Head to Daan Forest Park on Sunday for an opportunity to calm your mind and body through meditation and qigong while contributing to a good cause.
Participants will meet at the park’s entrance 5, which is a one-minute walk north of the intersection of Heping East Road (和平東路) and Jianguo South Road (建國南路).
Meditate in the Park is hosted by Mindful Taipei, which puts on various events, courses and workshops focusing on the practice and study of mindfulness through activities like meditation, qigong, yoga, taichi and the art of making tea. It’s a diverse group, with members from all around the world.
Photo courtesy of Debbie Rinehart
Mindfulness is essentially the practice of being in the present.
“It’s basically not worrying about or fearing tomorrow, to confidently grasp or to be present to whatever is in front of you in the moment,” Michelle Bradley, one of the coordinators, says. “In addition, it is to let go of your worries or attachments so … your mind is in control of your experience rather than your environment or experience controlling you.”
Through mindfulness, people achieve mental stability and inner peace.
“I think it takes the emphasis off one’s own habitual thinking, which helps you to see yourself, others and the world more clearly,” Bradley said. “That in turn can make both you and people around you happier. That kind of clarity and happiness isn’t an ‘everything is perfect’ kind of way. It’s more in a grounded sense.”
The session begins at 3pm with a 20 minute qigong practice, followed by one hour of meditation. After that, tea and snacks are provided as attendees get to know each other and ask questions about their meditation practice. All donations will benefit victims of last month’s dust explosion at Formosa Fun Coast (八仙海岸) waterpark.
The group hosts meditation sessions in the park every two months with a certain cause in mind. Last session in May raised money for Nepal Earthquake victims.
“Basically this gives people an opportunity to do something instead of just going to a computer and donating,” Bradley says. “You build a good community and spirit, and some people might even believe in the idea that when a group of people meditate together, there’s an energy that’s beneficial to themselves and others.”
Practices such as meditation and qigong are tools for people to develop mindfulness.
“It doesn’t matter what the tradition is,” Bradley says. “These are techniques or tools in order for you to reach a level of mental awareness.”
Yet, mindfulness itself isn’t a technique, Bradley says. “It’s a natural ability. Basically what we’re focusing on is coming back to that and cultivating practices so we can be more fully present to events in our lives with an increased level of engagement.”
Mindful Taipei’s regular program is the “Start ... Mindfully” class every Sunday at 7:30pm at Water Moon Tea House (水月草堂), 2, Ln 180, Fuxing S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市復興南路二段180巷2號). The sessions mostly focus on meditation and qigong, but there are varying themes, such as last week’s class which covered traditional Chinese medicine.
Space for the evening classes is limited to those who have signed up in advance at www.facebook.com/start.mindfully.
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