River Meditation with The Zen Mountain Monastery

Find a serene spot next to a river and enjoy this 30-minute meditation. This meditation practice starts with a background on Zen Buddhism and then transitions into a semi-guided meditation. The practice of meditation has mental health and physiological benefits, including reduced heart rate and blood pressure, reductions in stress hormones, and softening of muscle tissues. Practicing mindfulness outdoors may enhance these physiological and mental health benefits and provide an opportunity to connect with the natural world around us.

The meditation is led by Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, a Roshi and Head of the Mountains and Rivers Order and Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery. Shugen entered full-time residential training in 1986 after studying mathematics and receiving a degree in classical music. He received dharma transmission from John Daido Loori, Roshi in 1997. His teachings on Zen, social justice and environmental stewardship have appeared in various Buddhist journals. This meditation was delivered for the 2024 Ashokan Watershed conference, a series of nature-based experiences surrounding the theme Conservation Through Connection. To learn more about the Ashokan Watershed Conference, visit https://ashokanstreams.org/ashokan-wa....

The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) is a collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection that funds the program. The stream program works closely with local municipalities and landowners in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed to implement science-based stream projects that protect water quality and the ecological health of streams.

This video was produced by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County with funding provided by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. For more information on the AWSMP, visit www.ashokanstreams.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AWSMPUlster/, and on Instagram @ashokanstreams

Time stamps:
0:00 Introduction to Zen Buddhism
12:09 Meditation Practice
31:04 Closing Thoughts