Meditation can transform our lives
Meditation helps us to develop mindfulness, and also positive feelings. Over time meditation can bring about a gentle but radical transformation
It is not just about learning techniques and following instructions — it is also about understanding the ‘spirit’ of meditation. It is best to get to know this through contact with an experienced teacher — someone who is in touch with that spirit.
The two traditional Buddhist meditations we teach are:
- mindfulness of breathing to develop awareness
- loving-kindness meditation for positivity
Loving-kindness meditation
Traditionally called the Metta Bhavana, this meditation practice helps us to develop a gentle transformation in our emotional life. Through wishing ourselves and others happiness and well-being, we can become more emotionally positive, kind, and compassionate
You are deeply concerned for the well-being, happiness, and prosperity of the object of your loving-kindness.
When you feel this loving-kindness you want them to be not just happy but deeply happy; you have a strong desire for their true welfare, growth and progress
Sangharakshita
Mindfulness of breathing meditation
This practice helps us become calmer, more centred and concentrated, taking the breath as the object of attention and noticing it coming and going in a relaxed, open way. Settling the attention on the breath lets our mind quieten down and awareness deepen.
The mindfulness that develops from this helps us to keep a continuous flow of attention to what is happening in each moment
Mindfulness is body and mind fully engaged in a state of clarity and positivity that saturates and colours the whole of our experience
Sangharakshita
Learn meditation
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