Self Inquiry Discussion Group

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For the new year, we've modified the format of the Wednesday meetings slightly based on feedback and group discussion. Wednesday meetings are still just an informal discussion among friends, but with just enough structure to help us make the best use of our time together. Here's what we've come up with:

-- Arrive by 7:15, get started with the meeting at 7:30.

-- Instead of meditation, we’ll begin with 20 minutes of sitting in silent rapport, which is basically an open-eye meditation during which you have the opportunity to connect with others in the room. You can still close your eyes and meditate, but the intention of the sitting is group rapport. If you come late and rapport is underway, no sweat. Just take a seat. Rapport is not fragile. Two excellent resources on rapport are Paul Constant's Spiritual Rapport and Chris Hunnicutt's Open Talking Rapport.

-- Prior to the rapport sitting, the person whose turn it is to lead the meeting will read the “Heart Sutra” out loud to the group. The version we use is found in The Perennial Way. Here's a PDF of Heart Sutra you can print out.

-- After rapport, the person who’s turn it is to lead the meeting will be the first to speak, and will direct the discussion until it takes off on its own. The intention is not to have the meetings be pure talking rapport--discussion will still be open, free, and far-ranging. But beginning with a rapport sitting may naturally tend to limit the amount of abstract intellectual conversation, and that’s probably a good thing. As the meeting leader, you might begin with a statement of how things are for you right now, in the present moment. Or bring up a relevant issue, obstacle, or topic that’s been on your mind lately. Or ask questions of others, directed either to the group or to an individual. These are also good ways for everyone to contribute to the conversation.

-- Confrontation (“group-assisted self-inquiry”) in a spirit of friendship may arise organically during the meeting, but it is not the central focus as it is on Thursdays.

-- Everyone should come to meetings prepared with a question or something that’s been on their mind. Even if you don’t say anything, you may find that the evening’s discussion ends up illuminating some aspect of the question or issue you bring with you.

-- The meeting “officially” ends at 9:30 but people can come and go whenever they want to, and the meeting can go as late as people want to stay.

The updated meeting leader schedule is posted below. If you are not on the list and would like to be, or are on the list and want to be removed, let Bart know. If you can't lead a meeting you are scheduled for, please trade with someone so that the meeting is covered.

2011
1/5
1/12
1/19
1/26
2/2
2/9
2/16
2/23
3/2
3/9
3/16
3/23
3/30
4/6
4/13
4/20
4/27
5/4
5/11
5/18
5/25
6/1
6/8
6/15
6/22
6/29
7/6
7/13
7/20
7/27
8/3
8/10
8/17
8/24
8/31
9/7
9/14
9/21
9/28
10/5
10/12
10/19
10/26
11/2
11/9
11/16
11/23
11/30
12/7
12/14
12/21
12/28

Leader
Jason P.
Kevin S.
Larry Y.
Lauren H.
Luke R.
Robert M.
Steve K.
Alex D.
Bart M.
Carolyn B.
Chris H.
Deborah W.
Ken H.
Doug W.
Greg H.
Hailey K.
Jason P.
Jenny C.
Jem H.
Larry Y.
Lauren H.
Luke R.
Robert M.
Alex D.
Bart M.
Carolyn B.
Deborah W.
Ken H.
Doug W.
Greg H.
Jem H.
Jenny C.
Larry Y.
Luke R.
Robert M.
Alex D.
Bart M.
Carolyn B.
Deborah W.
Ken H.
Doug W.
Greg H.
Jem H.
Jenny C.
Larry Y.
Luke R.
Robert M.
Alex D.
Bart M.
Carolyn B.
Deborah W.
Ken H.