What is Meditation?
Buddhist meditation can help us to become calmer, kinder and, ultimately, wiser.
We teach two main meditation practices. The first is called ‘The Mindfulness of Breathing’ which is a simple and direct way of developing awareness and calm; the other is called ‘The Metta Bhavana’ and allows us to cultivate emotional warmth, kindness and friendliness towards ourselves and others. Both practices are simple in their form but far reaching in their effects. We also teach ‘Just Sitting’ meditation, an unstructured practice which complements formal meditation.
Meditation is a method of self-transformation placing us at the point from which we can creatively shape our own destiny.
We run regular newcomers’ courses which introduce both meditation and Buddhism. We also run day retreats and weekend retreats to suit both newcomers and those more experienced. For current information please see our Events Calendar, subscribe to our newsletter at the foot of this page or email: enquiries@leedsbuddhistcentre.org
Meditation Practices
As the name suggests, this is a practice focusing on the breath and the sensations of the breath within the body. As we meditate our focus is shifted into ever more subtle sensations of the breath.
This meditation allows us to accept, and let go of, the busyness in our heads and regular practice can help to develop mindfulness and awareness – both of which can lead us to a richer and more peaceful experience of life.
Metta is an ancient Indian word that is often translated as loving kindness or friendly awareness. Within this practice we aim to cultivate feelings of metta to ourselves and the people around us. Sometimes this is people that we know well and have strong postive feelings for. Sometimes it is for people that we know less well or maybe people that we have never met but share the world with.
In common with the Mindfulness of Breathing practice, the Metta Bhavna dates back to the Buddha, some 2,500 years ago
This is an unstructured practice of awareness and mindfulness. It is practiced as a meditation in it’s own right or as a stage within the other meditation practice. The meditator just sits and allows whatever is happening to emerge.
There are no formal classes to teach this meditation within Leeds Triratna however it is taught within the context of the Mindfulness of Breathing or Metta Bhavana practices as a supportive practice.
