Given the awful events of the last week in Christchurch the need for ways to move away from escalating violence and hatred is increasingly important. The St Andrew’s Trust for the Study of Religion and Society is running a 4 week course for people to consider what would happen if Mindfulness and Meditation reached a tipping point in its impact in our society.

Is it possible that when people are more relaxed, more in the moment, less attached to their positions, beliefs and views that new, unexpected and hopeful solutions might emerge more easily?

The course is part of the 2019 programme for the St Andrews Trust for the Study of Religion and Society and its theme of stepping lightly with each other and “Mindful People Build the Future,” and follows on from the exploration of the relationship between public institutions and paths to personal wisdom which we looked at in our 2018 seminar Paradise Lost? Paradise Regained in 2018. In four Sunday evening sessions we will cover the

• The Philosophy behind meditation
• The Practice of mindfulness
• What mindfulness Practitioners can do to make a difference.
The course is a unique chance to explore through ideas, reading, meditation practice and discussion how this might:

• Build a new path at once secular yet filled with spirit and wisdom.
• Use meditation as a tool for support the challenges of working with diverse communities and view so they can work together well.

If exploring this idea through developing a meditation practice and learning about some associated ideas from ancient and modern wisdom traditions appeals to you then please register to come along. The course is taking place on four Sundays from March 24 – April 14 5.30-7.00. Places are limited and early registrations are recommended. To register and for more information see the SATRS website www.satrs.org.nz

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