Beginning January, 2022, you are invited to join our version of hybrid practice by either Zoom on first Fridays of the month, or in person at Unity of Lawrence, 900 Madeline Lane on the second, third, and fourth Fridays of the month. Fifth Fridays are reserved for personal contemplation and no formal practice is scheduled.
Both Zoom and in-person practices begin with a Welcome to all who join. They conclude with a practice Dedication, “May any benefit arising from this practice be for the benefit of all living beings,”reinforcing our commitment to serve the larger community.
The Zoom practice also includes Guided Meditation, a few Mindful Movements, and Words or Phrases to Live By. Following the regular practice, there is opportunity to recite the Five Mindfulness Trainings. Zoom participants register by contacting DLS and will then receive invitations and reminders with links the weeks of those practices.
The in-person practice also includes Guided Meditation, Walking Meditation or Mindful Movements, Silent Sitting Meditation, and Words, Phrases or Songs to Live By. All practices are readily accessible and intended for each practitioner to engage comfortably in an atmosphere of peaceful camaraderie.
Our first practice was held September 7, 2012, facilitated by founder Nomi Redding, and fellow Organizing Committee members, Chuck Fantz and Amy Bertrand. Kassie Nieters attended the first practice with her friend, Linda Varberg, and became the third facilitator the following year when Amy’s work schedule changed. Kassie has served in myriad ways since that time. In January, 2016, we doubled our group of facilitators, who also serve as Caretaking Council members. We appreciate the past contributions of Janet Gerstner, Judy Sasser, and Linda English, and honor fondly Judy’s memory, as well as that of Linda Varberg, whose generous contribution seeded our thriving Lending Library. In 2019, we were grateful to add facilitators Ann Alexander and Margaret Rose, who were instrumental in helping with our necessary transition to online practice in accordance with public health guidelines during the pandemic . Most recently we happily added Candy Davis and Sandy Hazlett to our core group of facilitators. Throughout we have been blessed with a vibrant community of practitioners and from the beginning we were ably mentored receiving compassionate and concrete support from Bethany and David Klug with HCML in Kansas City. Chuck and Nomi were also privileged to receive mentoring from incomparable and fondly remembered dharma teacher Joanne Friday during their period of aspirancy toward ordination in the Order of Interbeing. Both ordained in 2015, and that same year Chuck founded PHS in Topeka. We are grateful he continues to serve DLS as well.
Our practices are welcoming and inclusive. No prior meditation experience is necessary. Our mission is providing a sense of community and connection.
Recently our facilitators were asked what word or phrase to them captured the
essence of our sangha. These were their replies:
“To meditate with mindful breathing is to bring body and mind back to the present moment so that you do not miss your appointment with life.” — Thích Nhât Hanh