Ongoing Group of Committed Practitioners

“Alert to the needs of the journey,
those on the path of awareness,
like swans, glide on,
leaving behind their former resting places.”

The Buddhist Practitioners Group, an intimate group of committed practitioners, meets weekly to meditate, listen to Buddhist teachings and discuss how to apply Buddhist perspectives to the challenges of daily life. Each meeting begins with a short saying and a 25-minute silent meditation. Attendees then listen to a 10-minute reading or recorded program generally from a book or podcast, followed by an open discussion of about 50 minutes. The discussion often addresses themes from the presentation but is not limited to them. Group members are free to raise any topic of their choice. The presentation is often prepared by one of the co-leaders, Emily  Serkin. Members of the group are also invited to present on any topic of interest to them, but there is no pressure to present. The Committed Practitioners Group is co-led by Serkin and Anita Whelan, both experienced psychotherapists and Buddhist practitioners. While the group is meant to provide a forum for discussing common concerns related to the group’s practice and is not designed to provide therapy or Buddhist instruction, members often find it to be both healing and instructive. The practitioners group functions under the umbrella of a Rossmoor club called The Buddhist Study Group, which sponsors a number of different programs related to Buddhism. The various programs sponsored by the Buddhist Study Group, including the Committed Practitioners Group, are described on the club website. Link:   www.bsgrossmoor.com For more information about the Practitioners Group, contact Whelan at [email protected] or 1-831-539-3192 or Serkin at [email protected] or 1-510-209-7962.