Weekly Meditation Sits
On Wednesday nights the Auckland Sphere Group have a meditation sit on at 7.30pm in Westmere, Auckland. Please bring a meditation cushion or something to sit on. Chairs are provided. At each sit we go through a different form of Metta or Mindfulness meditation, and explore the strength and support of sitting in a group.
“Metta means the embrace of the friend, as in mitta, kalyanamitta” – Lama Karma Chime Shore
These meditations are suitable for beginners to advance, and build a foundation of calm, kindness, openess and clarity in daily life. Sitting in a group allows a shared experience of these qualities, the opportunity to grow and question what Metta/Loving Kindness and Mindfulness really means and feels like within the body and its impact on situations when interacting with others. It is a wonderful feeling to rest in.
“Metta means to soften, to melt, to mix” – Lama Mark Webber
The meditations explored are tried and true, and can provide a much needed relief from stressful hectic lives, body pain, emotional suffering and confusion. They can also provide the strength and energy to explore the mysteries of life, and be the gateway to tremendous joy.
To quote from the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche – “Why do Loving Kindness practice? Because it is Bliss!”. If you are having trouble finding the time to meditate in your daily life, coming along can help strengthen your practice.
Mindfulness practice strengthens our ability to engage with our lives in a healthy and skillful manner. Mindfulness helps us to see things as they are, clearly and compassionately. Mindfulness develops and nurtures our humanity. Mindfulness Meditation practices are taught to help with grounding, concentration, focus, kindness and calm.
“The cultivation of a meaningful peace can be understood as the human enlightenment project. According to traditional Dharma, this means cultivating mindfulness, the humane in us. This is the central idea of the Dharma. The teachings here are created to serve mindfulness. For this reason, the Buddha devised reflections and exercises that are intended as universally helpful practice. Within this view, the foundations of mindfulness might be thought of as mental health. In this case, mental health is the first priority of mindfulness practice.” Lama Karma Chime Shore
If you have been meditating for ages, come and hangout with people of like minds.
The meditation sits are led by Janet Eades, Eileen Burton and Mira Riddiford (who have around a century of experience of meditation between them).
Please contact Mira or Janet on info@aucklandsphere.org or phone Mira ph. 021 548 78 for more information.
“The practice of loving-kindness is one of the excellent tools to train the mind to move in the way of joy, choosing to live each moment with an open heart. When one practices honesty – that is, accepting what is present – and develops a habit of investigating what is given freely without mental revulsion, happiness will grow.” – Cecilie Kwiat
Some of the meditations/contemplations practised:
Tonglen
Mindfulness
The Brahma Vihāras, download Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche’s be read here
Chenrezig
The Eight Worldly Concerns
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
Araham
Calm Abiding
Illuminated Body Practice
Holistic Healing Meditation
“Metta allows for resilience… the reason you do Metta is for recovery” – Lama Karma Chime Shore
Mala with Light Heart Photo by ©Amy Taylor – unphotoshopped just a natural play of light.
Auckland Sphere Group 