Do the meditation!

Lately I've been finding myself in the unlikely position of meditation teacher.  Although I'm only just getting back into my meditation practice now that I need it more than ever, I have done a good amount of exploring over the years, and some might benefit from this experience.  These are some meditation resources that I would recommend for friends in the NY area, all at cross-section of Insight Meditation (Vipassana, from a Buddhist tradition) and Judaism.

In high school I discovered Allan Ginsberg's Do the Meditation (1984).  (This video is 2 min. 36 sec. long.)  I recommend watching it -- to remind you that while meditation may seem serious, it's a technique that teaches us to see things for what they are, which may bring insight into the importance of silliness!


Then I started reading.  You may have come upon Rav Aryeh Kaplan's Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide or techniques associated with the mystics of kabbalah and the Zohar.  Like tradition says, I would agree that these techniques are not for beginners.  In general, a meditation practice should be begun with the instruction and guidance of an experienced teacher.  Like any spiritual practice, you will probably want to understand the lineage of your teacher, and how his/her teaching fits into the spectrum of traditions and how it developed.  You may notice that many highly acclaimed meditation teachers are Jewish.  It's something to think about.  Here's the well-known meditation teacher Sylvia Boorstein on the question, "How can a Jew do mindfulness meditation?"

Then I found Rabbi Alan Lew's z''l books -- One God Clapping, Be Still and Get Going: A Jewish Meditation Practice for Real Life, This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared.  These are excellent, not necessarily for sit-through reads, but to read excepts for slow absorption.  I had the privilege to attend a course he taught at the San Francisco JCC, and I met a few rough characters there, who had struggled with drug addiction.  Rabbi Lew was teaching something that was helping to transform lives.

There is, of course, Rebbe Nachman's tradition of hitbodedut, going out to quiet nature for self-reflection and talking to Gd.  Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels is very learned in chasidic texts as well as the Vipassana mindfulness tradition, and he weaves them together beautifully.  You can find his blog here, or his initiatives, the Awakened Heart Project or Or HaLev Center for Jewish Spirituality and Meditation.  I love listening to his podcasts while I'm cooking for Shabbat -- when I can't follow a text-heavy class, but I have a moment when I want some inspiration.

In New York, there is a daily meditation space at the Upper West Side JCC called Makom.  In Brooklyn there is the Jewish Meditation Center of Brooklyn, although I haven't made it to either one yet myself.  These institutions both go to lengths to avoid being associated with a particular color, brand, or movement of Jewish tradition.  There is also something special about this openness, and also about this simplicity.  Different stripes of Jews coming together to sit in silence.  It does seem innovative for such a noisy tribe!

I've told some of you about my first silent 10-day retreat, which I did through the Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center.  You may want to check out their website, where they have Meditation 101 Instructions.

A related meditation practice is called metta, or lovingkindness meditation.  This is not simply focusing on the abstract concept of lovingkindness but is usually a 45-minute guided instruction working towards forgiveness and directing loving energy to people you've known as well as strangers.  This can help some people make powerful progress towards forgiveness.  You can find metta podcasts on the Spirit Rock website, or you may try this site. (Gil Fronsdal is an excellent teacher; I'm not familiar with the others.)

These are some of the best resources I've found, but there's no substitute for sitting in a room with others seeking quiet and a teacher to guide the way.

Living large by traveling light

To my dear friend about to embark on a Costa Rica adventure.  Pura vida, mi amor!

Clothing: you know what to bring! but make sure as much as possible is synthetic, especially socks, for quick-drying, and of course, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses!

Miscellaneous
Siddur (or whatever that one book will be)
Grip gloves & socks for yoga
Disposable camera
Music listening device
Knife tool (preferably with wine screw, screwdriver, and tweezers)
Hand sanitizer
Sunblock
First aid kit: Iodine tablets, disinfectant towelettes, pain killer, gauze, Ace bandage, band-aids, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, matches, condoms, melatonin or valerian for bus rides
Emergency antibiotics (I highly doubt you'll need these, but if you can get an MD to write you a prescription, it can be helpful in case you get bad food poisoning and you're alone)
Journal
Pens
Phone card

Personal Finance 
Passport
Photocopies of passport, credit cards, etc.
Credit/debit card
List of important IDs and numbers
Cash
Traveler's Checks
Traveler's Insurance

Things I have learned to do along the way:

1. Wrap my valuables in dirty underwear.

2. When traveling as a passenger in a vehicle and I feel unsafe, visualize the vehicle glowing with white, protective light.

3. Always appear to know where I'm going even when I don't i.e. walk confidently.

4. Trust my instincts, about people, places, and things.

           With all your life experience and preparation, you will thrive in the sunshine! 
                                 Enjoy gorgeous places, organisms, and flavors!