Our meditation group consists of 30 minutes of seated meditation, followed by a discussion. Chairs are available for sitting, or feel free to bring your own cushion or sitting gear. If you would like additional introduction to the practice, feel free to contact us ahead of time. For more detailed information about the meditation group, visit our MeetUp page: http://www.meetup.com/Its-Alive-Zen-Med
itation/
Koans (pronounced KO-ahn) are bits of poetry or stories used in the Zen tradition to bring about a change of heart. There is often a shift in perspective that happens when working with koans; you might notice that the life you actually have is much more interesting than the one you thought you should be having. People find that working with a koan tends to make their lives stranger and more interesting, and also more free. And freedom can be fun. There is no need to have any previous experience with koans or meditation (in fact, you may be better off without it). Jesse Cardin, Sensei, is a koan teacher in the Pacific Zen School. He is the practice leader for It's Alive!, the author of the blog It’s Alive!, and also accepts students for private instruction. Jesse has been working with koans since 2006 under the guidance of John Tarrant, Roshi (Director of Pacific Zen Institute). He is interested in how koans use the circumstances of each individual’s life to facilitate awakening. He is also particularly curious about how koans can be used in mental health and substance abuse recovery, as well as to discover novel solutions to social problems.
