Meditation
Meditation can be practiced by just about anyone - there are as many kinds of meditations as there are people! Some example forms of meditation we offer include:
Mettā, lovingkindess
Karunā, compassion
Sati, mindfulness
Mantra Japa, repetition of a sacred sound, phrase, or divine name
Trāṭaka, fixing the gaze steadily on a single point
Noʻonoʻo Pono Pilina ʻĀina, meditation on our relationship with our land
Noʻonoʻo Pono i ka ʻŌiwi, meditation on who you are in your bones
Mindfulness of Difficult Emotions
Re-Narrating the Past
A customized series for your group
In addition to meditation classes or meditation-integrated workshops, PCW provides consulting and research for meditation projects.
The PCW approach to meditation teaching meditation (and just about everything else :)) is trauma-informed, accessible, and adaptive. So when we meditate, we could be sitting, like the person in this picture, or laying down, in a chair, or even standing. Our eyes might be closed - or if that’s not safe, gently gazing at an unmoving point. The practitioner is always empowered to choose what’s supportive and kind in each moment.
It’s important to note that meditation is not relaxation, and it’s not always pleasant. What’s more, as with any activity, there are risks to meditation for some folx.
Many meditations have roots in spiritual philosophies, though contemporary practice is sometimes developed and offered in non-secular ways.
What next?
Read more Jo’s contemplative journey.
Listen to a sample audio of a meditation recorded for the Greater Good Science Center.
Read about types of meditations in empirical research in an article co-authored by Jo here.
