Usually, we find it difficult to control our mind. It seems as if our mind is like a balloon in the wind – blown here and there by external circumstances. If things go well, our mind is happy, but if they go badly, it immediately becomes unhappy.

When we do not get what we want, or we lose something that we like, we become irritated, even despondent. Such fluctuations of mood arise because we are too closely involved in the external situation.

If we train in meditation, our mind will gradually become more and more peaceful, and we will experience a purer and purer form of happiness. Eventually, we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances.

Although one of the effects of correct meditation is to relax the body and the mind, meditation itself is much more than just relaxing. Meditation is a mind that concentrates on a virtuous object, and is a mental action that is the main cause of mental peace.

There are two types of meditation – analytical meditation and placement meditation. When we use our imagination, mindfulness, and powers of reasoning to find our object of meditation, this is analytical meditation. When we find our object and hold it single-pointedly, this is placement meditation.

There are many different types of meditation object, such as patience, love, compassion, impermanence or emptiness.

When we start our meditation practice, it is useful to choose, as our first object of meditation, the sensation of the air at our nostrils as we breathe in and out (breathing meditation). This object is easy to discover, so it functions to calm our mind quickly, overcoming our distracting thoughts and preparing us for more advanced meditations.

If you've been thinking of trying meditation but do not know where to start, why not simply drop in in one of our weekly meditation classes, workshops or retreats.

See the list of upcoming events below for some examples. Each one of these is self-contained and no prior experience or preparation is required. Everyone is welcome!