Meditation

There are many types of meditation techniques taught by various traditions. The meditation techniques we teach consist of two simple but effective practices drawn from the Buddhist tradition. The pair complement each other and can be learned by anyone. You don't have to be a Buddhist to benefit from them!

The first is called the 'Mindfulness of Breathing', and is designed to help you calm you mind and integrate your energies. The second is called the 'Development of Loving Kindness' (traditionally known as the 'Metta Bhavana') and helps to develop a strong positive concern for your own welfare, and the welfare of others.

Meditation helps us change the way we relate to ourselves and the world. If you suffer from stress, you can learn to calm down. If you are anxious, you can learn to relax. If anger is an issue for you, you can learn to let go. If you are shy, you can develop confidence.

The main thing we learn is that we have a choice about what we think and feel. Meditation empowers us to choose. And if you are searching for the answers to deeper questions in your life, meditation can help along the way.

Testimonials from Participants

"The course was conducted in a friendly, understanding manner. It was a nice group of people, all treated equally. Problems and questions were responded to in an understanding manner."

"The course was excellent in content and length as an introduction. It was very helpful in dealing with stress, especially work related in stressful times."

"The Introductory Meditation Course is ideal for anyone interested in meditating. The course length is perfect, so won't take up too much of your personal time. It's done in a very relaxed, welcoming environment. The teachers and assistants are extremely friendly. I'd highly recommend this course to anyone."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course and found it very interesting, helpful and beneficial. I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone who has an interest in learning meditation with a view to having it in their daily lives."

Class Times

Our meditation classes are run in five-week cycles. The classes are usually on Wednesday or Thursday nights, 7.30pm to 10pm. Class numbers are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Starting Dates

The next upcoming courses will start on:

January 2012:

Wednesday 11th

Thursday 12th

February 2012:

Wednesday 15th

Thursday 16th

March 2012:

Wednesday 28th

Thursday 29th

(Click on any of the 'Book Now' buttons
to make an online booking for the course.)

Cost

€ 160 for waged, € 100 for unwaged or students. See a note on our pricing

Media

See the Irish Independent Article about our meditation courses.

Book Now!

You can book online for these courses using a laser, debit or credit card by clicking on the 'book now' link below each date above.

Alternatively, you can call the centre on (01) 817 8933 and pay by card over the phone, or you can post in a cheque to the address at the bottom of this page. If you post in a cheque, you may want to print off and use the following booking form.

You can also call into the centre during our office hours (12.30pm - 2pm and 3pm - 6pm, Monday to Friday) with cash, cheque or a card.

Yoga and Meditation Workshops

These days are suitable for all levels of yoga, as well as for those interested in meditation. They are an opportunity to reconnect with your meditation or yoga practice if it has slipped, as well as serving as a great way to try out these practices if you haven’t done them before.

The next Yoga and Meditation Days are:

Sunday 22nd January 2012, 10am - 5pm.
Led by Pavara.

Sunday 1st April 2012, 10am - 5pm.
Led by Pavara.

Each of these workshops cost € 70 waged / € 35 unwaged. Booking required.

Meditation Day Workshops

Saturday 18th February 2012, 10am - 5pm.
Led by Jnanadhara.

Sunday 15th April 2012, 10am - 5pm.

On this introductory day both the Mindfulness of Breathing and the Development of Loving Kindness meditations will be taught, as well as walking meditation. The day will be ideal as an introduction for those new to meditation, or as a refreshing day retreat for those who'd like a boost to their practice.

Cost: € 35 unwaged / € 70 waged. Each day runs 10am - 5pm. Booking required.

After the Course...

After the course, those who wish to continue their meditation practice in a supportive context in the centre have several options.

You can come along to our Mastering the Basics night, which is held on Tuesdays 7.30pm - 10pm on a drop-in basis as part of Sangha Night. Anyone who has completed a Foundation Meditation Course is welcome to attend.

We run regular weekend meditation retreats, which are very supportive and helpful for meditators. See the special events page for details.

We also run morning meditations every weekday morning. Please see the special events section for more details.

If you wish to take your meditation practice further, we run Meditation Refresher Days and Follow-On Meditation courses.

Meditation Refresher Days

We are introducing these days to cater for people who have recently completed a Foundation Course, or who have lost touch with their meditation practice. They’ll involve teaching, meditating and being with other meditators. They'll be going deeper with mindfulness and metta, walking meditation, and there’ll be plenty of space for enquiry, dialogue and questions.

Dates:

Sunday 3rd February, led by Jnanadhara.

This day will run 10am - 5pm, and cost € 50 waged or € 30 unwaged. Booking is required.

Follow-On Courses

A four week Follow-on Meditation Course will be run by Vajrashura on Thursday evenings, starting Thursday 24th November, 2011. Price is € 125 waged or € 80 uwaged. Booking is required.

Other Resources

Meditation Notes

Our meditation notes are now online! Click below to see each week.

Week 1 - Introduction
Week 2 - Setting up & Finishing
Week 3 - Metta Bhavana
Week 4 - The Ways the Mind Wanders
Week 5 - Setting up a practice at home

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, version 5.0 or later, to read these. This is available free here, but is most likely already on your computer. To save these to your computer, right click the file and choose 'Save file as...' (Internet Explorer), 'Save Link As...' (Mozilla Firefox), or 'Save Link Target As...' (Netscape).

Meditation Timers

You can download free meditation timers (in mp3 format) from the excellent Free Buddhist Audio website.

Timers for the Mindfulness of Breathing
Timers for the Metta Bhavana

Insight Timer is a meditation timer for smartphones which we can recommend. (We have no affiliation with the makers of this timer.) It's available for iPhone, Android or iPad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to bring to the meditation class?
We supply all the equipment you will need. This mainly consists of meditation blocks and chairs. It is better to wear comfortable and nonrestrictive clothing, for personal comfort. Apart from this, just give yourself plenty of time to arrive and relax, so that you can be in as rested a state of mind as possible for the class.

Will the meditation course help me to relax?
Meditation is a tool for positive change. It will help you to move from stressed, uncomfortable states of mind to more open, appreciative and calm states of mind. It will also help you to deal with situations which would normally lead to stress in a more creative and resourceful way.

I'm a complete beginner. Is it difficult to learn to meditate?
The foundation course is suitable for complete beginners who have never meditated before. Some people find it difficult, some find it easy, but all people who do it remark on its usefulness. The course aims to help you have your own regular practice at home, with enough skills to maintain your practice.

Do I have to be interested in Buddhism to do the course?
You do not have to be interested in Buddhism to do the course. Most people who attend are simply looking for a way to relax, de-stress, and reinvigorate their lives. Others learn to meditate as a means of personal development and growth. The main aim of meditation is to bring about positive change in people's lives, and this is true regardless of personal beliefs.

For those who are interested in Buddhism, though, the course is an good introduction to the Buddhist approach in working with the mind, and once the foundation course is completed other courses and retreats on Buddhism are available.

Does the course involve chanting or mantras?
There are several different types of meditation available today in the West, many involving chanting or the use of mantras. However, they are not involved in the types of meditation we teach in the classes. For instance, in the 'Mindfulness of Breathing', the object of meditation is the breath. This meditation involves sitting quietly observing the flow of the breath in and out of the body. The 'Metta Bhavana', another practice we teach, involves quietly cultivating feelings of warmth and friendless towards yourself and others.

Do I need to be able to sit cross-legged or in full-lotus posture to meditate?
On the first night of the foundation meditation course we show all participants how to sit comfortably in a posture which suits their individual bodies. This may be cross-legged, but can also include sitting in a chair or on cushions. The main thing is that you are able to sit comfortably, upright and alert.