Free Beginner’s Meditation Class at all our venues
Week Commencing Monday 14th February.
Visit the individual class pages to the right for more details.
Weekly Classes and Meditations
In this modern world we all lead very busy, stressful lives and never seem to have the time to truly relax. Our mind is always full to the brim with all the things that we need to do, racing from one situation or object to the next. No matter what we do we never seem to find any calm or peace.
It doesn't seem to matter where we go, what we do, how much money we have or haven't got, we never seem to find the happiness and contentment we want.
Buddha teaches that this is because we are looking in the wrong place!
Happiness is a state of mind. Therefore we need to look at our own mind in order to find the peace and happiness we are all searching for.
So it is with our problems and suffering. They too are states of mind. These states of mind are caused by delusions, negative states of mind such as anger, attachment, jealousy etc. If we can identify and remove these negative states of mind by replacing them with positive states all our problems will naturally cease.
How does meditation help?
Meditation is a mind that focuses on a virtuous, positive object and is the main cause to experience inner peace and happiness.
Through meditation we can learn to identify the suffering and difficulties within our own mind and remove them by changing our inner experience and understanding.
In a meditation there must always be an object upon which to focus. Only then can there be any real change in our mind. In our classes you can learn to meditate on such beneficial objects as love, compassion and patience.
What happens at our classes?
All our evening classes start at 7.30pm, our after work class starts at 5.30pm and our daytime class starts at 11.00am.
All classes start with our first meditation which calms and settles our mind. Then after a short talk there will be a second meditation followed by tea and biscuits. There will always be an opportunity to ask questions.
These talks are very practical and use analogies from our ordinary, everyday life.
What to do next
Come to a class and find out for yourself how much meditation can help you.
We hold classes across North Cumbria:
| Carlisle – City Centre (after work class) | - Thursdays |
| Carlisle – Stanwix | - Mondays |
| Carlisle – Upperby (daytime class) | - Wednesdays |
| Carlisle – Upperby (evening class) | - Tuesdays |
| Cockermouth | - Thursdays |
| Keswick | - Mondays |
| Penrith | - Wednesdays |
| Whitehaven | - Mondays |
All our classes teach the same topic, so if you can't make one venue one week then you can always go to another. Each one is a drop-in class and stands-alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a Budhist to attend
No. Our weekly classes are for everyone. We try to make them understandable so that everyone can learn methods they can use in their daily life.
Do I need to sit on the floor?
No. We try to provide an environment everyone can feel comfortable in so we normally sit on chairs. However, if you would like to sit on the floor it is generally possible. Please bring your own cushion.
What if I can't make every class?
Each class is self-contained. We try to make sure that each weeks topic can be listened to and understood on its own. However we have divided the terms into 4 week courses which can be booked, either on-line or on the night. See the individual venues for details.
What if I want to come along half way through the term?
You can turn up at anytime during the term.
What if I can't afford £5.50 every week?
We do offer concessions for those who find £5.50 a week impossible. You can also book each 4 week block for £20. We are a registered charity and fees do cover running costs only, however we wish everyone to be able to access the talks.
What if I have been attending a while and wish to deepen my understanding?
The Foundation Programme (FP) offers a deeper study of Buddhist texts. For more information click here.