Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary is a Buddhist Temple in Hervey Bay located at 399 Charlton Esplanade, Torquay, Queensland Australia

Meditation

Most people misunderstand the concept of meditation. They say they can’t meditate because they, “think too much….that their minds are too busy….too scattered”. What they don’t realise is that, “having the awareness of that busyness and scattered nature of the mind IS meditation“. The natural state of an “untamed” mind IS busy and scattered…… so this is the very reason why it is so important for us to meditate. We need to find a qualified teacher who can teach us the techniques and show us how to discipline and tame the mind. Everyone can meditate. We meditate all the time….but sadly… on the wrong things most of the time.

We need to tame this mind that is like a wild elephant constantly taking us to places we don’t want to be and causing us so much suffering. When the mind is scattered we can’t think properly. A scattered, foggy state of mind leads us to making decisions in life that are often unhelpful to our physical and psychological well being.

The mind is like this…. simply because it has been allowed to be like this for so long.  It has developed, “the habit” of being able to wander aimlessly from one thing to another.  By taking control of your mind you are making the intelligent decision of taking control of your own happiness and well being.

At the moment our well being is dependent upon everyone and everything, “out there”.  When people, places and events are pleasing to us…we are happy.  Then when people, places and events are not what we desire…we are unhappy.  Such a powerless existence… is being completely at the mercy of everything, “out there”.

If we truly desire long lasting happiness we need to get serious about taming this wild elephant mind that is the driver of our whole existence.  Every decision we make determines how positive or negative our life is…..how happy or unhappy we are is dependent upon how we think and what decisions we make…so it is logical that we get to know this thing that determines how our life will be….. If we are happy or not….It is important we become familiar with this driver of our destiny…….. our minds.

At the moment we spend much of our resources and time on understanding and keeping the body healthy and alive.  What we neglect to see is that having a healthy  fit body doesn’t  do much when the mind is unwell by being both clouded and deluded in its thinking….. causing us suffering.  We need both.  We need a happy, healthy awake mind that is in harmony with a healthy body.  One without the other is a pointless exercise.  “What is the point of having a superb body if we are miserable or unhappy in our minds?”

Meditation is the technique of clearing the mind of its negative habits or habitual thinking…..clearing the space for us to get in touch with our inner wisdom.  This enables us to develop new ways of thinking and developing better skills while dealing with the inevitable suffering in our lives.

We are creatures of habit.  We develop habits very quickly.  This is where Calm Abiding Meditation is so skilful in the way it very skilfully uses our natural habitual tendencies, in a very positive way to assist us in developing new positive habits, promoting new ways of thinking and being in our lives.

There is a smorgasbord of meditations out there.  Most are wonderful techniques to momentarily feel relaxed.  However, most don’t produce the long term effects we need to help us change our lives for the better. We need a meditation that gives us the clarity we need to make decisions that create good outcomes for us in everything we do, say and think in life.  A meditation that produces a clear mind that contributes to a consistency in the peace and calm we experience….no matter what problems we have in life.

The most impressive aspect of Calm Abiding Meditation is how we can learn to train our minds to be calm and happy….. no matter what life throws at us….Such as the inevitable physical and emotional pain we all suffer.  This is why the medical system is now recommending meditation for chronic pain and various other physical and mental ailments.  The power of the mind is beyond our comprehension until we start to meditate.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is working with science who is conducting extensive tests on Buddhist monks’ minds.  The results are astounding.

Calm Abiding Meditation has a proven record in its ability to improve health, awaken happiness and give a clear perspective on life.

The meditator can integrate a sense of calmness into everyday activities and transform negative situations into positive outcomes.

To learn to meditate you need an experienced teacher and a well defined path.

Calm Abiding is a meditation technique (sometimes known as Shamatha Meditation or Single Pointed Concentration).

It will enable the practitioner to identify the real causes of negative states of mind such as stress, anxiety, anger, depression….etc.  By identifying these negative patterns and how they manifest, you are able to transform these states of mind into more positive states such as lasting happiness, balance and a strong sense of well-being.

Meditation is not always easier in the beginning and has the reputation at The Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary as “Buddha Bootcamp” by our young students.

The thing is it’s not the meditation that is hard, it’s more the fear of seeing who we really are that scares us. This is when we need to remember that when we go down deep inside ourselves we find that we possess exactly what we desire. From there we see very clearly we don’t need anything outside of us to be happy.

“May our joint effort of daily meditation bring all beings a long life and lasting happiness."
Choeying


"A life of only a single day spent in meditation conjoined with wisdom is better than “living a hundred years unbalanced and confused”
The Dhammapada

The Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary Inc wishes to acknowledge the Butchulla People,
traditional owners of the land on which the Sanctuary is located.