This program will be held at our Center in Cambridge. Masks will be optional.
Have you ever said to yourself, “I can’t believe I just said that?” Have you ever spaced out when someone was talking to you? You are not alone! Unskillful habits of speech and listening are not new. In fact, 2,600 years ago, the Buddha considered the practice of skillful speech so important to our development that he made it one of the precepts and an essential step on the Eightfold Path to happiness. Skillful speech has four qualities:
- It is always truthful.
- It is uplifting, not malicious or unkind.
- It is gentle, not crude or harsh.
- It is moderate, not useless or meaningless.
Both Wise Speech and Wise Listening are mindfulness practices. They can be cultivated with a deeper awareness of our body, mind, thoughts, and emotions. We can learn to restrain our speech in difficult moments and to listen with our whole being, not just our ears. We learn to train the heart, inclining it towards wholesome states such as love, kindness, compassion and understanding. These skills are so needed in our everyday life, at home, at work, in our communities and in our world.
This program is appropriate for both new and experienced meditators of all ages and all levels of experience. Each session will include formal meditation practices, teachings, time for discussion, reflections, and questions. Homework between sessions is essential to this group. Everyone is welcome.
Full and partial scholarships are available up to 72 hours before the start of the program.