Meditation training

Hey all,

First let me say it took a lot for me to create this fundraiser. I feel slightly embarrassed to ask for financial help like this, and it was hard for me to make this decision. However, my drive to move forward in my meditation training has brought me here.

Next I will explain why I meditate. For as long as I can remember, I have been an extremely anxious person. I have always felt as if there is something off inside of me, something missing. I have wrestled with existential questions such as "who am i?" and "what am I doing here on earth?", or "what is my purpose?". These questions have made me feel empty, as I have been unable to find an answer. These questions have caused me a great deal of anxiety and suffering. These questions have driven me to intense anxious and depressed periods of time. To cope with the anxiety and suffering, I turned to meditation. Through meditation I have learned to have a better understanding of who I am and what my path is. I now believe my path is to teach meditation to others. I believe my purpose is to help others alleviate anxiety, through meditation.

The specific type of meditation I am studying in is called Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). This link shows the path one must take in order to become a certified MBSR teacher http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/training/training-path.... One of the steps in this path is to go on a 10 day silent meditation retreat, which I did last summer. That retreat happened to be free. However, the next step is a 9-day practicum, which is not free. I am trying to raise $1,500 to help me pay for tuition, board (hotel), and food for the nine day trip.

Thank you in advance,

Joao Vitor