Padme's Current Schedule

Meditation For Peaceful Living

The purpose of this class is to offer guidansce and support for developing a daily meditation practice. We live in a world of ever-increasing stress. Even though many people think a meditation practice would be good for them, they find it difficult to begin and maintain a practice on their own. Having the support of others, and the careful, compassionate guidance of an experienced meditation teacher can be essential in maintaining a healthy meditation practice.

Class Description:

This class was designed to offer support and guidance for anyone interested in meditation, whether you have meditated previously or not.

Each session focuses on bringing awareness to sitting, walking, listening, and talking, breathing; actually, doing what we do everyday. Different tools are shared to help strengthen our ability to focus in the moment. We practice letting blame and judgmental thoughts pass through the mind without getting caught up in them. We practice being present: forgetting, and remembering, forgetting and remembering, one moment at a time.

Each session also includes a brief talk about awareness. The talks provide an opportunity to practice open listening and, hopefully, the words also help untangle some confusion.

During group meeting time participants share questions and concerns about our lives, and practice listening and speaking with awareness.

Participants may also schedule 10-minute private meetings with Padme. These optional meetings are recommended so that any private concerns that naturally arise may be looked at in an open way. And the private meeting allows us to explore a fresh perspective together.

Biographical Notes:

Padme Nina Livingstone has spent most of her adult life as a wife, mother, and homemaker. She began her spiritual journey with Philip Kapleau at the Rochester Zen Center nearly thirty years ago, and continued to attend retreats intermittently with Toni Packer at Springwater Center. She teaches awareness meditation in the Rochester area, and has a practice in spiritual guidance out of her home in Penfield. Padme has recently published her first book, Let’s Not Call It Meditation: Practical Guidance for People Who Think They Can’t Sit Still and Quiet the Mind. Padme also writes a monthly column called Living with Awareness. She enjoys writing for her website and new blog. She also enjoys her family time, going for walks in the woods, leaf-blowing winds in the fall, and soft summer rain.

Suggested Reading:

Padme's book is particularly helpful when you want to understand her perspective about meditation and awareness in more depth. At least one book about awareness and meditation is highly recommended.

An Introduction to Meditation:

Tuesday and Wednesday evening, September 23rd and 24th
at 7:30-9:00pm*
Fee: $10

*Personal introduction to meditation by appointment. Donation.

Meditation for Peaceful Living:

Tuesday, ongoing at 10-11:30am, Tuesday, ongoing at 7:30-9pm and Wednesday, ongoing at 7:30-9pm. Beginners always welcome.

Prerequisite: an Introductory class or private meeting with Padme

Location: Padme’s home in Penfield*

Fee: $75 for 8 weeks or $10/class

Switch between classes as needed.

Attend second class in any week for $5/class.

Sitting and Speaking Mindfully
Making Connections for Stress Relief

Ongoing Monday evenings at 7:30-9pm
Location: Padme’s home in Penfield*

Practice making a connection with yourself and others and relieve stress at the same time. Learn about a skill for listening the way you want to be listened to! We all know how stressful it is trying to communicate with someone who doesn’t know how to listen. With this combined practice of listening within (sitting), and speaking mindfully to another, you learn to communicate more effectively. And then you can help relieve stressful communication with family, with co-workers, and anyone else in need of “a good listen.”

Prerequisite: any stressful relationship, ever!
Presenters: Bill and Padme Livingstone

Fee: $10

Monthly Mondays- Talks About Awareness

Titles*

• June ‘08- Turning !&*?# Into Fertilizer
• July '08 - Blessed Unrest and Longing for Peace of Mind
• August '08 – Loving Aspects of Conscious Choice
• September ‘08- Exploring Differences Between Self-Indulgence and Self-Interest

Dates: Last Monday of each month beginning January '08
Time: 7-8pm
Suggested donation: $10
Location: Natural Oasis Upstairs @ 288 Monroe Ave (near Alexander St)

*Titles subject to change without notice. An open discussion follows each talk.

Let's Not Call It Meditation

If you are curious about meditation, and haven’t yet tried it, join Padme Livingstone for this informative and experiential two-hour class. Do you lose patience with people you love? Do you get upset when other people judge you? Do you believe you are responsible for other people’s well being? For centuries meditation has been used to relieve stress in every day life. Clear up your questions or confusion about how meditation can help you be the more patient, compassionate, and honest person we yearn to be. And directly experience this loving, and simple practice for your self.

Thursday, September 4th at 7-9pm
Wednesday, September 10th at 10am -12pm
at
Webster Parks and Recreation Department, 985 Ebner Drive, Webster, NY

Registration and Fee Information:
Webster Parks and Recreation Department
985 Ebner Drive
Webster, NY
(585) 872-7100

And

Tuesday, September 16th at 7- 8:15pm
at
Free at Irondequoit Public Library
Pauline Evans Branch

Registration:
Irondequoit Public Library
Pauline Evans Branch
45 Cooper Rd.
Rochester, NY
(585) 336-6062

*Contact Padme at (585) 234-0800 for registration, directions and information