Traverse City Mindfulness Meditation Group

Traverse City Mindfulness Meditation Group practices simple Vipassana techniques, derived from the ancient Theravada school of Buddhism. Vipassana techniques can be practiced by anyone—those with any or no religious beliefs. The word Vipassana simply means to see things as they really are. Our group is made up of beginners as well as experienced meditators. Anyone is welcome to join us. If you're new to the practice, we can help you get started.

Two meditation sessions are available each week:

-- On Sundays, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Building, 6726 Center Road, Traverse City, Michigan, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the winter and from 7:30-9:00 p.m.in the summer. (This year our changeover date to the summer schedule will be May 17.)

We practice silent meditation for two 25-minute sessions (with a five-minute break between), followed by a half-hour discussion centered on a book the group has chosen to read. Some books we've read and discussed: Sylvia Boorstein's It's Easier Than You Think, Larry Rosenfeld's Breath by Breath, Bante Gunaratana's Mindfulness in Plain English, and Ezra Bayda's Zen Heart.

-- On Thursdays, from 5:00-6:00 p.m., upstairs in the Weaver Building, 120 Union St., Traverse City. Enter between Union Antiques and Hot Dogz, through a door that says "Cornerstone Architects."