Five classes will be taught over each of the two weekends, December 5–7 and December 12–14. Teachings begin at 8 pm on Friday night and continue from 10 am to noon and 3 to 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am to noon and 2 to 4 pm on Sunday. In between classes there is yoga to relax the body or guests can stroll the 100 acres of Godstow’s beautiful grounds. To register, call 938-2330. All classes are by donation and everyone is welcome to participate to whatever extent their schedule will allow.

According to the ancient books of India, China and Tibet, meditation is a powerful tool for focusing the mind in order to gain understanding of any object or situation. The techniques of meditation can be applied to business, relationships, to deepen someone’s spiritual practice of any faith, and to understand how the mind works. The deepest levels of meditation, it is said, can reveal the ultimate nature of the universe and eliminate one’s suffering.

 The Applied Meditation weekends at Godstow will answer the questions essential to becoming a successful meditator, including: Why meditate? What type of meditation should you do? What conditions should you assemble for successful meditation? What meditation objects or topics should you use? What obstacles will come up and what are the antidotes? How do you know where you are in the meditation path in order to know what to work on?

“Until you can answer these questions,” says Mr Connor, “you’re unlikely to reach the deepest levels of meditation where the sparks start to fly.”

The sources for the Applied Meditation course come from many ancient works taught on meditation including: sutras by the historic Buddha, Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Kamalashila’s Stages of Meditation, and Tsongkapa’s Greater Steps on the Path. The weekends also include ample time to put these meditation practices into use. Students are encouraged bring a meditation journal to record their experiences and insights.

Godstow Meditation Retreat Center continues to open its doors to local residents of Redding, Bethel, Danbury and the surrounding communities. Most recently, more than 600 people visited in one weekend to see rare Buddhist relics provided by the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Godstow provides practitioners an East Coast refuge for solitary retreats and intensive study weekends. Nestled on 100 acres, this country estate is the former home of Maurice Pate, the founder of UNICEF, and features rooms and accommodations for practitioners, a temple, and ample grounds on which to stroll. Call 938-2330 or visit www.world-view.org for more information.