When embarking on the spiritual path, sometimes we make the mistake of separating our “ordinary” and “spiritual” lives. This is an easy mistake to make: sitting in the lotus position and chanting “OM” certainly seems a lot more spiritual than being packed into a crowded train on the way to work! However, unless we are […]
At the Vagabond Temple, sometimes we show videos of influential spiritual teachers, to compliment our Yoga, meditation and talks. In this video, the Tibetan Buddhist nun Robina Courtin, in her typically straight-forward and clear style, teaches us how to handle our thoughts and emotions. From the Buddhist point of view, we may receive much teaching, […]
When we practice meditation, generally we bring our attention to a single object (the breath, a mantra, part of the body etc.). Having only thing to focus on only one thing may sound easy, but actually it can be extremely challenging. The mind likes to pull us in many different directions, as anybody who has […]
‘Mindfulness’ is an ancient practice extremely current at this present moment in time. With mental health conditions on the up and a declining success rate of anti-depressants, we have an increasing urgency to remedy this epidemic. In Buddhism, the intrinsic cycle of human suffering is referred to as Samsara and not one of us is […]
Ever had difficulties in a relationship? Ever had the same difficulties come up in another relationship? If you are a human being, the answer is probably “yes”, and it will probably remain “yes” if you substitute relationship with “job” or anything else. The same problems seem to repeat in our lives over and over again. […]
Tell somebody you are practising meditation and you may get a response along the lines of, “oh that’s too hard for me, I could never stop myself thinking!”. This is due to a common misconception that meditation is the process of trying not to think. It really is not the case. Firstly, stopping thoughts is […]
Meditation is a beautiful spiritual practice that can bring us many benefits, although it can be very challenging. When new to meditation, rather than experiencing peace or bliss, we may find ourselves faced with the unsettling realisation that we have very little control of our minds. Try to focus on your breath for an object […]
In modern society, many of us simply do not have the time to take a moment to turn inwards and check up on how we really feel. Pressures of work, family life, and other aspects of society can turn life into a “to do” list, where we are constantly focusing on the next task rather […]
One common misconception people have regarding Buddhism, and meditation in general, is that we are supposed to stop thinking all together. It is not surprising that many of us reach this conclusion: we learn that our thinking patterns bring us suffering: that “I will be happy when I have X”, reinforces the idea we are […]
Just imagine what an awful place the world would be if we were all happy the whole time. For a start it would be terrible for the economy: nobody would need to buy endless consumer products, distract themselves with TV and video games, or numb themselves with alcohol and medication to escape the crushing monotony of […]
