Welcome to our fifty third online suggested practise for the week. We are now broadcasting a live teaching each Monday evening. If you would like to participate please contact us using the contact form on the homepage.
1.0) If you feel so inclined, begin by reciting the usual prayers (please follow below links for text). Alternatively, try to think or articulate a wish for all beings to achieve liberation from suffering, etc .
Four Thoughts: contemplating each in turn – https://northantsbuddhists.com/the-four-thoughts/
Refuge Prayer: twice in Tibetan, once in English – https://northantsbuddhists.com/the-refuge-prayer/
2.0) An extract from The Light of Asia – by Sir Edwin Arnold – Presented by Susanne Swanwick
“Book the Eighth” page 146 – 153 – An extract from The Light of Asia – by Sir Edwin Arnold.
——0——
2.0) Calm Abiding Meditation – Presented by Steve Reynolds
Samatha (Pali), Shamatha (Sanskrit), Shine (Tibetan pronounced shi neh) and Calm Abiding all refer to one of the two most often mentioned Buddhist meditations. The other is Vipassana. Usually, Shamatha is practised first, then Vipassana for insight. Sometimes they are done alongside each other or Vipassana is practised first.
Once the body is relaxed and settled, to minimise distractions, Shamatha is practised to calm and focus the mind. The focus can be on any object, typically an image of the Buddha, or a mantra. The most common object to focus on is the breath, with many different approaches. Each one simply brings the attention back to the object of meditation every time it becomes distracted.
—–0——