Meditation Classes:

Over the course of six weeks Nancy O’Hara guides small groups of students into their own personal meditation practice. With the help and encouragement of the group, students learn to pay attention to their breath, sit quietly in meditation, and listen to their inner truth. In sharing their weekly experience with each other, students learn how similar and connected they are to each other. Through guided meditations, breathing exercises, writing exercises, chanting, sharing, and silent sitting Nancy gently invites students to look at who they really are, and in so doing, to get in touch with their spiritual natures. At the end of six weeks students are able to adopt new habits and incorporate what they’ve learned into their daily lives. Their minds are quieter, their bodies are less stressed, and they are off on new and spiritually rewarding paths.

 

Workshops:

Once a month for three hours spiritual seekers come together to experience the benefits of dynamic group meditation. Nancy O’Hara guides people through the peaceful and relaxing afternoon with:

• breathing exercises, which calm the mind and center the heart
  
• writing exercises, which bring clarity to the emotional and mental confusion that sometimes overwhelms us
• verbal sharing, which helps us to hear our own truth and that of others, and to learn that we all struggle with the same issues
• guided meditations, which help us to focus our minds and hone our concentration.

Everyone leaves refreshed, with a renewed commitment to serenity of mind, and with some tools in hand to help navigate daily life.

Weekend Retreats:

 

At Dai Bosatsu Zendo, a Zen Buddhist Monastery tucked away in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, Nancy O’Hara leads students on weekend retreats. Along with the traditional ritual of the monastery, which includes chanting services, zazen, and silent meals with the monks and residents, students participate in Quiet Corner workshops in the more relaxed atmosphere of the large guesthouse on the edge of Beecher Lake.

 

The workshops introduce beginners to the practice of meditation and mindfulness in everyday life. For those already on this path, the workshops are an opportunity to deepen one’s practice and just listen. Reading out loud, writing exercises, sharing, listening exercises, and guided meditations are all part of the workshop agenda. The weekend also includes yoga classes, guided hikes, a Q&A session with one of the monks, monastery orientation, and some free time to absorb the beauty of this magic mountain.