| Meditation |
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Consciously or unconsciously we are all seeking the peace of mind that meditation brings. All of us have our own ways of finding this peace, our own meditative habits- sitting in the garden watching the butterflies, diving in the big blue sea, oblivious to the passing of time. For when our attention is fully engaged, the mind becomes silent; when we succeed in restricting our thoughts to one object, the incessant internal chattering stops. Indeed the contentment we feel when our minds are absorbed often comes less from the activity itself than from the fact that, in concentrating, our worries or problems are forgotten. But these activities can only bring us a short interlude of peace for as long as they absorb our interest. Once the mind is distracted, it returns to its normal routine of aimless wandering - wasting its energy on thoughts of the past or dreams of the future, continually sidestepping the matter at hand. To find a more lasting contentment, you need to train the mind in meditation. Meditation is the practice by which there is constant observation of the mind. It means focusing the mind on one point, stilling the mind in order to perceive the self. By stopping the waves of thoughts you come to understand your true nature and discover the wisdom and tranquility that lie within. We finish the daily classes with a short mantra meditation session, a simple yet effect way to discover the many benefits of meditation. During the 4 day course we develop this practice to strengthen the realization that meditation can offer the solutions to many of our problems. |