Support for your practice

Are you trying to practice meditation on your own but getting stuck or discouraged?

We can help.

At our monastery and meditation centre there are many opportunities to learn the different kinds of meditation that the Buddha taught. All of the meditation techniques taught in our classes come directly from the ancient Buddhist scriptures preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.

The ultimate goal

The ultimate goal of Buddhist meditation is happiness. Not the ordinary kind of happiness that comes from material things, but a lasting happiness that eliminates all suffering. The short-term benefits are relaxation and a calm and focused mind. The long-term benefit is putting an end to the otherwise endless cycle of birth and death.

At our meditation class

Our introduction to Buddhist meditation classes focus on two main types of meditation. The first is called loving-kindness meditation. This meditation trains our mind to have thoughts for the welfare of all living being whether they are near or far away, friendly or unfriendly, large or small, visible or invisible. By training ourselves with this kind of meditation we can slowly give up our habits of anger and resentment. It is also very useful for calming and focusing our mind. You can read the text of the guided loving-kindness instructions here.

The other type of meditation we teach in our introduction class is breathing meditation. With this we are able to bring calm and peace to the mind. With this concentrated mind we are able to see more clearly the true nature of the world.

Buddha says

The mind is so fickle and agitated. It is very difficult to protect and very challenging to guard from evil. The wise person straightens his mind as an arrow maker straightens an arrow shaft.

– Dhammapada –

Buddha says

Better it is to live one day wise and meditative than to live a hundred years without wisdom and stillness of mind.

– Dhammapada –

Benefits of Concentration

“Bhikkhus(Monks), develop concentration. A bhikkhu who is concentrated understands things as they really are.

“And what does he understand as it really is? He understands as it really is: ‘This is suffering.’ He understands as it really is: ‘This is the origin of suffering.’ He understands as it really is: ‘This is the cessation of suffering.’ He understands as it really is: ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’

“Bhikkhus, develop concentration. A bhikkhu who is concentrated understands things as they really are. ( SN 56.1)

Serenity and Insight

“These two things play a part in realization. What two? Serenity and discernment.

What is the benefit of developing serenity? The mind is developed. What is the benefit of developing the mind? Greed is given up.

What is the benefit of developing discernment? Wisdom is developed. What is the benefit of developing wisdom? Ignorance is given up. (AN2. 31)

Be aware of Obstructions

“Bhikkhus, there are these five obstructions, hindrances, encumbrances of the mind, states that weaken wisdom. What five? (1) Sensual desire is an obstruction, a hindrance, an encumbrance of the mind, a state that weakens wisdom. (2) Ill will … (3) Dullness and drowsiness … (4) Restlessness and remorse … (5) Doubt is an obstruction, a hindrance, an encumbrance of the mind, a state that weakens wisdom. These are the five obstructions, hindrances, encumbrances of the mind, states that weaken wisdom. (AN 5.51)