Guidelines to facilitate still meditation

Version 1.1, November 2019  – Samma Karuna

Author: Ishi

Last modifed: 28th of February 2023

Audience: Samma Karuna Facilitators of A&H program.

Abstract: This document describes the set of guidelines established by the school to facilitate still meditations in the mornings at 7:15am.

Recordings

There are 4 different recordings available. One for every week.

These recordings are available for download at:

Week 1: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1qf8aE5y4u4_W8KeWME9cg6V4m0_gjSTj

Week 2: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1NKUw0i-rQVYSJ9h82-fyeIzB2t_9Wzqv

Week 3: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cipMnLMX1NPBtyV0i0rscAjuVx95G3Bm

Week 4: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uvv-t4sbmoazsrJ9dDrENRWCH2PBcTJC

These recording should be played according to the week of the course you are.

This is:

Week 1 track during Grounding week

Week 2 track during catharsis Week

Week 3 during balancing week

Week 4 during celebration week.

Note: In the case a YTTC course joins the group, you may start again on Week 1. Independently on which week the course is playing. YTTC students have priority on the recordings to be played. Once the group is gone, continue playing the track according to the week of the Awakening & Healing program where you are.

General Guidelines:

• Remember you are not coming to the class to meditate yourself by to set the energy of meditation in the hall. You should be alert on any issues on the hall at all times.
• Be aware of the volume of the music, it should be just enough for the students to listen clearly but no too loud to disturb the neighbors.
  
• Start and finish always strictly on-time
  
• Celling fans should be on during meditation to help avoid mosquitos on the hall
  
• Ensure students come on silence to the hall and remain on silence

• Any other activity than still meditation is strictly not welcome during class. This includes but is not limited to:
  
  • Reading, Walking or performing any other meditation that the one instructed during class.
    
• Whenever possible to choose the location of the students in the hall arrange student in a way that the best meditators are at the front of the class.
  • This will bring a better energy on the group as less experienced meditators will be facing towards more experienced meditators.
    
    

Dealing with issues:

• Be aware of any possible dogs inside the hall, its your responsibility to take dogs outside the hall in the most quite manner.
  
  
• If a student lays down during class:
  • Kindly touch on his shoulder and ask him if he feels alright
  • If he feels not well, remain him that this is a sitting meditation practice, if he feels sick he should go to the restaurant to rest or to his room.
  • If he feels well, remain him this is a sitting meditation practice and it is not allowed to lay down.

Ensure the student either comes back to a sitting position or leaves the hall.

• During the times of YTTC students joining class every student will have an assigned place based on a meditation maps that is posted at the YTTC board.
  • You must report any missing student to the YTTC coordinator and ensure the coordinator talks to the student and address the reason for missing class.
  • If necessary, you should request a meeting with the student to support him on his determination to come to meditate every day.
  • YTTC students that are not able to come every day to meditate may not be certified as Yoga Teachers.

• During the first week of YTTC you may inform students that during that week you may pass by some of them and suggest changes on their sitting posture to help them to get to a correct sitting position.
  • Then during class you may touch on the shoulder of the students that you identify with strong issues on sitting posture and suggest changes.

As a general guideline:

• From the waist down the body should be firm, structured and grounded.
  • From the waist up the body should be relaxed, open and sensitive.

• If you find a group is unmotivated you may play the following track after about 20 minutes the meditation started:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1P2Cb_LdKZ2ogTdnaT-IuSMB76kbDVMG4

This is a track from Osho talking about the benefits of Vipassana. Play this track for about 20 to 25 minutes only.

• If there is a persistent loud noise during class you are responsible to address this situation and take all the necessary actions to stop it. It’s on our highest concern that all student have the best environment possible for meditation and this is your responsibility as facilitator.