Jack Hatfield

Meditation is probably not what you think. Its goal is not to get rid of thoughts, retreat from the world or mentally float off in a pink cloud. Using techniques that have been used for over 2500 years by millions and millions of people, people’s lives can become richer, more vivid, more satisfying and enable one to not take everything so personally. You can lower blood pressure and stress. Mindfulness techniques can help us deal with life’s challenges that range from major problems such as health, financial, relationship and work issues to the relatively minor ones such as the weather being too hot or an itching insect bite. It can reduce physical or emotional suffering, elevate physical or emotional fulfillment, make positive changes in objective behavior and develop a spirit of love and service towards others. Psychologists and neuroscientists are using scientific tools such as MRIs and EEGs to give objective views to prove the above positive changes can be the result of meditation.

You can find meditation in all major religions, even though it might be hard to find and not emphasized. Some hospitals, prisons, schools, corporations, actors and politicians are using secular meditation. Others using it include news anchors Howard Stern, Rupert Murdoch, Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington, the CEO of Ford, Diane Sawyer, the Seattle Seahawks football team and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Companies such as General Mills, Aetna, Procter and Gamble, andTarget as well as technology companies such as Apple and Microsoft offer company-sponsored meditation courses. Even the Marines and other armed forces offer meditation courses.

Come and practice meditation with us. We meet every Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Cottonwood Country Club, Room A-6. Attendance is free. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.

We are a practice-orientated group. Our meetings consist of two 25-minute sitting meditations plus a guided loving kindness meditation. They are interspersed by 10-minute walking meditation. If this is too much meditation for you, you can leave during one of the walking meditations. There is time at the end for discussion. Experienced mediators are available to help you with technique. Contact Jack Hatfield at 480-802-4805 or [email protected] for further information.