WHAT TO EXPECT IN A CLASS
Our meditation classes are for everyone who is interested in learning how to meditate, regardless of background or beliefs. They are designed to give a broad introduction to Buddhist meditation, teachings, and practice.
Every class includes a chance to practise meditation. No prior experience, special equipment or special clothes are necessary for our onsite classes – just come as you are.
There are two ways to attend our classes: onsite or online. Due to the pandemic we offer our classes online via Zoom and we also offered classes with limited seating at Avalokiteshvara Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Guelph.
To attend the online class:
Register for the online class by clicking the button that will take you to our Eventbrite registration.
To attend the onsite class:
We are very happy to have you in Guelph. Please first review the covid-19 guidelines. If you agree to the guidelines, please send a text to 226.486.2417 telling us your name and which class you would like to attend. We will save you a seat.
- Guided Breathing Meditation Every class begins with a fifteen -minute guided breathing meditation.
Teaching The meditation is followed with a talk from Buddha’s teachings, these practical talks help us to solve our daily problems and find peace, happiness and, if we wish, a deeper purpose in our busy lives.
Second Guided Meditation The teaching is followed with a guided meditation based on that teaching for time to develop wisdom through deeper contemplation and meditation.
Question and Answer There is an opportunity to discuss the talk and meditation with others, and to ask questions. Don’t worry – there’s no expectation to talk if you don’t want to!
- Advice on Daily Practice The class finishes with practical advice on how we can put the teaching into practice in our daily life through the practice of mindfulness.
Suitable for everyone, these drop-in meditation classes are part of our General Program. These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our lives and develop inner peace. Each classes focuses on using Buddhist understanding to help us solve our daily problems, let go of negative minds and find the lasting happiness we seek. Each class includes breathing meditation, teaching and guided meditation on topic. There is also an opportunity to ask questions. Although taught as a series, each class is self-contained and can be attended individually. Please feel free to drop-in on a class-by-class basis, or enjoy the full series. These classes are suitable for both beginners and those with more experience.
The purpose of meditation is to cultivate positive states of mind, conducive to peace and well-being, and overcome negative habits of mind. If we examine our life, we can see that most of our time and energy is devoted to seeking material and emotional security. Although these things can make us happy for a short time, they are not able to provide the deep, lasting contentment that we long for. Happiness is a state of mind; therefore the real source of happiness lies in the mind, not in external situations. If our mind is peaceful, we will experience happiness, regardless of our external circumstances. But if our mind is not peaceful, we will never find happiness, no matter how successful we are in improving our external conditions. When we meditate we are making our mind peaceful. We can carry this peaceful mind into our daily life.
There is free 2 hour street parking after 6pm Monday to Fridays and all day Sundays in Guelph. There is also free parking after 6pm and on Sundays in the Wyndham St parking lot. All day parking is available on Saturdays in this lot for $2.
