About Our Classes

 

what to expect in a class

We meditate sitting on chairs to ensure that everyone is comfortable. There is no physical exercise involved. The rooms are modern, well lit and in an established community building. After welcoming everyone, the meditation Teacher generally introduces the subject of the evening, and then guides a simple relaxation meditation. This usually involves focusing on the breath and letting all your worries and troubles slip away for a while.

Then the meditation Teacher will give a short talk on a Buddhist topic which is of practical benefit to our daily life. Following this, the Teacher will lead another guided meditation, this time focusing on the meaning of the talk. After this, there is an opportunity for a break and a short informal discussion. Finally, there is a final opportunity to ask questions of the Teacher, and clarify any issues that have arisen during the discussion. After the class there is often the opportunity to talk with the Teacher, the assistant and other students directly.

People from all walks of life attend the classes - young and old, religious and non-religious. Some simply want to learn how to meditate, others want to find out more about Buddhism - the classes cater for both. Meditation classes are evening based and no pre-booking is required.

 

what is meditation?

Meditation is a method for acquainting our mind with virtue. The more familiar our mind is with virtue, the calmer and more peaceful it becomes. When our mind is peaceful we are free from worries and mental discomfort, and we experience true happiness. If we train our mind to become peaceful we will be happy all the time, even in the most adverse conditions.

 

the benefits of meditation

By meditating gradually our distracting thoughts will subside and we will experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation. Our mind will feel lucid and spacious and we will feel refreshed. When the sea is rough, sediment is churned up and the water becomes murky, but when the wind dies down the mud gradually settles and the water becomes clear. In a similar way, when the otherwise incessant flow of our distracting thoughts is calmed through concentrating on the breath, our mind becomes unusually lucid and clear.

When this turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within. This feeling of contentment and well-being helps us to cope with the busyness and difficulties of daily life. So much of the stress and tension we normally experience comes from our mind, and many of the problems we experience, including ill health, are caused or aggravated by this stress. Just by doing breathing meditation for ten or fifteen minutes each day, we will be able to reduce this stress. We will experience a calm, spacious feeling in the mind, and many of our usual problems will fall away. Difficult situations will become easier to deal with, we will naturally feel warm and well disposed towards other people, and our relationships with others will gradually improve.