Written By: Deena Habib
February 21st: 6PM-8PM (every 3rd Thursday of the month)
It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of life in Karachi. We’re pulled in every direction, perpetually absorbing the chaotic energy of the traffic, the noise and the human masses. Many of us experience high levels of anxiety and depression as a result. Very few of us know how to cope. Thankfully, the mindfulness movement has emerged in our society, and it’s giving people a way to find peace amidst chaos.
On a bustling Karachi evening of January 17, in an alleyway off Sunset Boulevard, The Second Floor (T2F) launched the ‘Be. Contemplation Time’ series, hosted by Nurulain Mansur. This was in partnership with ‘Be.’, a local social enterprise using mindfulness education to cultivate well-being and resilience. The goal of these sessions is to offer a space to explore mindfulness, build a community, and openly discuss mental health concerns.
This first session explored ‘The mindfulness Phenomenon’ and featured a panel of four of Karachi’s most experienced mindfulness teachers: Shahbano Lodi, Maheen Mohammad, Mohsin Kazi, and Dr. Shehnaz Tapal. They used their personal journeys to bring about an honest and profound introduction to mindfulness.
Mindfulness empowers you to free yourself from negative thought patterns: to accept yourself and your life as it is, and live in the here and now. Establishing a regular mindfulness practice also allows you to be more comfortable with uncertainty and take more risks. Participants in the first session engaged in group meditations and shared their experiences, stories, and questions. With the expert panel, they were able to experience the power of meditation first-hand.
The ‘Be Contemplation Time’ series is a wonderful opportunity to connect to yourself and gain tools to find peace in your daily life. The mindfulness community is growing, and you can be a part of it!
The sessions are free and open to the public every third Thursday of the month, from 6pm-8pm at T2F’s Faraar gallery. The next will take place on February 21st. Be sure to check out more consciousness raising events at the Faraar gallery, including their monthly drum circle meditation among many others.
