Musings on Meditation

Meditation is not something that’s on every Lafayette student’s schedule. 

Thanks to meditation teacher and practicing Buddhist Janemarie Duh (who also works in ITS), students can learn to make it a daily ritual. 

Duh has been hosting sessions that not only teach the art of meditation, but also help develop existing meditation skills.

“No previous meditation experience is necessary. Anyone can learn to meditate,” Duh said. “During the first session I gave detailed instructions but I am giving abbreviating instructions during subsequent sessions for those who are new.” 

It is a great way to give your chaotic day a breather. 

“Though I have studied world religions and wellness practices, I have never seriously meditated before,” Tatiana Logan ‘13 said. She attended her first meditation class Tuesday with Duh. 

“I could already feel my mind progressing in its meditative practice after one class. Focusing inward on your breath becomes easier and easier,” Logan continued. “I didn’t even notice that 15 minutes had already passed when the gong rang.” 

Meditation classes take place in Hogg Hall from 12:30 to 1 p.m., and hopefully will expand from a 30-minute period to a 45-minute period. 

“[The class] was a very peaceful, cleansing and unique way to spend my lunch hour,” Rose Bayer ‘14 said. 

More importantly, part of the Lafayette experience is to become familiar with worldly/unfamiliar practices and this provides a great gateway for students to jump right in and begin to learn. 

Logan related meditation class to a Buddhism course she took. “[The mediation class] is an excellent way to actually experience the practices [learned in the Buddhism class],” Logan said. “I felt it lacked certain applicability as we were never able to explore the traditions of meditation ourselves.” 

There are two more sessions left in the semester.