Sliding Scale $99-$149-$199

(All Materials Included)

4 Weeks - 1.5hrs per class (First session is 2hrs)

COURSE DATES:

Fall 2025 Course Dates/Times

Saturday Oct 4th 10:30 am - 12:30

Saturday Oct 11th 10:30 am - 12:00

Saturday Oct 25th 10:30 am - 12:00

Saturday Nov 1st 10:30 am - 12:30

Sangha New Bedford - 693 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Free street parking on weekends!!

Sangha Unlimited Members Receive 10% off Workshops - Use Code MEMBER10 @ Checkout!

Text Book: Lessons in Meditation by Nayaswami Jyotish

Weekly summary emails with session recordings

Individual guidance between group sessions

Weekly virtual meditation

On-going weekly meditation groups

Week 1: Introduction to Meditation

Meditation is both an activity and a state of being. It is an activity because we are practicing certain techniques that help us to relax and concentrate, and it is a state of being because those techniques directly effect our consciousness (in a positive way). In the first week students will discover the essence of meditation and how to apply foundational techniques in order to establish a meaningful daily practice.

Week 2: Relaxation & Concentration

Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tension cause a great deal of inner restlessness which leads to greater stress. Relaxation and concentration are natural methods for relieving tension and directing our attention in a positive direction. In the second week students will learn techniques for how to relax at will and restore their attention to a single point of focus. This class will introduce the foundational practice of this course “Hong-Sau”.

Week 3: Expansion & Devotion

True meditation really begins after we let go of the practice of any technique. The techniques are what “get us there” and the expansion aspect of meditation is the “being there” part. Engaging the energy of the heart (devotion) helps us to become more deeply absorbed into the inner awareness created in meditation. In the third week students will dive deeper into inner stillness.

Week 4: Meditation & Daily Life

The easiest way to measure the benefits of meditation in your life is how it effects your interactions with people & circumstances. When we relax inwardly and expand our awareness through meditation it allows us to respond more thoughtfully to the various circumstances in our life. The more that we can expand our own inner sense of peace, the less our happiness is conditioned by the world around us. This final week of the course will focus on preparing students to nourish a dedicated meditation practice for the years to come.

Ananda Meditation is a system of meditation techniques/philosophy that were presented by Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic “Autobiography of a Yogi” , in the early 1920’s. This Great Yogi was the first spiritual teacher to come to the United States and stay for a period of 32 years. His mission in the U.S and around the world was to show the underlying unity of “Original Christianity & Hinduism” and truly all of the worlds great religions. Yogananda said that India’s greatest gift to the world was the liberating technique of “Hong-Sau”, which is the heart of the meditation practice we will be sharing. In addition to this technique, He also shared ways to prepare the body, mind, and heart to meditate more deeply.

Ananda was started by his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda in the 1960’s and is dedicated to living & sharing Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings. Today there are communities all around the world who share the spiritual ideals of Paramhansa Yogananda. If you would like to learn more about Ananda or Yogananda, please visit www.ananda.org

David & Shannon serve at a local Ananda Church in North Kingstown, RI. For details visit www.anandarhodeisland.org