Mindfulness Meditation Circle

Note that there is a new passcode from February 15, 2024. Email ZoomInfo@dbsaboston.org for the Zoom passcode. If you don’t receive an auto-reply with the passcode, email Khare@dbsaboston.org.

Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET

(Click on the times to convert them to your local time zone)

Welcome to the peer-led DBSA Boston Mindfulness Meditation circle. It’s free and open to all.

The Alpaca (in a rabbit hole) represents the group’s acronym for cultivating mindfulness: ALPACA (Awareness, Loving and Peaceful Acceptance, Constructive Action). The rabbit hole reminds us to keep exploring with curiosity. Thanks to Rivka, Scott, Carolyn, Jules, and others in the group!

Mindfulness Meditation Circle Guidelines

• 1. We welcome everyone with all meditation experience levels, from beginners to those with a more established practice. You do not need to be a DBSA Boston member.
  2. Please, no discussion of religion, politics, or current events. 
  3. We would love to see your face, though if you prefer to be off-camera, that is okay, too.
  4. You may join and leave at any time.
  5. All DBSA Boston Guidelines For DBSA Groups and Meetings must also be followed.
  6. By joining this meditation circle, you agree to hold DBSA Boston and all meditation facilitators harmless in case of discomfort.

On Sunday, April 21, we will continue with Chapter 1: Judgment

From the Introduction:

We appear to go through life reacting directly to events and all else in the world. That appearance is an illusion. We react to our judgments and opinions – to our thoughts about things, not to things themselves. We usually aren’t aware of this. Events come to us through lenses of judgment that are so familiar we forget we have them on. Stoics seek to become conscious of those judgments, to find the irrationality in them, and to choose them more carefully.

This idea is foundational to Stoicism. Sometimes its truth can be seen by noticing that when we react to an event, we really are reacting to what we’ve said to ourselves about it. (Perhaps we can say something different.) But in other cases, it’s harder to see the role of judgments in producing a reaction because they are so ingrained that we take them for granted. The Stoics investigate those reactions – the ones that feel inevitable – by comparing them to the very different reactions that others have to the same things when their conditioning is different (or to the different reactions that we have when our circumstances are different). The Stoics infer from all this that our way of reacting to anything depends, indeed, on thoughts we think and beliefs we hold, however deeply buried they might be. Since those beliefs and thoughts belong to us, they should be possible to change, and so ought to be subject to more rational scrutiny than they usually get. Our experience of the world is our own doing, not the world’s doing, and the Stoic means to take responsibility for it.

1. Purpose: Our primary purpose in this meeting is to discuss principles and techniques to enhance our mindfulness practices and their application to our daily lives. This is not a support group.
2. Focus on Meaningful Topics: To maintain our focus, we will avoid engaging in personal, political, religious, or racial critiques or debates on controversial or hateful issues that could be disruptive and disturbing to the group.
3. Respectful and Safe Environment: We strive to create a respectful and safe space for all community members to share their thoughts and experiences without fear of judgment or criticism.
4. No Interruptions: Please refrain from interrupting a speaker. If you wish to contribute or share your thoughts, raise your hand, and you will be given an opportunity to speak.
5. Practice Self Focus: Share and speak about your own experiences and responses, avoiding assumptions about the experiences of others or speaking on behalf of the entire group.
6. Move Up / Move Back: Encourage balanced participation by all members. Be mindful of who is speaking and who is not; if you talk often, consider allowing others to share more.
7. Practice Mindful Listening: Be fully present and engaged in listening to others. Avoid planning your response while listening, and be open to learning and being surprised.
8. Confidentiality: Respect the privacy of others by not identifying anyone other than yourself when sharing what was discussed in the session. If you wish to follow up with someone about their comments, ask for their consent first.

Following these guidelines can create a nurturing and supportive environment for personal growth and deepen our mindfulness practices.

Six ways to make your life easier and more peaceful – by using stoic principles – By Brigid Delaney (Author of “Reasons Not to Worry”)

And to each member of our mindfulness community, we extend our sincere appreciation. Your presence, participation, and contributions breathe life into this circle and make it all possible. Thank you for being part of this journey.