instead of immediately reacting to discomfort, be aware of how it affects you.

3: Eyes and tongue: Close your eyes, keep them open or leave them half open, but pick one way and stick with it throughout the meditation. To stabilize your tongue, rest it lightly on the roof of your mouth. This Zen technique is believed to cut down on subvocalization, which is when your tongue moves slightly with the thoughts that pass through your head.

4: Routine: You're more likely to incorporate meditation into your daily routine if you have a designated time and spot for it. Pick a quiet corner in your home, and turn off electronics. Mornings are good, before you drink any coffee so you're not wired. Try not to meditate after a heavy meal or just before bed because you tend to be sleepy. Set a timer to alert you to the end of your session to frame the meditation and give it a ritualistic quality. Aim to meditate at least five days a week; there's not much benefit if you do it once a week or every now and then.

5: Time: Meditating 20 to 30 minutes daily is ideal, but if you only have five or 10 minutes, go for it. There is no "right" way to meditate, so let go of goal orientation, and don't try to track your progress.

Triple Gem Retreat: December 27th to 29th.

Year end Meditation Retreat

with Bhante Sathi

Sunday December 27th,28th,29th, 2009



Location :Mankato MN 56001(subject to change, we will be e-mail to those who registered)


Retreat Daily Schedule

This is a typical schedule for a formal retreat. Exact times and activities will vary.

4:45 AM Wake-up gong
5:00 AM -5:30 AM Optional yoga
5:30 AM -6:45 AM Group Meditation
7:00 AM -7:45 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM -8:45 AM Work period
9:00 AM -11:00 AM Group Meditation
11:15 AM-12:00 PM Lunch
12:00 PM-2:00 PM Personal time
2:00 PM -5:00 PM Group Meditation and Dhamma Talk
5:00 PM -6:00 PM Optional yoga
6:00 PM -7:00 PM Tea (optional)
7:00 PM -9:00 PM Group Meditation or Dhamma Talk

Participants may arrive on 26th night.

Participants are expected to attend all group events. Please note that we do not serve or eat an evening meal.



NOTE: Introduction to meditation retreats have shorter meditation periods. For all retreats the meditation is split between sitting, standing, and walking meditation.



Accommodations

It is traditional on retreat to take the accommodation assigned and to practice with whatever situation one finds oneself in, and to accept the food that is offered.

We will provide accommodation to first 20 people, (males will stay at monks residence and females will stay with our neighbor) rest may have to stay somewhere ells.

Three meals a day will be served, with the main meal at noonand light tea fare in the evening. Simple vegetarian foods will be provided. Retreatants allergic to wheat and/or dairy products will be accommodated if this need is indicated on the registration form. Those with other dietary needs are encouraged to bring their necessary food items. There is some refrigerator space provided for retreatants' own food items. There are no facilities to prepare/cook individual meals.



Attendance

Retreatants are asked and strongly encouraged to start and end the retreat with the entire group. Any exceptions are made by the teacher. Any late-arriving retreatants will be assigned their work-meditation job by the retreat manager.



Ways to Support the Retreat

The retreat is offered freely in the spirit of generosity. There will be an opportunity to leave a donation to Mankato Meditation Centerat the end of the retreat, to support the teacher and the center.

Prior to the retreat, retreatants and other community members will have the opportunity to make a donation to be used to purchase all the groceries and supplies for the retreat, (Any extra will go to support Monks residence.) It is an ancient Buddhist tradition for the community to happily feed people and Monks, who engaged in intensive spiritual practice, thereby participating in their good effort.

Monetary donations may be made in-person at Monks Residence, by mail, or by internet. At Meditation class please leave donations in the envelope labeled for retreat groceries by the dana basket. By mail, send donations to: PO box323, St Peter Mn 56082. Please make checks payable to Triplegem Of The North , and mark "December residential retreat". Online donations may be made through the Triplegem website.



Register Now or Call 1(612) 216 4854 Email us retreat@triplegem.org


Questions/Comments Contact Usif you haveany questions/comments.

Meditators Toolbox

This is from the pages of Tricycle Magazine. Many have trouble committing to daily meditation. We all have excuses why we can't sit for 20 or even 10 minutes. With the holidays upon us the reasons really begin to stack up. Here is a link to a helpful article titled "Meditator's Toolbox: 21 tips to power your practice."

Enjoy and keep sitting!

Calendar Events for November and December 2009

Thanksgiving Retreat (One Day Retreat)



Where: Pht-An Temple

475 Minnesota Ave

Roseville, MN



When: Saturday, November 28, 2009.



Registration deadline is November 18, 2009.



*** Space Available for 6 more attendants ***



For more information click



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Mindfulness Retreat (Half Day Retreat)



Where: Mankato, MN



When: December 05th, 2009



For more info Click

Study shows that meditation may help in managing stress

Study shows brief training in meditation may help manage pain

Living with pain is stressful, but a surprisingly short investment of time in mental training can help you cope.