Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Brahm guides us through a relaxation exercise using humour and common sense before guiding the meditation.  After the meditation he talks of why we needn't change ourselves, but be comfortable and happy with who we are.  He uses a simile of trees in the forest being bent, often broken and damaged, but beautiful none the less.  You need not change it to think it beautiful.  So why change yourself.

The final week of a 4 week beginners meditation class with Venerable Nitho.  Venerable  expands on the ground work laid in weeks 1, 2 and 3 with the focus for the last week being Metta Meditation.

What is Metta Meditation?

Mettā (Pali) or maitrī (Sanskrit) means benevolence, loving-kindness, friendliness, amity, friendship, good will, kindness, and active interest in others. It is the first of the four sublime states (Brahmavihāras) and one of the ten pāramīs of the Theravāda school of Buddhism.

Venerable gives us real world examples of Metta Meditation to apply not only to the world and those around us, but to ourselves as well.  If we are happy, chances are that those around us will feel that and respond in kind.

Venerable Nitho expands on the ground work laid in weeks 1 and 2.  Venerable gives us real world examples of how remaining calm and composed can benefit both the meditater and those around us.  The focus this week is breath meditation with [for beginners], an added focus point.  This helps tremendously when learning to meditate.

Venerable Nitho expands on the ground work laid in week 1.  Venerable gives us real world examples of how remaining calm and composed can benefit both the meditater and those around us.  Including wildlife.

This is Week 1 of 4 beginners meditation with Venerable Nitho.

Venerable Nitho explains what meditation can help us to achieve.  Venerable uses his own life experience to help explain why he meditates and what we can achieve by practising.

Ajahn Brahm explains how meditation helps us relax by using humour and stories.  As well as
humour he tells us stories help dissolve the five hindrances or blocks to meditation which
reduce depression, anxiety and anger by developing positive emotions and gratitude.
The results are an increase in satisfaction, contentment and fulfillment.

Ajahn Brahm gave a sound introduction to meditation for the beginners that were present on Tuesday 27th, along with his customary jokes and stories.  He guided us through meditation then regaled us with a story "Old Monks Don't Lie" to guide us away from the arrow of wanting.

Ajahn Nissarano explains how meditation helps us take the first step to
world peace by developing a positive, calm state of mind. He describes how
we can dissolve the five hindrances or blocks to meditation and reduce
depression, anxiety and anger by developing positive emotions and
gratitude. The results are an increase in satisfaction, contentment and
fulfillment.

He then guides us through a very gentle, peaceful meditation flavoured with
a positive emotion to help give it a warmth and pleasantness which the mind
likes. He starts by encouraging us to prime the meditation by setting a
clear intention, and follows this with a guided relaxing body scan
associated with a warm, kind, grateful attention to the body. Finally, a
mantra of thankfulness and gratitude is used to further calm the mind in a
positive, easy flowing way.

Ajahn Cittapalo doesn't get to teach at AMG very often but when he does it is always to a full house.  Tonight was no exception.  Ajahn gave us a good grounding in beginners meditation and an often humourous talk after, then a brief Q&A.  We could easily and happily have gone over-time.

We are very fortunate to have Ajahn Cittapalo and he gives us his best.  A guided beginners meditation followed by a Q&A session.

Ajahn Cittapallo returns to us and we are lucky to have him.  A talk on meditation for beginners, a guided beginners meditation then Q&A.

We've not seen for more than a year so it's nice to see him return.  Ajahn Cittapalo is an experienced teacher so gives us an excellent explanation of meditation, a guided beginners meditation and Q&A.

Ajahn Cittapalo gives us an excellent explanation of meditation, a guided beginners meditation and Q&A.

Little did we know until his arrival that this would be the last time Bhante would teach at the Armadale Meditation Group, at least for the forseeable future.  Despite his leaving for duties elsewhere, he gave us a sound explanation of meditation and an excelent guided beginners meditation.  The Q&A included questions about where he was going and why.  A most important task and a task worthy of his stature.  He is missed by all and we await his return.

Bhante Sujato is an always welcome teacher at AMG.  He gives a good explanantion, guides us well through a beginners meditation and is always open to Q&A,

Bhante Sujato explains meditation as simply as possible then guides us through the meditation followed by a Q&A that ran us over time.  No-one was concerned and all left happy.

Bhante Jag returns for his second visit of 2016 and gives us another captivating evening.  Had it not been for the time constraints, I we suspect that we would have gladly been there for hours.

Bhante Jag visited the west from Melbourne and graced us with two visits.  He gave us an excellent explanation of meditation then a beginners meditation followed by a humourous at times Q&A.  Can't wait for him to return.

Two weeks is a long time to wait when someone as anticipated as Ajahn Nissarano is to visit.  It was worth the wait.  Excelent talk, guided beginners meditation and Q&A!!

A year has past since his last visit and it is a most welcome return of Ajahn Nissarano to AMG.  An excellent introduction, guided beginners meditation and a Q&A session to conclude.  Plus, he'll be back in two weeks, can't wait!