Meditation Course in DC For Teenagers, ages 13 - 17 August 13, 2005 9:00 AM ? 4:00 PM For Children, ages 8 - 12 August 14, 2005 9:00 AM ? 4:00 PM Location: 8600 Snowden River Parkway, Suite 101 Columbia, MD 21045 Dear all, Greater DC Vipassana is organizing meditation courses for children and teenagers on 13th and 14th of August. This is a rare opportunity for your kids to learn the technique of Anapana since 4 qualified teachers including a Nepali are coming from the Vipassana Meditation Center, MA to conduct this course. We had a very successful course last year with 18 students. Anapana is the first step in the practice of Vipassana, wonderful teaching of Great son of Nepal, the Buddha. It is the observation of natural, normal respiration, a simple technique that helps develop concentration of the mind. In this technique, breath is taken as a tool of concentration of the mind. They are taught to focus their mind on the inhaling and exhaling breaths. It is easy to learn, objective and scientific. It has a profound appeal to people of all backgrounds, of every religion or no religion, from every part of the world. The aim of the course is to introduce the children to Anapana meditation. With practice, meditation students gain mastery over their impulses and actions, becoming calmer and more concentrated. They develop a better understanding of themselves and how their minds work; gaining an inner strength that helps them choose right actions over wrong ones. The course is designed in such a way that every child would have fun during the course. The course includes Anapana instructions and practice for about 15/20 minutes, crafts projects, games, story time, and much more. A simple vegetarian meal and snacks at breaks are provided. There is no fee to attend the course since Vipassana teachers and old students of Vipassana are providing the service. However, such courses run by the donation of old-meditation-students of this tradition. After completion of the course your kids may donate with their happy mind, which is not mandatory. If you are interested, please feel free to contact me by email. We may arrange to pick up and/or drop off your kids from a certain locations. I also have a video called 'The Compass' available for your kids which may encourage them to attend the course. The video is 11 minutes long and it shows the benefits children have gained though the practice of Anapana meditation. To register for this course please visit the website below, read the instructions/code of discipline and download forms: Teenagers' Meditation Course: August 13, 2005 http://www.dhara.dhamma.org/Teen/TeenIndex.html Children's Meditation Course: August 14, 2005 http://www.dhara.dhamma.org/Children/ChildrensIndex.html Completed forms should be sent by mail or fax to: Vipassana Meditation Center, Dhamma Dhara 386 Colrain-Shelburne Road Shelburne, MA 01370-9672, USA Phone (413) 625-2160 Fax [1] (413) 625-2170 Regards, Umesh Giri ugiri@yahoo.com