Meditation Mondays

The delicate ping of a silver, bowl-shaped bell announced the beginning of a time of mindfulness and meditation. Soft cushions were arranged in a semi-circle on the floor. A small scented candle burned in a green glass vessel.

Grahame Ward is the leader of this small group that has been meeting at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Auburn on Monday nights. The readings and practices are based on the philosophy of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk.

“I first learned of him when I was in Australia,” said Ward, who was born there, but now lives in Marcellus. “There weren't any meditation groups close by, so my wife and I decided to start one up. We were part of a similar group in Washington, D.C.”