In 1993 Tricycle created Change Your Mind Day, an afternoon of free meditation instruction,
as a way of introducing the general public to Buddhist thought and
practice. Tricycle decided to hold the teachings out of doors, as in
the time of the Buddha, in the hopes of welcoming people who otherwise
might shy away from the formality of a zendo or gompa. We booked a hill
in Central Park and put up fliers around town.
A few hundred
people showed up for the first Change Your Mind Day, a pleasant mix of
newcomers and seasoned practitioners. Seven Buddhist teachers from
different lineages gave instruction. Allen Ginsberg and Philip Glass
performed “Do the Meditation Rock.” Maggie Newman got the crowd up on
their feet to do twenty minutes of tai-ch’i. A lone shakuhachi ended
the day as the sun began to set behind the trees.
Change Your Mind Day has since grown into a worldwide event.
Some gatherings are large, attracting thousands of people, while others
may consist of just a handful sitting together and reading guided
meditations from a variety of Buddhist traditions (see the Change Your Mind Day Meditation Kit).
But whether attended by many or few, the event is always powerful,
connecting thousands of silent sitters around the globe. Please contact
Tricycle for more information.
