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Quiet is not something heard very often in a world of rumbling traffic and 24-hour news networks. But the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bangor will be saturated with silence on Saturday. Stillwater Sangha, a Buddhist meditation group, is holding a day of mindfulness on Feb. 21 open to the public.
“It’s really an opportunity for people to experience peace and community,” said University of Maine professor Tina Passman, a member of Stillwater Sangha. “The purpose of mindfulness is to slow everything down.”
The day will begin at 9 a.m. and will include a vegetarian lunch and talks by members of the Buddhist community, mostly focusing on meditation.
An important point behind the meditation is to realize the connection one has with the earth, according to Passman.
“[Mediation helps us] be mindful and aware that we’re on the earth, and reminds us to hold the earth as a sacred joy to encounter,” Passman said.
Another member of the group, Karen Tolstrup, said the day would be of great value to students willing to attend.
“There is an incredible amount of dialogue going on in our minds,” Tolstrup said. “When you’re a student, anything that helps you focus your mind and helps it not be so scattered is a good thing.”
Those who attend will take a vow of silence until 4 p.m. Even lunch will be eaten without conversation.
“We’re going to have a mindful lunch,” Tolstrup said. “We’ll eat silently, pay attention to what we’re eating, and actually notice things.”
Two main types of meditation will be practiced at the event, which are sitting and walking, Passman said.
“Sitting meditation allows you to go very deeply inside yourself,” Passman said. “People can sit in the sanctuary, on pews or cushions and meditate. During walking meditation, you concentrate on your steps kissing the earth.”
Walking meditation is a way to be mindful of one’s contact with the earth, according to Passman.
Theodate Lawlor, a member who helped organize the event, said the most important aspect of the day will be meditating with other people.
“The biggest thing is the experience of practicing mindfulness in a group,” Lawlor said. “Each person’s experience is what will help them grow in their spiritual path.”
Although words will not pass between people who attend, Lawlor said there is a powerful connection made between the participants.
“People will be able to feel the joy of silence and a connectiveness you can feel without talking,” Lawlor said.
The Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 120 Park St. in Bangor. There is no charge to attend the event, but donations are welcomed.
