“All poetry and art are offerings to the Buddha.”
In this mini-class we will create space to awaken through reading (and creating) poetry. We will consider what a meditative poem is and does, and how it functions as a form of meditation. We will study the many ways a poem might be sustained, opened up, and expanded. We will listen to what the poem itself is suggesting about what it’s needs are from the reader. So our poems are full of real presences that allow us to pay attention to the essential stillness and inwardness that exists in both practice and poems. We will be reading poets from diverse experiences and backgrounds and hope you will share some of your favorites, too. We will read and discuss meditative poems and/or poetic sequences and endeavor to have a grounding in the poetics of sustained meditation, but also an understanding of how we can mindfully read (and maybe, write) poetry. This is class is suited for experienced and newer meditators and searchers who are interested in and have been touched by poetry. Each class will have periods of guided meditation, quiet reflection, reading of poetry and small and large group discussions.
This class is co-led with Angela Stubbs, InsightLA’s Digital Communications and Content Producer. She has an MA an MFA in Creative Writing and Poetry.
