Winter term contemplative series begins Jan. 15

North Central College’s department of religious studies invites students, faculty and staff to attend any or all of the series of events this winter focusing on the contemplative dimension of human experience. The events take place Jan. 15 and 22 and Feb. 12 and 19.

Short presentations by practitioners from diverse traditions will be followed by contemplative exercises; participation in the exercises is entirely optional. Professors Wioleta Polinska, Perry Hamalis and Brian Hoffert regularly attend these events along with students of diverse majors.

Here’s the lineup of events:    
•    Hindu Meditation: Thursday, Jan. 15, 12:15 p.m. in Smith Hall, Old Main. Speaker: Swami Varadananda from Vedanta Society Chicago, Homer Glen, sharing views on Hinduism.
•    Mindfulness Meditation: Thursday, Jan. 22, 4 p.m. in Smith Hall and Thursday, Feb. 19, at 4 p.m. in Heininiger Auditorium, Larrance Academic Center. Speaker: Stephanie Franz from Joy Meditation sharing her views on the benefits of meditating.
•    Buddhist Meditation: Thursday, Feb. 12, 12:15 p.m. in Smith Hall. Speaker: Dorje Kelsang from the Vajrayana Kadampa Buddhist Center, sharing views on Christianity to Buddhism.

For more information contact Polinska, professor of religious studies, at wdpolinska@noctrl.edu.