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QI GONG FOR MEDITATION
with Bhikkhuni Santussika
Thurs. May 24th and Thrs. May 30th
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Overview
Qi Gong for meditation, this time taught by our visiting Bhikkhuni (Buddhist nun), Bhikkhuni Santussika (see calendar for other events with her).
Anyone can do Qi Gong – it is like a gentle form of Yoga, but done standing up.
- 6:30 gather at the Rojana Center (refreshments served)
- 7:00-8:00 Qi Gong
- 8:00-8:30 mindfulness meditation
There’s no need to book in advance. Conducted in English. You do not need previous experience to join.
Qi Gong…
… is a spiritual practice as well as an excellent support for health and healing. In these two sessions, we will focus on using Qi Gong as an aid for meditation.
Each Qi Gong movement has 3 components:
- use of the posture/movement,
- the breath
- and the mind.
As we practice the gentle flows together, we will explore how this form relates to sitting meditation practice and mindfulness throughout the day.
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What is Qigong? Qigong is an art of conscious embodiment that honors and nourishes the energy aspect of our being. “Qi” means energy and “gong” means skill; qigong teaches us how to know our own energy through direct experience of the body and mind in the flow of the present moment. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, qigong uses the meridian system as a map to guide us through gentle stretches and repetitive movements that support the immune system, energize the organs and connect to nature. Qigong perfectly complements formal sitting meditation practice and has a long and well-established history connected to contemplative traditions. It is, actually, a complete meditation practice in itself. |
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Bhikkhuni Santussika Bhikkhuni Santussika was born in the United States, near Chicago. She moved to California in 1987 after finishing a master’s degree in computer science at Indiana University. She worked as a software designer and engineer for 15 years, during which time her search for deeper meaning and greater happiness brought her to train as a minister. During the four-year interfaith seminary program which led to a Master of Divinity degree, awarded in 2002, she also began visiting Buddhist monasteries in America and Asia, and learning from master teachers, particularly in Thailand. In America, she spent as much time as she could at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, looking to Ajahn Passano has her teacher. In Thailand, she spent time at the monasteries where her son was living as a Bhikkhu: Wat Pah Nanachat, Wat Marp Jan, Wat Boonyawad and Wat Pa Baan Taad. She ordained as an eight-precept nun in 2005 and trained at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries in England, and at Aloka Vihara in San Francisco. She ordained as a samaneri (ten-precept nun) in 2010 and received full ordination as a bhikkhuni in 2012 at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles. Currently, she lives and teaches at Karuna Buddhist Vihara in Millbrae, California (www.KarunaBV.org).
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Getting there:
Please follow the map. It is VERY precise. It is easy to find: there are only one or two turns depending on which direction you are coming from. It is an 11 minute walk from Asoke BTS and even closer to Sukhumvit MRT
Go down Sukhumvit 23 to the first four way intersection. Turn right, and then turn right again at the end of the road.
Or just ask the motorcycles inside Sukhumvit 23 – they know the way.
Or if you need more definite pointers:
A few tips:
- Don’t ask locals or taxi drivers the way – they will not know the Rojana Centre, and will send you somewhere else instead. They will all know Sukhumvit 23, so go there and find your own way.
- Follow the map – plenty of landmarks are shown and it it extremely precise!
- In Thai the centre is known as Rojanatam
- Quite a few other foreigners will be heading there at the same time.
Here is the Google Map link, if you prefer this method
Here are the GPS coordinates if you prefer : 13.739356, 100.564748