Sunday Meditation Practice Classes

Geshe Nyima Dorjee (Affectionately known as Geshela), the resident Tibetan monk and scholar from Sera Jey Monastery, has been the teacher in Christchurch since 2010. With a growing number of students and visitors we are able to offer a simple way to start learning and practice meditation.

Each week a student of Geshela's will be taking the participants through the simple but profound practices of breathing focus meditation. In the first stages the method of focusing the mind on the breathe, or wind energy, helps pacify the over-active mind.

We are often preoccupied with conceptual thoughts, the need to reduce this type of mind is the purpose of introducing breathing meditation. This stage sounds simple however when first practiced participants often find their mind appears to become full of thoughts. Through regular practice on the initial stage we can start to pacify the mind and see the positive and effective results.

This technique steadies, unifies and concentrates the mind to build mental pliancy. As noted in the book written by Thupten Jinpa - A Fearless Heart, 'A recent and memorable study by two psychologists at Harvard University, Matthew A. Killingsworth and Daniel T. Gilbert, powerfully demonstrated two basic facts of our everyday mind also recognised in Buddhist psychology. Our default state of mind is that of wandering, and this mind wandering is a source of unhappiness'.

For further information please email: christchurch.dhargyey@gmail.com.

No experience is required. The classes are no charge. Donations accepted.