Meditation is the basis of all Buddhist practice and the contemplation of the mind, body thoughts and feelings that is the path to freedom. In Theravada Buddhist countries the word Bhavana is used to describe the meditative life. Bhavana means "cultivation" which means that formal sitting meditation is just one aspect of a broader practice called Sati or mindfulness.

The practice of mindfulness is about the development of attentive awareness, of paying attention to the mind itself through contemplation of all the phenomena that arise within the body and mind.

Two main types of meditation are taught and practised. Samatha meditation is used to relax the mind and body and Samadhi is a range of practices designed to allow the mind to focus and stabilise around an object. The main method taught is Anapanasati which is mindfulness of in and out breathing. Each session also includes another meditation technique called Metta Bhavana which is often translated as "The cultivation of loving-kindness".

Courses in 2012

Buddhist Meditation

Every Friday at 19:00 - 20:00 at Scotland's Buddhist Vihara.

MBSR Courses for 2012

The courses will be running on the following dates:

Group 1

(Monday Evening from 19:00 - 21:00).

Orientation Session: Mon 30 January, 19:00 - 20:00.

Eight-Week Course: Mon 06 February - 26 March, 19:00 - 21:00.

A day retreat on Sat 10 March, 10:00 - 15:00.

Group 2

(Wednesday Morning from 09:30 - 11:30).

Orientation Session: Wed 01 February, 10:00 - 11:00.

Eight-Week Course: Wed 08 February - 28 March, 09:30 - 11:30.

A day retreat on Sat 24 March, 10:00 - 15:00.

Group 3

(Thursday Evening from 19:00 - 21:00).

Orientation Session: Thurs 02 February, 19:00 - 20:00.

Eight-Week Course: Thurs 09 February - 29 March, 19:00 - 21:00.

A day retreat on Sat 17 March, 10:00 - 15:00.

Practise Group

Every Tuesday Evening from 19:00 - 20:00.

Starting from Tues 31 January.

Please read the information below and if you feel this course would be of benefit to you, please contact Chloe (Tel: 0741 543 3964 or Email: chloehomewood@live.co.uk) specifying which of the dates above you would be available.

What Is MBSR?

MBSR is an eight-week secular (non-religious) programme devised by Jon Kabat-Zinn's Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre which has been internationally approved by the medical community.

Its popularity and effectiveness has recently led to the Mental Health Foundation in the UK launching a campaign to increase access to and awareness of, mindfulness-based course (www.bemindful.co.uk).

Anyone who wishes to learn to take better care of themselves and is prepared to engage in the maintenance of their health and general well-being will benefit from engaging in an MBSR course.

Research has shown, however, that MBSR courses are of particular help to people suffering from stress, anxiety, panic states, depression, hypertension, insomnia, chronic illness and pain. More specifically the evidence base has also revealed it to be particularly effective in the following conditions: fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, cancer and health-care-provider self-care.

MBSR courses can help us develop greater awareness of the way the mind works, and learn how to cultivate new and effective ways of handling challenging feelings and physical sensations.

Often when we feel anxious or depressed. It is because we have been "swept away" by our thoughts and are either thinking about the past or worrying about the future. We may also have got into the habit of attempting to "fix" our problems by avoiding difficult feelings and clinging to pleasant sensations, which often increases the feelings of stress and anxiety rather than alleviating them.

By practicing mindfulness meditation techniques, and learning to live in the present we can learn to override this "autopilot" which often leads our mind away from the here-and-now, and replace these habitual thought patterns with the ability to direct our thoughts appropriately and respond to any difficulties and challenges we may be experiencing with choice, awareness and insight.

Each course consists of an orientation session, eight-weekly two hour sessions and a days retreat. You will also receive a CD and course booklet to guide you in your practice at home, which is an integral part of the course.

By practicing in the sessions and at home, you will gradually learn, through various meditation techniques and discussions to integrate mindfulness practice into your every day life. By the end of the course you will have learnt to:

1. Let go of negative thought patterns.
2. Stay in touch with the present moment.
3. Become a better listener.
4. Develop more positive and helpful responses to stress, depression, anxiety and physical discomfort.
5. Distinguish subjective thoughts from objective facts.
6. Incorporate simple meditation techniques into your daily routines, which through regular practice will help you to change your outlook and transform your lives for the better.

Holy Isle Retreat "A Mindful Journey"

Date: May 11th, 2012 - May 13th, 2012
Venue: Holy Isle

This weekend retreat is suitable for both beginners and more experienced mediators and teaches a fusion of traditional Buddhist practice, modern western approaches and health care and education as promoted in the MBSR programme at the university of Massachusetts medical centre. Aspects of this course have been designed to allow teachers in particular to learn ways of developing mindful skills as an aid to managing stress.

For more information about the retreat please click here.