Berget Jelane has been practicing meditation since 1986 and will bring her extensive training and, most importatly of all, experience to the Vibhasana Yoga Conference this weekend in Santa Clara at the Convention Center. In a recent interview, Ms. Jelane reports that she’s planning to lead a 20 minute mindfulness meditation each morning of the conference, followed by questions and answers. She’s also prepared to lead metta, or loving-kindness, practice if there is interest. Ms. Jelane is very approachable and practical, so bring your queries and interest!
As for yoga, Berget says, “I found it to be a wonderful adjunct to sitting meditation. It helped to keep me limber and helped my sitting practice to be more comfortable. I am a swimmer and walker and need to stretch to keep flexible. The asanas also contributed to mindfulness/awareness of the body. I think it helps to embody the sitting practice.”
Berget Jelane is an ordained Buddhist Chaplain, a “graduate of Spirit Rock's Community Dharma Leader program and Sati Center's Chaplaincy Training,” according to her biography at dharmaweb.org. She’s studied Vipassana Meditation with Gil Fronsdale at the Insight Meditation Center since 1991 after finding her beginning in Zen practice. The practice permeates Jelane’s life and she brings it not only to her sitting groups in San Jose on Wednesday evenings and Morgan Hill on Mondays, but also to her practice as a Therapist, where she enjoys “working with adults using mindfulness and awareness practice as foundations for our work,” according to her biography on the Vipassana Therapist’s Directory.
She has worked with diverse populations including children and women in prison, and has drawn wisdom from each experience. Her approach with children is quite practical: “The little work I have done with teaching mindfulness to children, has shown me the kids are very responsive. They are attentive and like the idea of paying attention, listening to the bell and ringing it, and finding their breath. The program of mindfulness in the schools is expanding. Mindfulness is becoming a household word!
I taught mindfulness meditation at Elmwood [Correctional Facility] for several years, but I no longer do that. It was pretty challenging for many of the women. Some found it very helpful. They could learn not to be so reactive to those around them: their families, friends, the guards and fellow inmates. They learned to pay attention and not to take things so personally. It also gave them the opportunity to be quiet and focus on themselves which they were not used to doing They also valued the metta or loving kindness practice which I may do at the conference if people are interested.”
Non-reactive, attention, peace and quiet, focus on self-care and loving-kindness: that pretty well sums up what we’re all looking for, doesn’t it? For early birds this weekend, the $25 donation to Vibhasana, all proceeds of which are directed to Art of Yoga Project and Vibha, will garner you a heaping dose of peaceful, masterful meditation instruction with a practical, experienced and dedicated teacher.
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