The Coaster
Monday, January 30, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Bradley Beach

Now at the Bradley Beach Library: Zen Meditation Program

by The Coaster Editorial Staff
February 12, 2015
in Bradley Beach
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter

 

coaster-news-200-newBy DENISE HERSCHEL

The Bradley Beach Library has offered reading groups, support groups, and now it has added a Zen Meditation group.

Introduced several months ago, the weekly group has developed a following with anywhere from five to 10 individuals regularly attending.

Sharlene Edwards, assistant library director, said the idea to begin such a group was the brainchild of Bradley Beach resident and library patron Elaine Held who took her Buddhist vows about seven years ago.

“Elaine approached me about bringing her Zen Meditation group here. She agreed that it would be free and open to the public. I thought that Saturdays would be perfect because we don’t do much in terms of weekend programming. The group that runs it is happy with the arrangement because it gives them a place to gather every week,” she said.

The Monmouth Zen Circle, Compassionate Ocean Sangha meets every Saturday morning from 9:45 a.m. to noon. There is no cost but according to Held “we ask for a donation to support the sangha, or the group of people who sit Zen Meditation together, but it is not required. The donation is whatever people feel inclined to give or can give at the time.”

Held said that Zen Meditation is “an opportunity we give ourselves to sit quietly together away from the pressures of our everyday life.”

“It involves sitting with our breath, sometimes counting the breaths, coming back to the breath when we realize we are lost in our thinking and being present with this very moment; each breath as best we can, a sanctuary within which we can let go and relax. The idea is to be ourselves, to find ourselves in this very moment every changing and settling on ourselves right where we are,” she continued.

Held said that it is open to anyone, “some who sit on cushions and some in chairs.”

The Monmouth Zen Circle has been around for many years and first started in Elberon in a private home.

“Then we moved to Shrewsbury,” she said. “We finally needed to move again and found the library. They have been gracious in allowing us to use their space. Sharlene helped us and made the arrangements. For now we are very happy to be at the library and hope to continue for a long time.”

Edwards said the program has been successful.

“It has generated alot of interest and attracted individuals who have never practiced meditation,” she said. “It’s different from the programs that we usually have at the library and I think it will continue to bring a new crowd through our doors. I think it’s a win-win situation. Part of the library’s mission is to enlighten and enrich lives by providing programs and resources for free that allows people to explore new interests like Zen Meditation.”

The Zen Meditation class at the library consists of three periods of sitting meditation, each for 30 minutes. In between the three periods there are two periods of walking meditation called kinhin.

“This gives us a chance to stretch our legs and bring over stillness meditation into activity, standing and walking. After the third period, we have a short service: light a stick of incense, make three bows to the Buddha within, then we chant together three different kinds of chants, sometimes alternating them. We end the morning practice with three bows,” she said.

As for the health benefits to class participation, Held said that research supports the possibility that regular meditation “lowers blood pressure and allows us to breathe more deeply and thoroughly slowing our breath and resting our heart rate. This may diminish the negative physical and mental experience of stress as well as helping us develop new and different neural pathways in the brain, in effect making it possible to respond differently to ‘stress’ stimuli,” she said.

“In this way meditators lives seem to be more stable and relaxed reflecting a clarity and openess of mind. It takes time and effort to develop. Still, the research is promising, with regard to the positive health benefits of meditation.”

For those who are interested in beginning their new year with this ancient practice, Held said that the library group offers area residents the opportunity to explore a new interest nearby.

“When one of my teachers started Zen Meditation thirty years ago she had to go to the Bronx to find a group to sit with. Now there are many in New Jersey,” Held said

For more information contact Sharlene Edwards at the Bradley Beach library, 732-776-2995.

Related Posts

Asbury Hotel Employee Charged with $400,000 in Theft

Bradley Beach Police Blotter

January 25, 2023
Intrigue Continues Over Anonymous Requests

Shop Local Campaign to Boost Businesses in Bradley Beach

January 3, 2023
Intrigue Continues Over Anonymous Requests

Judge Orders Recount in Bradley Beach

December 6, 2022
Holiday Giving Drive Opens in Bradley Beach

Holiday Giving Drive Opens in Bradley Beach

November 2, 2022
Project Will Identify and Document  All Main Street in Bradley Beach

Project Will Identify and Document All Main Street in Bradley Beach

October 26, 2022
Intrigue Continues Over Anonymous Requests

Judge Rules Bradley Beach Violated Open Public Meetings Act

October 26, 2022

Trending This Week

Ocean Grove Ladies Auxiliary Raised $58,000 for Projects

Pilot Parking Program is Topic Of Special Meeting in Ocean Grove

January 25, 2023
Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

January 25, 2023
Stabbing Incident at Asbury Park High School

Red Bank Man Charged With Numerous ‘Upskirting’ Offenses

January 24, 2023
Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

January 25, 2023

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.