Vipassana Meditation
Vipassana means to see things as they really are and experience reality 'as it is.' It was taught 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills. One of the key foundational steps to vipassana is Anaapana Sati, which is used as a tool to achieve Samadhi. “Anapaana'' refers to the incoming and outgoing breath and “Sati'' means mindfulness. Together, it means ‘Mindfulness of the Incoming and Outgoing Breath.’ This practice asks us to observe our natural, normal respiration in an attempt to get to single-pointedness, or samathi, is often translated as the "tranquility of the mind.”
Daily at 9:45 am (EST), 15 minutes
Teacher: Clemens Bauer
Clemens Bauer is a Research Scientist Affiliate @ the Gabrieli Lab at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT and Northeastern University. He uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with novel real-time functional magnetic imaging methods to give feedback in real time to aid the learning of meditation
Teacher: Zahra Kanji, G
Zahra Kanji is a long time practitioner and organizer in the Vipassana community and a prominent advocate of meditation practices and programs for the MIT community.
The Ways To Samādhi
These guided meditations activate the Spiritual Temple in oneself. Learn to recognize your inner Being to its full potential, keeping the experience depth to clear realization at the present moment. In the world of Spiritual practice, we develop these inner states to truly show us our depth potential. These classes willl also help understand what is provided by Annaymokosa and Energetic Classical Hatha Yoga.
Thursdays at 6:00 pm (EST), 30 minutes
Teacher: Colin Bragdon
After completing his education in business and photography at NYU, Colin Bragdon spent over six years studying Vedantic traditions and philosophies, kundalini and hatha yoga, Kashmir Shaivism, Theravada Buddhism, and multiform practices of meditation in Malaysia and Thailand. Upon returning to the US, he has continued his spiritual practice and started leading traditional morning meditation/energy classes in Newburyport, MA. He also launched an online platform where he leads and teaches his style of meditation and energy practices.
Energetic Classical Hatha Yoga
This is for you if you want an energetic understanding of the Chakra System as well as of the Five Bodies Practice.
The "Chakra System" teachings will allow you to transform the energy of each Chakra and bring it into alignment with your inner core.
The "Five Bodies Practice" (physical, mental, emotional, energetic and astral) will help you expand your awareness of your core inner being so that you are more fully present in your every day life.
You will develop a profound personal practice that you will customize to your own individual needs and desires.
You will begin to feel the confidence of knowing your Spiritual Self Worth, not just from pinnacle mental experiences during the guided sessions, but a layered depth that you can access even after the class is over.
Tuesdays at 6:00 pm (EST), 30 minutes
Teacher: Colin Bragdon
Colin Bragdon spent over six years studying several esoteric traditions in Malaysia and Thailand.
These include Vedanta, Vipassana, Kundalini and Hatha Yoga, Kashmir Shaivism, Theravada Buddhism, as well as other meditation practices.
Colin has developed an integrated meditation system that captures the essence of each of these traditions.
Now in the US, Colin continues evolving his personal spiritual practice and in addition teaches his unique style of meditation/energy classes. You can learn more about his in-person and Zoom offerings at his online platform cbragdon.com.
Inner Peace on Demand
These mini-meditations are for you if you want easy meditations that can dissolve anxiety and stress in 4 minutes or less.
These 10 easy to learn "Inner Peace on Demand" meditations show you how to slow down and create space to tap into the wisdom of gratitude and silence.
These practices can help you get to the heart of any distress/anxiety you might be experiencing.
You will begin to shift your nervous system out of its fight/flight/freeze response and into a calming relaxation response. In medical terms you will (aka the sympathetic nervous system) (aka allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to come on board)
Wednesdays at 4:00 pm (EST), 30 minutes
Teacher: Dr. Penny Gold
Dr. Penny Gold is a psychologist, coach and personal growth facilitator with decades of experience helping people deal with depression, anxiety, feelings of aloneness, fear, worry and more.
Penny is very active in community bringing inner peace and connection to everyone.
MIT@2:50 is a daily, ten-minute, silent mindfulness retreat. A short instruction is offered at 2:48 each day. The group then sits quietly for ten minutes until the top of the hour. MIT@2:50 has been meeting seven days a week since 12 March 2020. Everyone from around the world is invited. There are two groups that meet each day. One at 2:50pm EST in the US and Canada, and one at 2:50pm EET in Eastern European time. (GMT +2). At the time of the launch of MIT Meditation Challenge we've reflected quietly together for over 115,000 person/minutes.
Daily at 2:50 pm (EST) and 2:50 pm (EET - 7:50 am EST), 10 minutes
Teacher: Arthur Grau
Artist, communicator, and lifetime yoga and mindfulness practitioner.
I enjoy sharing health and mindfulness practices with colleagues and friends
Noon Unwind and 5 pm Unwind are 15-20 minute sessions that combine simple stretches to relax the body and brief guided meditation to reset the mind. They are offered Monday-Thursday to help develop a self-care routine. Participants must sign up through the CW website and will receive the zoom.
Daily at 12:00 pm (EST), 5:00 pm (EST), 20 minutes
Teacher: Zan Barry
Zan Barry is a mindfulness instructor and senior program manager in Community Wellness at MIT Medical.
Hare Krishna mahamantra meditation is an ancient and proven form of meditation practiced over many millennia. In Sanskrit “Man” means “Mind” and “tra” means “to deliver”. The chant is called a mantra, a vibration of sound that cleanses the mind, freeing it from anxiety and illusion. And the chanting of the mantra is open for all without any boundaries based on caste, creed, color, race, gender and nationality. ‘Maha’ in Mahamantra means the greatest chant for liberation in this era.
Wednesdays at 7:00pm (EST)
Teacher: Sadananda Dasa
Sadananda Dasa is currently the Hindu Vaishnava Chaplain at MIT. He is also an ordained monk in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, and received diksha (spiritual initiation) from Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON. He also spends considerable time of his day in spiritual practices, mantra meditation, self-study and distance-study of Vedic literatures with his seniors in ISKCON Bangalore. Since August 2016, he has been located in Boston, MA and continues to spiritually guide students, university faculty and other MIT community members. He also conducts online courses on meditation, teachings of Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam for students and young people from around the world. “Helping others to spiritually enrich their lives with wisdom, refined character, compassion and happiness is my life’s mission,” says Sadananda
30 Minutes of Calm: A guided mediation session
Wednesday, March 24th at 4:00pm (EST) - One day only
Not required for the "Earn extra 25 points by attending all live sessions at least once" points win. Since this session is offered only once, it is exempted.
Teacher: Tenzin Priyadarshi
The Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi serves as the Buddhist Chaplain to MIT and is Director of The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a center dedicated to inquiry, dialogue, and education on the ethical and humane dimensions of life.
This 30 minute session will introduce you to different elements of meditation and allow you to practice with a community of your fellow peers. We'll take a few minutes to introduce the meditation and then spend the majority of the session practicing the meditation and reflecting on the experience via a social meditation.
Thursdays at 3:00 pm (EST)
Teacher: Mindfulness Leaders
M&L is a student led initiative focused on providing MIT students with a mindfulness toolkit during their time at MIT. We believe that self-awareness development through education, resources, and regular practice is the key to creating thoughtful, innovative, and compassionate leaders.
Breathwork and Self Love
Breathwork meditation: This 15 minute session will guide you through activating your body through fire breath. Burn away anything that is holding you back, and replace it with love and positive affirmation.
Self love Meditations: The only way to serve others is to serve ourselves first. Self love meditations guide you into loving and celebrating yourself as a being. Through these mantras we rewire our brain into a loving belief pattern
Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00 am (EST), 15 minutes
Teacher: Yulia Rose Magdalene
Yuliarose Magdalene has spent nearly a decade practicing, studying and mentoring in meditation, yoga and other healing modalities. She is a certified practitioner in Taoism, Theta Healing, Integrated Energy Therapy I & II, Reiki Practitioner, and a Qi Gong Instructor. She holds workshops, retreats, & sessions all over the world. Her mission in life is to be in service to the earth & to assist in the planetary awakening to bring heaven on earth. With her authenticity, she helps those that work with her to connect to their authentic selves, to access their own higher wisdom, and to feel deeply embodied
