A time to meditate
Life has not been ‘normal’ for some time now, and there’s no doubt that everyone’s stress levels are at a high. Many of us yearn for some peace and quiet, something to help calm us. While our individual faiths help us in troubling times, a guided meditation session can be helpful too.
This is what the monks of the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery offer, free-of-charge.
“Our aim is to develop loving kindness among busy, stressed-out office-goers,” says the Ven Rohanakiththi Thera, Chief Prelate at the Mahamevnawa Monastery in Kotte which conducts the ‘Meditate After Work’ programme.
Conducted in English, this programme was held at the Prana Lounge on Wednesdays from 6pm to 7.30pm. Now, with strict health safety guidelines in place, this has moved to an online event conducted via Zoom on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 8.30 pm to 9.40 pm.
The guided meditation starts with breathing exercises. Participants are reminded to pay attention to mindfulness on body posture. Then there is a dhamma sermon which helps you learn the original teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada tradition. The monks offer sutras to cope with office-related stresses people go through at the workplace. “We help attendees see how they can work as a team, and we help them be satisfied with the work they do,” says the Ven Thera. “People bring up their concerns from work, we discuss their issues, and we offer guidance.”
“It is a very amazing experience,” says Vishaka, who has been participating in the Meditation After Work programme for over two years now. “It’s very interactive. We can ask questions, clear our doubts,” she adds. “After the guided meditation and sermon, we end with a silent meditation.”
The monks of Mahamevnawa also offer meditation retreats and classes in the Colombo area, including an online Dhamma School for kids worldwide conducted by the monks in both English and Sinhala.
You can find out more information about the group’s activities on their:
Website:
www.serenecolombo.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ColomboDhammaFriends
WhatsApp group - https://chat.whatsapp.com/FwqX6x6cH3RHrRouVqLsAj
Join the Meditate After Work programme Wednesday @8:30PM Sri Lankan time. Where: Via Zoom app, Meeting ID – 681 200 1000 (NA)