“Keep sitting - keep smiling”

Mindfulness for Recovery

Recovery Sitting Group : Leader Instructions

FIFTH PRECEPT SANGHA (pronounced san-ga) MEETING FORMAT

(Adapted from ‘How to start a 12-step sangha meeting’ (by Darren Littlejohn) http://the12stepbuddhist.com)

Day & Time: Every Wednesday @ 7pm

Location: Friends Meeting House : NEWBURY

Fifth Precept Group

‘Sit & Share’ Meditation Meeting 

Presenter, please follow this format closely. Everything that you say is in italics.

7:00 - Read the opening aloud.

Welcome to the Wednesday evening ‘sit & share’ meditation meeting of the Fifth Precept Group.

This meeting is open to people with any addiction and to any individuals choosing abstinence from intoxicants as their preferred lifestyle.

For the privacy of our members, we announce ourselves by our first name only, without disclosing our particular addiction, if any.

In the spirit of this intention, I shall introduce myself as  _______ (please don’t use an addiction identifier) and wish you all a good evening!

This group is open to people of all backgrounds, and respectful of all recovery paths. The group promotes total-abstinence, mindfulness and meditation; and is grounded in the Buddhist principles of non-harming, compassion and interdependence. However, it is important to acknowledge that you do not have to be a Buddhist to adopt or to adapt any of the principles discussed, and meditation practices explored.

If you need to leave the meeting, please feel free to silently leave at any time. 

If you have any questions, there will be a Q&A period with tea after the closing dedication.

Tonight’s meeting will begin with 5 minutes of breathing meditation. This will be followed any group announcements. There will then be a short reading of tonight’s topic after which we will sit silently to contemplate and investigate the topic for about 10-minutes after which you will be invited to ‘share’ on the topic, as it relates to your recovery or abstinence. If you wish to share at that time, please make tonight’s presenter aware.

As tonight’s presenter I will share last.

Please join me now for 5-minutes of breathing meditation to calm and focus the mind.

7:05 - Ring the bell (x1) to begin the 5-minute meditation.

For those who are new to meditation, here are some guidelines:

• Sit with your back straight, feet on the floor, eyes gently shut.
• Breathe naturally.
• Notice where the air enters your nose.
• Put your attention there.
• Count your breaths up to four and backwards down to one.
• If you lose your place, start back at one.

7:10 - Ring the bell (x3) to end the 5-minute meditation.

7:10 - Host/group announcements, if any.

Read the prepared meeting topic, and then read this aloud:

Now we’ll meditate silently on the topic for about 10 minutes.

Ring the bell (x1) to begin the 10-minute topic meditation.

Here are some guidelines:

• Sit with your back straight, feet on the floor, eyes gently shut.
• Breathe naturally.
• From a place of non-judgmental calmness, reflect on the topic.
• Be gentle with yourself.
• If you get lost, just practice breathing meditation again to become calm and focused. It really isn’t a problem.
• Befriend your practice - befriend yourself.

[OPTIONAL : After a minute or two, it may be appropriate and helpful to ‘drop’ one line from tonight’s topic into the mediation].

7:25 - Ring the bell (x3) to end the 10-minute meditation. Read the topic again, without commenting. Then read the following aloud:

As tonight’s presenter I will share last, after reflecting on everyone’s input. You are now invited to share for a few minutes about your experience with the meditation on this topic, or it pertains to your recovery and/or your abstinence.  Would anyone like to start?

7:55 - The presenter shares.

8:00 - Close topic discussion and announce 30-minute silent [or guided] meditation:

There will now be a 30-minute silent [or guided] meditation.

8:00 - Ring the bell (x1) to begin the 30-minute silent [or guided] meditation.

8:30 - Ring the bell (x3) to end the 30-minute meditation.

8:30 - Lead the group in the dedication of merit.

Please join me:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering addicts.

May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.

May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.

Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

 

[08:30 - 9:00 Tea, Q&A and discussion, if requested.]

Adapted from ‘How to start a 12-step sangha meeting’ (by Darren Littlejohn http://the12stepbuddhist.com)

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