The result of that meeting was the formation of Heights Meditation, a non-profit group of meditators spanning many age groups and backgrounds. We currently meet daily, often for a half hour in the morning before the work day begins. Please take a look below at our meeting schedule and meeting locales. We hope you can join us soon!
The result of that meeting was the formation of Heights Meditation, a non-profit group of meditators spanning many age groups and backgrounds. We currently meet daily, often for a half hour in the morning before the work day begins. Please take a look below at our meeting schedule and meeting locales. We hope you can join us soon!
Much of what we learn in life creates stress and resentment, fear and craving. These are states of being in which all sense of being rooted in the body is lost and the self lives in a kind of obsessive mind trap. In this state, the past typically afflicts us with regret and the future fills us with fear.
Meditation counters this entrapment (“I can’t stop thinking about it and it’s making me sick!”) by teaching its practitioners to find within themselves a readily accessible peace. Many people practice meditation alone, maybe at home or even on the subway. Some of us have found that meditation really only gains traction in our lives when practiced at least occasionally with others who are similarly-minded. Group practice anchors the technique in our lives in a way that individual practice cannot.
Through our weekly practice at Heights Meditation, then, we seek to teach our minds to be more calm, more clear, more open, and less fearful.
Everyone is welcome to join us at Heights Meditation, even if you have never practiced meditation before.
Meeting Times
Saturday mornings, 8:30 - 9:30 AM. “Beginners and Others” meditation. (Our Savior's Atonement Lutheran Church)
Sunday evenings, 7:00 - 8:00 PM. “Chant + Meditation = Focus and Peace.” (Our Savior's Atonement Lutheran Church)
Monday mornings, 7:00 - 7:35 AM . "Practicing the Technique." (Our Savior's Atonement Lutheran Church)
Tuesday mornings, 7:00 - 7:35 AM . "Practicing the Technique." (Our Savior's Atonement Lutheran Church)
Wednesday mornings, 5:30 – 6:00 AM ("The Lounge" at Hudson View Gardens, corner of West 183rd Street & Pinehurst Avenue. Please go down the driveway. The second door on the right reads "The Lounge.")
Wednesday mornings, 7:00 - 7:35 AM . "Practicing the Technique." (Our Savior's Atonement Lutheran Church)
Thursday mornings, 7:00 - 7:35 AM . "Practicing the Technique." (Our Savior's Atonement Lutheran Church)
Friday mornings, 7:00 - 7:35 AM . "Practicing the Technique." (Our Savior's Atonement Lutheran Church)
There is no charge for meditating at Heights Meditation. However, for meetings held at Our Savior’s Atonement Lutheran Church, we ask participants to contribute a minimum of $2 per meeting to help cover room rental costs (currently $25.50/hour). If you can contribute more, please do so because your contribution helps us grow the practice in our neighborhood. If you cannot make a contribution, no problem—we still want to welcome you into our midst.
Meeting Format
All meetings begin with the turning off of cell phones and other noise-emitting devices. The meeting moderator helps everyone get comfortable and into a meditative position and mental attitude.
We sit quietly and meditate for 20-25 minutes. You can sit on the floor if you want, or use a chair in the room to sit on. During silent meditation we are practicing peace, serenity, and clarity as a conscious corrective to much of the rest of our lives. If you find calming your thoughts to be difficult for any length of time, you are like the rest of humanity. Most new meditators have difficulty calming the ruminative processes of the busy human mind. Through practice, however, peace and stability can be won.
The Sunday evening has a slightly different format: it begins with some chanting ("spiritual singalong") which is both fun and very focusing. After the chant, we go directly into 20-25 minutes of silent meditation.
Participants are requested to leave all food at home. Water for discreet use can be brought in a travel mug.
We are a friendly and open-hearted group. Please come visit us if meditation seems attractive or necessary to you in your life right now. There really is no better time than the present to start in on mediation. Please know that we will support you in your practice even as you, by your presence, support us in ours!
Please contact us at heightsmeditation@gmail.com if you have any questions about our meetings.
You can also visit us at our Meetup.com website ("Heights Meditation - Washington Heights NYC") for ongoing and continually updated information Heights Meditation meetings and to see the profiles of the many other dozens of meditators in our area who belong to our group.
Our Savior's Atonement
Lutheran Church
178 Bennett Avenue - south entrance
(@ 189th st)
view map
"The Lounge" at Hudson View Gardens
Corner of west 183rd Street & Pinehurst Avenue
Please go down the driveway, second door on the right reads "The Lounge."
view map
Questions or comments:
heightsmeditation@gmail.com