On a recent rainy Tuesday evening, a small group of students gathered at Columbia’s Owen Brown Interfaith Center.
They filed into conference room 213 and sat down quietly at a table at the front of the classroom, which was stacked with books such as Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s Modern Buddhism: The Path of Compassion and Wisdom. did.
They sat quietly, prayer cards in hand, waiting for the teacher to begin the lesson.
This class is one of several instructor-led meditation classes held weekly throughout the region by Kadampa Meditation Center of Maryland.
According to the website, the class includes both meditation and teachings based on the wisdom of the Buddha to help individuals stay calm even during the most difficult times, and is called “Increasing the Power of the Mind – The Science of Tantra.” Focused on theme. Through a special type of meditation called Creative Yoga, students learn how to use imagination and visualization to awaken creative energy and channel it into greater happiness and peace.
Anika Trancik, who has studied Kadampa Buddhism under Gyatso’s guidance for more than 20 years, has been teaching meditation classes in the area since September.
She said the class teaches students simple meditation techniques that they can incorporate into their daily lives.
“Meditation helps you make intentional decisions, so you can practice them throughout the day,” she said. “In our busy modern lives, it is very important to know how to incorporate what we learn in meditation insights into our daily lives.”
Trancik assures his students that anyone can meditate.
“Often people feel too busy to meditate. [think of it] You can’t do it until you really give it a chance,” she said. “Our meditations are often 10 to 15 minutes long, because we want quality, not quantity, so it’s very accessible to people. I think.”
Trancik began the class with opening remarks.Guided through guided breathing meditation. She then recited a short prayer to her students, gave a lesson on wisdom, and ended the class with a guided meditation and group discussion.
Anna Connie, 25, of Odenton, has been attending meditation classes at the Interfaith Center since the summer. She said meditating has allowed her to relate better to those around her.
“If someone is having a hard day at work and they might not be very nice to me, I don’t take it too personally and can easily deflect,” she says. Told. “[Meditation has helped me] It will help you get through your day easier and make you feel less stressed overall. ”
Columbia meditation classes are held on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way. For more information, visit meditationmd.org.
