Meditation group going well

[ellenrr]

I started a local meditation group about 5 weeks ago.
We meet in a community church once a week.
we do jyoti meditation and mindfullness meditation.
sometimes a guided meditation, in which I read from San Harris's book.

People like it a lot.
It's very rewarding to have someone say that they look forward to this all week, or, that this one hour we spend together makes their life better.

One thing I want to change is that people walk into the room - all talky and loud - as they do into any gathering.
and there is nothing wrong with that.
Except that for this meditation group, imo it is appropriate to enter the room, and assume a reflective mode, to focus within, even as people take off their coat, greet their friends, and take a seat.

I can drop this - if there is a lot of objection.
But I am going to ask participants to give it a try, and I think they will like it.
I want to create a "sacred place", a space which is an alternative to the normal outward-looking space, - a space where it is the norm to look inward.

[vlyons]

1. There should be a transition from the outside world

to the meditation hall. Just as in opera, the overture before the opera allows people to make that transition. Or at the movies, there might be a cartoon, or coming attractions before the movie. At my temple, we have a large communal dining hall, where people can get coffee, greet each, chat, etc. Then the temple bldg itself has an entrance area, where folks take off their shoes, coats, etc.

Definitely talk to your group. Probably more than one will have a creative idea about this.

[ellenrr]

2. good idea - transition.

I put a sign on the door, "Please enter in silence".

helps.

[PavelKO]

3. Meditation...

I would be afraid to do a meditation in a group of people. Even if only one of them was an unsuitable partner (a Hellish person, someone with a bad state or a low level of mind), it spoils the entire outcome.

[JudyM]

4. I thought so too before we created a group. But it generally attracts people who are seeking

a similar environment and rise to the occasion. Over the several years we've been doing it there've only a couple people who fit your description who have joined us, and they have dropped out.

We have all found that the benefits of meeting far outweigh other minor irritations (which are opportunities for reflection and insight, for bette or for worse). You really get a deeper view of our shared humanity in the mini mindful sharing that accompanies the meditation. And it feels very supportive to meditate together over time...

[JudyM]

5. This is a shared understanding that has good effect in our sangha.

We meet in 2 hosts' homes, and one of the hosts gently looks at any of us who forget as we descend into her downstairs meditation room. So we chat a bit when we first enter the house, then drop the conversations when it's time to go to that room.

At the other host's home there's no separate room and we just naturally chat only softly before we start. Folks who want to stay afterward can chat over tea.

Just how we do it, FWIW, and it works well both ways.

Good for you, taking the initiative to start a group!