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Meditation Group

“Encounter is a two way process that is inward as well as outward. We are strangers to ourselves and meditation is the best way to make friends with that hidden aspect of ourselves.”

– Prof. John White, who first requested Rev. Sato to teach meditation at Three Wheels

Sitting in Meditation

Meditation Classes take place every Monday evening from 19:30 to 20:30 and are open to anyone who is interested.

 

At the classes, you will receive instruction in how to find the most helpful meditation posture and how to develop inner peace and stillness. This helps to create a good foundation on which to receive the core Shin Buddhist practice of deep listening to the Buddha Dharma.

 

Sessions are rooted in the Zen practice of sitting meditation (zazen) but individuals are welcome to sit in ways that are comfortable and familiar to them. Please wear loose trousers, as tight clothes and skirts are not practical.

“Meditation is a very important part of my life. By meditating, I have been able to develop a sense of stability in uncertain times. It was not an easy practice to begin, but now that I know what it has done for me, I cannot imagine a life without it.”

– a Dharma friend

Common Questions

The aim is to sit in such a way that you are comfortable enough to hold the posture for an extended period of time, without being so comfortable that you could become sleepy or lethargic. We can provide instruction when you come to the temple, but the traditional posture is to sit on a special cushion called a zafu (which Three Wheels can provide for you) with legs crossed and one foot on the opposite thigh. This is usually called “half lotus” in English. However, many people are not comfortable to stay in this posture for more than a few minutes, so you may wish to sit in a way that is more comfortable for you.

We have a small number of kneeling benches, which can reduce pressure on the hips, and you are also very welcome to sit on a chair, although if possible you should try to sit on the front of the chair and not lean on the back so that you maintain alertness. The most important thing is not to force yourself into a way of sitting that is so uncomfortable that it impairs your ability to benefit from the meditation. 

There are lots of approaches to meditate. However, we recommend that you simply watch your breaths arise and fall and count them up from one to ten. When you get to ten, go back to one and start again. If your mind wanders (and it will!), simply and without frustration, bring it back to the breath and proceed counting from one again.  

Of course, if you need to make an adjustment, please do. The aim is to try move as little as possible, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. It is important that you are not too uncomfortable.  

Everyone experiences this, especially when beginning a meditation practice. However, despite the fact that you might feel like you are “not meditating”, you are in fact, because you are gaining a huge benefit in becoming aware of how active your thoughts are and how little control you have over them. This is a valuable insight that many people don’t usually become aware of away from meditation. With regular practice, your mind will settle and thoughts will become less intrusive.  

You do not need to be a Buddhist to join our meditation group – everyone is welcome, including people of other religious faiths and those without any religious affiliation. If you wish to practice your own form of meditation within the group, that is also welcome as long as it doesn’t disturb other participants by being either noisy or involving movements. The meditation group starts and ends with a very brief five-minute Buddhist service involving chanting, which you may just listen to and use as an opportunity to get into the right frame of mind for the meditation.  

Joining a group for meditation has several benefits. Firstly, if you make a commitment to join a group regularly, then at least on those days, you are more likely to meditate rather than finding reasons to put it off for another day. Joining a group also has the benefit that you can meet other like-minded people and share what you have learnt, which can help to grow your practice. Finally, within a group, people tend to make more effort to sit quietly in a proper posture for the full duration of the meditation. 

No. Meditation is a regular event that is open to the public. While notification beforehand is considerate, it is not necessary. What is important is that you show up.

Fragrant Light
No. 95

The Head Priest said, “We are imperfect beings. When we convince ourselves that ‘we are right,’ that is the very point where we lose our motivation to listen deeply.”