Meditation in Nature

Note: This event is free, but participation will be limited to 12 persons. Registration is required.

Join your sangha for a morning sojourn into the woods for meditation and good company. This will be an informal gathering, with an opportunity for sitting together under the trees, and hiking along the Stony Brook. In a world that has seemingly gone topsy-turvy, the stillness and peace of the woods offers refuge.

In the Satipatthana Sutta, the Buddha extols practitioners to go to the forest or to the root of a tree to establish mindfulness of breathing. Here’s an invitation to give it a try!

Meet in front of the Watershed Center, next to the main parking lot off Titus Mill Road. The Watershed Center opens at 10 AM, and has bathrooms. We’ll hike out and back on the Stony Brook Trail, a total distance of about 2.5 miles. We will pause under the Hobbit Tree, where there are a few benches, spend time in meditation, perhaps offering a few chants. We’ll continue our hike past the Stony Brook, and return to the Watershed Center and parking lot.

What to wear and what to bring: The trails are unpaved, and can be muddy. There are tree roots that cross the trail, making the path uneven. Wear boots or other sturdy shoes. Dress for the weather, although we’ll cancel if there’s heavy rain. You may want to bring a packable chair if you have one.

There will be an opportunity to offer dana to the Watershed Institute.