Meditation
Chenrezig visualisation
Our main focus as a group is to get together for regular meditation practice. Group practice provides inspiration and a supportive fellowship to help maintain our personal practice.
There are two main categories of meditation in Buddhism: Shamatha (also called calm abiding or tranquility meditation) and Vipassana (insight meditation).
Shamatha is the foundation of spiritual training - a basic sitting meditation that develops stable attention and provides the basis for investigating more subtle aspects of awareness. It helps to free the mind from disturbing emotions and unnecessary conceptual thinking to produce greater inner peace, harmony and balance.
The active cultivation of compassion and loving kindness is the essential companion to this meditation practice. These two elements form the basis for the path in both formal practice and in the situations of daily life.
Along with these essential practices, Rigdrol Yeshe Buddhist Institute teaches Vajrayana Buddhist methods as passed down in the Tibetan tradition. These practices provide a means to relate directly to the innate purity of the mind and the qualities that manifest from this primordial purity, utilizing visualization, recitation of mantra and other techniques.
Shamatha (Calm Abiding) Meditation
We hold a weekly session of pure Shamatha meditation. This practice usually begins with a few minutes of instruction, suitable for beginners and a useful reminder for the experienced.
Chenrezig Meditation
Following the example set by His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche in Western centres, our main meditation practice is the Chenrezig practice. Chenrezig practice involves prayer, recitation, visualisation, and silent meditation. Chenrezig is the Tibetan name for the Bodhisattva of Compassion, known as Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit.
Chenrezig meditation practice involves both Shamatha and Vipashana meditation. It is an efficient method of working towards enlightenment and well suited to our circumstances in the modern world.
Anyone can do this practice without becoming a Buddhist or obtaining special permission. When the opportunity arises, however, a practitioner should ideally receive the formal transmission of the practice from a qualified teacher.
A person joining us for Chenrezig practice is encouraged to participate at their own pace as it takes a little time to become familiar with the practice. The benefits of meditation are profound, but they are only realised with patience. Introductory information is available and you will have opportunity to receive answers to your questions.
Ngondro Practice
With approval and appropriate instruction, committed practitioners may choose to do Ngondro (special foundational) practice, the pre-requisite for further training in Mahamudra meditation.
Further Information
For more introductory information about meditation:
- Overview of meditation and its benefits
- Two types of meditation (video)
- More detailed Buddhist perspective on meditation
- Article in the NZ Listener describing some of the health benefits of meditation