Beginners

An Introduction to Zen, November 4, 2018

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Photo: Shundo David Haye

Sunday, November 4, 1 pm – 4 pm

Find out how to use the teachings of Zen Buddhism to transform your life. During this introductory afternoon, you will:

  • Learn some simple techniques to help settle your mind
  • Find a sitting posture to maintain a quiet steadiness while you meditate
  • Design a meditation space to support a regular practice
  • Discover the path that can lead to an easing of anxiety and depression
  • Explore the practical aspects of the 11th step (for those in recovery)

We recommend loose comfortable clothing. The suggested donation is £10, but please donate whatever you can afford.

Settling the body and the breath cultivates a settled state of mind. Sitting in a balanced posture creates a quiet steadiness that can, with training, become our default state, a way to meet whatever happens with upright and calm awareness. When we regularly meditate in a space that is free from distraction and interruption, we can begin to discover a deeper level of stillness that stretches outwards from our limited self-absorbed world view. The preoccupations of our daily lives take up less space for a while as we give our active cognitive brains a rest and take the backwards step that turns the light inward.

Workshop: Essentials of Zazen

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Saturday, September 8, 1:30 pm—4:30 pm, suggested donation £25

Led by Ryushin Paul Haller
In this workshop we will discuss and practise how to establish the essentials of zazen – awareness of posture, breath and mental/emotional activity. There will be a detailed instruction on how to sit upright in a balanced and relaxed way, how to cultivate awareness of breath and how to sustain awareness in the midst of mental and emotional activity.