Spiritual Life at Enso Village
Spirituality is the part of our being that longs for meaning, purpose, healing, liberation, reverence, awe, or inspiration in order to access belonging in the deepest sense of the word. At Enso Village, we understand that each person accesses and expresses the spiritual dimension in their own unique way. At the same time, we celebrate how coming together in community can embolden spiritual exploration, enable the sharing of insights, and inspire the embodiment of compassion – all in service of one another. As we age and evolve (differently and yet together), we seek to create a space of mutual support where we can ask life’s “tough questions;” move through the world with awareness; and slow down to connect to ourselves, each other, and the transpersonal.
Many of our Spiritual Life events are resident-inspired and resident-led, and
therefore adapt to interests in the community. All our offerings are optional,
and include:
- Regular meditation sessions in the Zendo (both zazen sessions and sessions for more formless styles)
- Contemplative discussion groups and conversational circles on various topics
- Spiritual talks by guest teachers
- Kirtan/devotional singing and chanting
- Spiritual book clubs
- Quaker community meetings
- Weekend, 3-day, 7-day, or 10-day meditation retreats
- Introductory classes on meditation
- Mindful/silent eating
- Mindful walking
- Soto Zen Full Moon Ceremonies
- Interfaith dialogue events with local spiritual leaders
- Volunteer/service opportunities in the larger community
- Opportunities to meet with a spiritual counselor 1-on-1 for emotional, spiritual, or grief support
- Opportunities to offer compassionate companionship to residents who request it
- Opportunities to take our Mindful Community Training course, designed by Zen Caregiving Project, and open to all residents who seek to dive deeply into the art of living in community with an awareness and an open heart.
In many ways, the spiritual life of each resident and team member creates the tone for the entire community. Together, with practice, we find a way to build a Spiritual Life container that is flexible enough to celebrate the diversity of interests in the community, while strong enough to honor the vulnerability and depth of exploration we are all capable of.
Start your journey here.
Our staff is here to answer any questions or concerns you may have about life at Enso Village. Just leave your contact information and we’ll gladly reach out to help you.