Developing a Sustainable Mindfulness Practice in this World on Fire

Instructor(s): Susan Morgan, Bill Morgan

Program Description:

Many meditators struggle to establish a regular meditation practice that is meaningful and enlivening. Others continue to practice in a manner that causes unnecessary pain and struggle, reinforcing a sense of discouragement or failure. Why is this? Why does meditation continue to feel like another ‘should’ for so many practitioners, rather than a practice that is both restorative and relevant in the everydayness of our lives?

To cultivate a restorative practice, setting up the foundation, the starting point of meditation, is of critical importance. It is also an area where meditation instruction is often thin. In this program, we will specifically address how to develop a foundation for our meditation practice that can grow to become a nourishing and deeply relevant dimension of our lives.

During our time together, we will study and practice setting up the posture of meditation. Alone together, we will build our meditation from the ground up, learning how to create and sustain an environment conducive to making progress in mindfulness meditation. We will explore a variety of meditation instructions, guided meditations, and practices. Periods of teaching will alternate with sitting and walking meditation. There will also be time for group discussion and dyadic mindful communication exercises.

Noble Silence:

This program includes dedicated periods of both wise speech and noble silence. Some contemplative exercises may involve mindful speaking and listening. Noble silence is to be upheld at all other times.

Experience Level:

Suitable for beginning and experienced practitioners.

About the Instructor(s):
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  Susan Morgan

  Susan Morgan, CNS, is a psychotherapist in Cambridge, MA. She is a board and faculty member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and contributing author to Mindfulness and Psychotherapy. Susan has a longstanding meditation practice and recently completed a four-year meditation retreat at the Forest Refuge. She has been leading retreats, primarily for caregivers, for the last 15 years. Lovingkindness and mindfulness of the body are integral to her teaching.

• 

  Bill Morgan

  Bill Morgan, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Cambridge, MA. He has participated in many intensive retreats in meditation practice over the past 40 years and recently completed a four-year meditation retreat at the Forest Refuge in Barre, MA. Together with Susan Morgan, he has been leading mindfulness retreats for 15 years.