Modern American life seems to grow more stressful everyday. Terms such as “road rage” and “anger management” have become common in the English lexicon. People who have become all-too-familiar with these terms might find solace in a number of local meditation centers.
Meditation entails far more than simply sitting quietly on a yoga mat in hopes of reducing stress. The practice is part of a specific spiritual lifestyle, with meditation acting as an essential component in a larger understanding of mind, body and life.
The Eugene Zendo, at 2190 Garfield St., is a Soto Zen Buddhist temple offering zazen (or sitting) meditation classes, lectures, services and weekend retreats.
Resident priest Ejo McMullen said there are many benefits to Buddhist meditation. Increased clarity, calmness and a peaceful sense about life are positive side effects but not the organization’s central aim.
“Our main focus is in putting ourselves in the presence of the divine truth very directly and allowing our life to align with it,” McMullen said.
McMullen adds that for many participants, regular Soto Zen meditation
can result in an important spiritual transformation.
The Eugene Zendo offers regular weekday services at 5:30 a.m. and larger services at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday. McMullen said these evening sessions have the largest turnout — as many as 20 participants at any given time.

Michael H. Wilson, who describes himself as a humble practitioner at the Nyen-Gyud Samten Choe-Ling Tibetan Meditation Center, works to spread the word about the power of meditation and Buddhism.
“I’ve really become dedicated to the practice over the past two years,” Wilson said. “By that, I mean, really establishing a daily routine of meditation and prayer, then working to establish this center — making it the focus of my life, essentially.”
The center, which operates out of Wilson’s home, focuses on what he calls calm-abiding meditation, offering practical techniques for integrating spirituality in everyday life.
Wilson said he believes atmosphere is vital in successful meditation and Buddhist practice.
“Environment sets the tone for inspiration,” Wilson said. “It’s our belief that the deities that surround us here, with all their symbolism and meaning, are endowed with energy and the ability to bestow blessings, grant wishes and prayers.”
Sessions at the center are led by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Tenzin Gurmey La, offering a thorough introduction to meditation and practice of compassion.
Finally, the local chapter of the Oregon Ki Society offers guidance in coordinating the mind and body to improve the quality of daily life. Using Ki, or living power, principles, this nonprofit organization provides traditional Japanese dojo training. Instructor Zorba Frankel said meditation is the key to bridging the gap between mental and physical power.
“We use the analogy of an iceberg,” Frankel said. “The part of the iceberg that is above the surface is what’s tangible, our usual ability. What’s below is much bigger, all the resources we fail to utilize. What we work at doing here is erasing the line between.”
The meditation practices of the Oregon Ki Society are put into further application in the center’s Aikido lessons. However, Frankel stresses that Aikido is not about attacking or fighting opponents. Rather, Aikido is the culmination of total mind and body coordination. The object of the martial art is not to collide with opponents but lead them. In fact, Aikido means the way to harmony with Ki.
“Meditation is the core of Aikido training,” Frankel said. “The exercises work better for it, and once we coordinate mind and body, we find we’re capable of greater abilities.”