Intro-course Zen Meditation

For a change a completely non-IT topic: an announcement for a new introduction course on Zen Meditation in Maastricht. I have done the previous intro-course after noticing my agenda became more and more packed, and I thought it would be good to have a counterweight. Yes, I like to sport, but I think it is valuable to have other methods to increase focus and calm the mind. For me, it worked, provided I keep meditating regularly (just like sports training, actually).

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Rest assured, there is no magic involved, no aura reading and no other stuff that may sound “scary” or “unreal”. It is just a training in focussing, calming down, or -as Jon Kabat-Zinn describes it for mindfulness– “coming back to your senses”. In my experience, the teacher (Marees Hurkxkens) is completely down to earth, and does the job well. Personally I have to admit that zazen was my main reason to do the course. Although I did enjoy the tea ceremony at the end of the sessions, I did not really enjoy the sutra reading.

Anyhow, I am glad I did the course and would recommend it to other people with a busy lifestyle, too much going on in their head, and a need for inner rest and focus. For the Dutch people, Zen.nl gives courses in the whole country initiated by Riens Ritskes. And I am sure that in other countries comparable alternatives will be offered.

Give it a thought… because that’s what it is all about! :-)