About Meditation

More and more people are finding that regular meditation helps them to not only reduce stress and cope more effectively with life, but also to become wiser and more caring individuals.

As our mind becomes more positive, our actions become more meaningful and our overall experience of life becomes more satisfying and beneficial to others.

We don't need a lot of time or experience to start meditating. All we need is a few minutes everyday to settle our mind.

Why do people meditate?

If we examine our life, we discover that most of our time and energy is devoted to finding happiness outside of our mind. For example, seeking material and emotional security from things and other people, enjoying sensory pleasures, or establishing a good reputation.

Although these things can make us happy for a short time, they are not able to give us the deep and lasting contentment that we long for. Sooner or later, our happiness turns into dissatisfaction and we find ourselves engaged in the pursuit of more worldly pleasures. Directly or indirectly, worldly pleasures cause us mental and physical suffering by stimulating attachment, jealousy and frustration.

If true fulfillment cannot be found in worldly pleasures, then where can it be found? Happiness is a state of mind, therefore the real source of happiness lies in the mind, not in external circumstances. If our mind is pure and peaceful, we will be happy, regardless of our external conditions. However, if it is unpeaceful, we will never find happiness, no matter how much we try to change our external conditions.

The purpose of meditation is to cultivate states of mind that are conducive to peace and well-being and to diminish and eventually remove those that are not.

Anyone can learn how to meditate!

Most meditation that is taught and practiced today derives from the Buddhist tradition. Those that are taught at our Centers are all Buddhist meditations, but you do not need to be a Buddhist to practice them or to derive benefit from them.

Buddhism is a non-evangelical religion, philosophy and way of life which encourages its followers not to rely on blind faith, but to check the truth of the teachings for themselves and to see if they resonate with their experience.

Guided meditations

Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced meditator, we think you will find a meditation class that suits you on this site. These classes, guided by an experienced teacher, are a great way to learn to meditate, to improve our meditation practice, or to learn new techniques.

Benefits of meditation

These are now well-documented in various mainstream studies, and include:

• increased positive states of mind
• reduced stress, fear and anxiety
• contentment and well-being
• improved concentration
• better relationships
• greater physical health and energy
• no adverse side-effects!

You are always welcome at any of our classes, so feel free to come along and discover these benefits for yourself. Use the links on the left to find the location nearest you.