FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFUL MEDITATION
OVERVIEW
This six-week course provides an introductory, very accessible, approachable, and practical guide to starting a mindful meditation practice.
Participants will learn the fundamentals of meditation posture, practices, and basic mindfulness techniques to reduce and transform everyday stress, dissatisfaction, and discomfort.
There are no religious affiliations or expectations. Everyone is welcome - we are dedicated to making meditation as accessible as possible.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• To gain familiarity, understanding, and comfort with mindfulness and meditation in definition and practice.
• To learn the fundamental mechanics and application of daily meditation practice.
• To experience a forum and space to explore and share the application of mindfulness both in meditation and everyday activities.
• To implement practical tools and skills to establish a simple, life-long, daily meditation practice.
TEXTS & BOOKS
While there is no required reading, the course utilizes and is inspired by practices outlined in the following contemporary books: “Mindfulness, a practical guide” by Joseph Goldstein; “Breath by Breath” by Larry Rosenberg; “Unhindered: a mindful path through the five hindrances” by Gil Fronsdal; and “Satipatthana meditation, a practice guide” by Bhikkhu Analayo. These texts are not a prerequisite for the class, and there will be no religious affiliation or expectation, nor will the course reference any kind of religious ritual, literature, or liturgy. Nonetheless, we encourage you to explore the practical wisdom in these books!
SIX-WEEK SESSION
In six individual classes, we will explore:
1 Basics of posture and practice
2 Mindfulness of body and breathing
3 Walking mindfulness practice
4 Mindfulness of feeling
5 Mindfulness of Mind
6 Bringing all the above together into a daily practice
FACILITATOR
Daniel Kyoku Go Fietsam is a CMT-P (Certified Mindfulness Teacher - Professional) with MTT300 (Mindfulness Teacher Training, 300 hours) training from the Engaged Mindfulness Institute and The Prison Mindfulness Institute. He is currently in the process of 500-hour certification.
His secular mindfulness practice is focused on offering introductory and fundamental facilitation of daily mindful meditation practice. Open to any and all who seek to reduce and transform suffering, distress, discomfort, and dis-ease.
He is an Arizona-based practitioner of Soto Zen Buddhism. He practices with the Middle Ground sangha in Chicago, IL, the Black Mountain Zen sangha in Scottsdale, AZ, and has taken the bodhisattva precepts with the Jikoji Zen Center in Los Gatos, CA.
Dan’s practice is dedicated to Buddhism & 12-step work, primarily collaborating with men in recovery who have been involved with and affected by the criminal justice system.