Every step may be fruitful.
Yet there will stretch out before you an ever- lengthening,
ever- ascending, ever- improving path.
You know you will never get to the end of the journey.
But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb."
~ Sir Winston Churchill
Amazing .. Inspiring .. Sharing .. Laughing .. Indulging .. Peaceful .. Informative .. Imaginative ..
This was Meditate08!
I feel that I was truly blessed last weekend. Being able to step aside from the usual weekend activities, taxi duties and associated domestic tasks .. just step away and move into wonderful new places, meet new people, share and hear new ideas. and some time for quiet, reflective meditation.
I feel like it is going to take me weeks to process all the information, research and inspiration that I crossed paths with over this last weekend. I tried to take it all in and appreciate the wonder of being amongst such a well known and congeniel and embracing meditative community... traditional, Eastern, modern, scientific, funny, musical, soulful ... so much great food for the meditative appetite!
Firstly on Saturday I attended a workshop with Eric Harrison. Eric is the founder of the Perth Meditation Centre and doesn’t come across to this side of Australia very often; so it was such a gift for the 45+ people who got together early Saturday morning for a full day of spot meditations, discussions on integrating meditation into daily life (however busy) and sharing our thoughts and experiences with others. A windy and blowing day outside but inside serene and peaceful. I have two of Eric's books in my meditation library and it was great to find that Eric style on Saturday was very much to same as you 'hear' in his books or CD's ... he is very down to earth, clear and insightful.
Then on Sunday the journey continued with what has to be celebrated as a highly successful Inaugural Meditate08 Conference. And Melbourne really supported the day despite the cold blustery conditions outside, and the Melbourne marathon running into the city centre.. there seemed liked hundreds of people attending the nine free workshops that ran across the day.
For those of you who were unable to attend this first time event ... without a doubt I would definitely suggest that you sign up for next year!
There is so much to share ... but to start the journey with you I thought I would list the day’s Conference Program, and over the coming weekend (as I seek to filter through my show-bag of goodies, books, CDs, pamphlets and notes) I shall detail more from this amazing day. I have tried to attach links to each of the speakers below... I would encourage you to do your own research in the area's that catch your attention…
Kevin Hume – Director of the Sydney Meditation Centre and media veteran : an amazing, funny, and wonderful Master of Ceremonies who made the whole event flow with amazing calm. If you live in Sydney I would definitely suggest you contact Kevin or at least check out his website.
Introduction of the Australian Teachers of Meditation Association [ATMA]: presented by Craig Hassed, Pauline McKinnon and Ian Gawler. This is a proposed new umbrella body formed to represent the needs and interests of practitioners and community members alike who are engaged in teaching or learning meditation, whether it be for therapeutic purposes, self-development or as a spiritual practice.
Professor Marc Cohen : Foundation Professor Complementary Medicine at RMIT University who spoke on Meditation and the Evolution of Consciousness.
Dr Craig Hassed : General Practitioner and Senior Lecturer at the Monash University Department of General Practice and author of Know Thyself, who spoke about Meditation as a Way to Happiness.
Eric Harrison : Director of the Perth Meditation Centre and author of The Art of Awareness, who spoke on Tranquility or Awareness?
Dr Ian Gawler : Founder and Therapeutic Director of The Gawler Foundation and author of Peace of Mind, spoke on Dr Ainslie Meares : Pioneer of Stillness.
Swami Shankarananda : Is Director of the Shiva School of meditation and Yoga and author of Happy For No Good Reason, and spoke about Self-Enquiry : Using Your Awareness to Unblock Your Life.
Swami Samnyasanand : Neurophysiologist and Yoga Teacher. Philip Stevens (Swami Samnyasanand) is also the Director of the Padma Centre in Beaumaris, and has a BSc (Psych, Physiol); (BSc (hons) (Physiol); MWSCY; FWSCY. Swami Samnyasanand spoke on The Neurophysiology of Meditation.
Janet Lowndes : Psychologist and Yoga Teacher, spoke about The Embodied Meditation of Hatha Yoga and had the large audience up on their feet in tree pose to bring us all back into body awareness.
Paul Bedson : Counsellor, Natural Therapist and Meditation Instructor at The Gawler Foundation who spoke on Meditation and Emotional Alchemy.
Kevin Hume – Director of the Sydney Meditation Centre and media veteran : an amazing, funny, and wonderful Master of Ceremonies who made the whole event flow with amazing calm. If you live in Sydney I would definitely suggest you contact Kevin or at least check out his website.
Introduction of the Australian Teachers of Meditation Association [ATMA]: presented by Craig Hassed, Pauline McKinnon and Ian Gawler. This is a proposed new umbrella body formed to represent the needs and interests of practitioners and community members alike who are engaged in teaching or learning meditation, whether it be for therapeutic purposes, self-development or as a spiritual practice.
Professor Marc Cohen : Foundation Professor Complementary Medicine at RMIT University who spoke on Meditation and the Evolution of Consciousness.
Dr Craig Hassed : General Practitioner and Senior Lecturer at the Monash University Department of General Practice and author of Know Thyself, who spoke about Meditation as a Way to Happiness.
Eric Harrison : Director of the Perth Meditation Centre and author of The Art of Awareness, who spoke on Tranquility or Awareness?
Dr Ian Gawler : Founder and Therapeutic Director of The Gawler Foundation and author of Peace of Mind, spoke on Dr Ainslie Meares : Pioneer of Stillness.
Swami Shankarananda : Is Director of the Shiva School of meditation and Yoga and author of Happy For No Good Reason, and spoke about Self-Enquiry : Using Your Awareness to Unblock Your Life.
Swami Samnyasanand : Neurophysiologist and Yoga Teacher. Philip Stevens (Swami Samnyasanand) is also the Director of the Padma Centre in Beaumaris, and has a BSc (Psych, Physiol); (BSc (hons) (Physiol); MWSCY; FWSCY. Swami Samnyasanand spoke on The Neurophysiology of Meditation.
Janet Lowndes : Psychologist and Yoga Teacher, spoke about The Embodied Meditation of Hatha Yoga and had the large audience up on their feet in tree pose to bring us all back into body awareness.
Paul Bedson : Counsellor, Natural Therapist and Meditation Instructor at The Gawler Foundation who spoke on Meditation and Emotional Alchemy.
Pauline McKinnon : One of Melbourne’s best known Meditation Teachers (Stillness Meditation), Family Therapist and author of In Stillness Conquer Fear, talked about her own experience with fear and anxiety, and writing her book. Her talk was titled Meditation : Calming an Anxious Mind.
Graham Williams : Director of the Lifeflow Meditation Centre (Adelaide) and author of Insight and Love spoke on After Happiness Then What? Why Positive and Negative Emotions Need Each Other.
Namaste...
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