stillness, taught weekly
Meditation classes in Midrand
We run donation-based meditation classes in Midrand that teach a practical Gnostic method, which means using stillness to observe the mind and know yourself, rather than only to relax. The first introductory lecture is free and anyone may attend.
the method
The four stages we teach
Meditation in the Gnostic tradition is taught as a sequence, and each stage makes the next one possible. You do not need to master one before you begin the next, but you will find that a class always returns to the earlier stages, because they are where most of the work happens.
Relaxation of the body
Letting go of tension muscle by muscle, so that the body stops pulling your attention back to itself. Most people discover they have been holding their shoulders and jaw for years.
Concentration
Holding attention on one thing, a sound, the breath, a single idea, and bringing it back each time it wanders. The bringing back is the exercise, not a failure of it.
Self-observation
Watching thoughts, emotions and impulses as they arise without following them, so you begin to see the mind as something you can look at rather than something you are.
Comprehension
Understanding a reaction so completely, from its root to its effect on others, that it loses its grip. This is where meditation stops being an exercise and becomes a way of changing.
a different aim
How this differs from a mindfulness app
A mindfulness app or a relaxation class is usually trying to lower your stress, and it often does. The Gnostic method will lower your stress too, but that is a side effect rather than the goal. The aim is to understand and dissolve the ego, which in this teaching does not mean vanity but the collection of automatic selves, the anger, the fear, the pride, the craving, that react before you have decided anything. Meditation is the tool for seeing them clearly enough that they lose their power.
For you the difference shows up outside the practice. Calm that comes from ten minutes with an app tends to end when the traffic starts. Calm that comes from understanding what drives your reactions tends to stay, because the thing that used to disturb you has been seen through. That is why the classes pair meditation with self-knowledge and the psychology of the ego, and why neither works well without the other.
in the room
What a class looks like
Each class has two halves. The first is a talk on one subject from the introductory course, so that the practice that follows makes sense. The second is a guided practice, usually relaxation and concentration in the early weeks, with self-observation and comprehension introduced as the group settles. A class runs for about ninety minutes.
You sit on an ordinary chair, not on the floor, so nobody needs to be flexible or young to take part. There is nothing to bring and nothing to buy. Wear whatever you are comfortable in, and if you arrive tired from work that is fine, relaxation is the first thing we do.
the practical details
Cost, venue and schedule
The introductory lectures are free. The weekly classes that follow are run on donations. Nobody is turned away for money, and there is no membership or contract, so you can stop at any time.
Classes are held at Rabie Ridge Community Hall, 437 Korhaan Cres, Rabie Ridge, on the eastern side of Midrand next to Tembisa. The group meets one evening a week, and the day and time are announced at the introductory lecture. The next lecture dates are on the Midrand course page, and if you are coming from further afield, our page on classes in Johannesburg and Pretoria explains how students travel in.
no experience needed
Who the classes are for
They suit anyone who wants to understand their own mind rather than only quieten it, whether you have meditated for years or never sat still in your life. People come from Christian, Muslim, Hindu and no religious background, and nobody is asked to change what they believe, because the practice works on attention, not on doctrine. If you are new to the teaching itself, our page on what Gnosis is is the best place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The first practice is relaxation, which is the opposite of forcing stillness. The sitting practice starts short and lengthens as you find it easier.
It shares the first steps, attention and observation, but the aim is different. Mindfulness usually aims to reduce stress. The Gnostic method aims to understand and dissolve the automatic selves that cause it, so the calm lasts outside the practice.
No. The practice works on attention, not belief. Students come from Christian, Muslim, Hindu and no religious background, and nobody is asked to change what they believe.
Nothing. You sit on an ordinary chair, there is nothing to buy, and you can wear whatever you are comfortable in.
Once a week is the rhythm the classes are built on, with a few minutes of practice at home each day. Each class builds on the last, so regular attendance is what makes it work, but you are free to stop at any time.
Come and sit with us
Come to the next free introductory lecture in Midrand, or send us a WhatsApp on +27 79 678 0991 and we will tell you the date and place.
