What is Meditation?

Meditation means 'to familiarize', 'to cultivate' or to train the mind.  What is it that we are trying to familiarize ourselves with?  The answer to that question varies widely between traditions and personal beliefs.  In the Buddhist tradition, meditation is listed amongst the triad of view, meditation and result.  The view in this case is the correct understanding of the nature of reality, and more specifically the nature of the mind.  Meditation is the process of familiarizing ourselves with the way things actually are, rather than our habitual mode of projecting qualities or characteristics onto the people, places and objects around us.  Meditation seeks to establish the practitioner within the abiding nature of the mind, in which we can be more content and peaceful in our own lives, but also be open to sharing love and compassion with those around us. 

The benefits of meditation are both short and long term.  Health sciences have documented the benefits of meditation for the management of stress, pain, hypertension, migraines, anxiety, depression and more.  The benefits of meditation in our daily life are also invaluable; benefiting parents, health care professional and business management amongst others. 

The summit of all views in the Buddhist tradition is that of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. It is the supreme view that states that it is indeed possible to attain complete and utter awakening in this very life. This ongoing weekly course will form the foundation for embarking on this path- combining learning, contemplation and meditation to understand our own true nature and that of the world around us. The course will be based on Longchen Rabjam's 'Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind' though the text is not required. Class size is small to allow for personal instruction and understanding.

Thursdays 7-8pm through December 22, then changing to monthly. See workshops page for special workshop January 7-8

A donation of $5-10 is encouraged to cover the rental space. For questions and registration please contact Greg Patenaude at info@rsl-nw.org or visit
www.rsl-nw.org

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