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INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM

INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION

INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM

Buddhism is a tradition of teaching and practice that helps us to unfold the inner riches of energy and receptivity, love and wisdom. It is a treasure house of guidance that enables us to explore the practical implications of daily life and learn to be more generous and ethically sensitive. For those who wish to develop ever higher levels of being and conciousness, it is the perfection of wisdom and compassion.

Buddhism sees life as being a process of constant change. Changes can occur on a number of levels - our lives can be a challenging process of evolution and development, or changes can simply affect isolated aspects of the way in which we conduct our lives. The decisive factor is always our mind. An ancient Buddhist text begins with the following words, ' Our life is shaped by the mind, we become what we think.'


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INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION

Meditation is way of becoming more aware and alive to moment to moment experience. All its effects, from simple relaxation to spiritual insight follow from this awareness. In the short term meditation is an antidote to stress, a means of living with more calm and self possesion, while at the same time gaining access to greater levels of energy and creativity. In the long term it is a tool with which we can transform ourselves fundamentally. By applying a consistent effort in sessions of brief but regular practice we will free ouselves from our limiting habits. In meditation we will learn not to react habitually to our experience, but to respond creatively to what comes up for us.

The course will include the two main meditations as practiced by the FWBO: The Mindfulness of Breathing, which unifies our scattered energies and enhances our awareness and peace of mind; and the Metta Bhavana, (the development of loving kindness), which brings about a gentle but radical transformation in our emotional experience, helping us to overcome negative feelings such as fear and dislike, and replacing them with a kind, confident and outgoing approach to life. Meditation posture, common hindrances to meditation, and some ways of working with those hindrances are taught and the exploration of the cultivation of positive factors in meditation, what to expect as your meditation deepens, and methods of maintaining balanced concentration. Supportive conditions for the regular practice of meditation are also covered.



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