What Is Meditation?
Meditation is an ancient technology that has been used for thousands of years by people wishing to deepen their spiritual understanding and grow on the spiritual path. In modern times, people have become increasingly interested in meditation as a way to promote physical and mental well-being amidst their busy daily lives.
Meditation has something for everyone – it can be used to promote health by decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression and for developing calmer, happier minds. And if we want, it can even take us to our highest potential, full enlightenment.
The definition of meditation is a mind that is single-pointedly focused on a virtuous object and whose function is to make the mind peaceful and calm.–How to Understand the Mind
By cultivating virtuous – or positive – minds – such as love, patience, compassion and wisdom – in meditation, we naturally begin to develop a light, happy mind that experiences worries, mental discomfort and anxiety less and less. Eventually, we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Right now we spend most of our time trying to create an ideal external situation, and thus we spend a great deal of energy trying to control what is happening around us. This often leaves us feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled. Meditation encourages us to look inwards as the best way to create an ideal life. Why is this?
By training in meditation, we create an inner space and clarity that enables us to control our mind regardless of the external circumstances. Gradually we develop mental equilibrium, a balanced mind that is happy all the time, rather than an unbalanced mind that oscillates between the extremes of excitement and despondency. With this type of inner strength, no situation can fluster us. We may even welcome difficult situations as challenges or opportunities for growth.
A Good Starting Point
Buddhist teachings include meditation instruction for everyone. For beginners, there are many teachings on simple meditations focused on the breath that show us how simple it is for us to control our mind in daily life.
Those interested can take their meditation practice further and begin to train in cultivating virtuous, or positive states of mind and decreasing delusions, or negative states of mind. Through systematically training in meditation in this way, we will eventually come to experience permanent inner peace, known as “liberation” or nirvana.” Then, day and night in life after life, we will experience only peace and happiness.
“When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arise from within.” How to Transform Your Life
This feeling of contentment and well-being helps us cope with the busyness and difficulties of daily life.
So much of the stress and tension we normally experience comes from our mind, and many of the problems we experience, including poor health, are caused or aggravated by this stress.
Meditation Classes & Events at Kadampa Meditation Center Madison
Kadampa Meditation Center Madison
2018 at a Glance
Balance Your Life Through Meditation | Thursdays February 1-22 7:00-8:30 PM
Stillness in a Shaken World: Developing Confidence in the Power of Our Mind: A Weekend with Kadam Lucy James | Friday, February 23- Sunday, February 25
Friday Night Lecture with Kadam Lucy: Our Power for Lasting Change | Friday, February 23 7:00-8:15 PM
Meditation Retreat with Kadam Lucy: Experiencing Our Limitless Mind in Meditation | Saturday, February 24 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Special Sunday Morning Meditation with Kadam Lucy: Staying Connected to Our Pure Potential | Sunday, February 25 10:00-11:30 AM
Free Book Talk at Barnes and Noble West: How To Solve Our Human Problems | Saturday, March 3 2-3 PM
Loving Difficult People | Thursdays March 1-29 7:00-8:30 PM (No Class Thursday, March 15)
A Heart of Loving Kindness: Healing a Hurting World: The Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Maitreya | Saturday, March 17 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Just Meditate | Saturday, March 24 10:00-10:45 AM
Friday Night Lecture: Say Goodbye to Guilt | Friday, March 30 7:00-8:15 PM
NKT Day Open House and Free Meditation | Saturday, April 7 12:00 PM- 2:00 PM
Wisdom in Modern Times: Teachings on Heart Jewel | Thursdays April 5-19 7:00-8:30 PM
Compassion Fasting Retreat | Saturday, April 14 6:30 AM-4:00 PM
Just Meditate | Saturday, April 21 10:00-10:45 AM
US Festival KMC New York | April 27-May 2
Overcoming the Inner Enemy of Distraction | Thursdays May 10-31 7:00-8:30 PM
Mindfulness Meditation Retreat | Saturday, May 12 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Friday Night Lecture: Imagine Yourself Without Worry | Friday, May 18 7:00-8:15 PM
The Power to Be Happy: Free Meditation and Talk at E.D Locke Public Library, McFarland | Wednesday, May 23 6:30-7:30 PM
Good Karma Bowl-A-Rama Fundraiser at Dream Lanes | Saturday, June 23 12:00 PM- 3:00 PM