Meditation

The practice of meditation, has been taught for over 2,500 years and is the relaxation and awakening of the mind, body, and heart. It is the simple act of learning to be, just as we are.  Through meditation, we can realize the beauty and magic of the ordinary world without aggression or manipulation.  Thus, meditation is a core activity at the Cleveland Shambhala Meditation Center.  Through meditation, we see how the mind works, which helps us to transform the patterns that cause stress, anxiety, and depression. Ultimately, meditation opens the door to our own sanity, so that we can lead a more authentic, more compassionate life.

The teachings of Shambhala Buddhism emphasize the potential for enlightenment inherent in every situation or state of mind. Through discipline, gentleness, and a sense of humor, the meditation practitioner can let go of conflicting emotions and wake up on the spot.  This ancient practice of self-discovery is rooted in the simple but revolutionary premise that every human being has the ability to cultivate the mind’s inherent stability, clarity and strength in order to be more awake, and to develop the compassion and insight necessary to care for oneself and the world genuinely.

About Meditation Instruction

We offer introductory instruction to newcomers and follow-up instruction to other practitioners during public meditation sessions and by appointment (contact us).  See our Monthly Calendar for the next public meditation session.  As always, meditation instruction is available to anyone, free of charge.  Additionally, instruction is also recommended as part of our ongoing practice, not just for “new” meditators. Thus, you are always welcome to come in and speak to an instructor about your regular practice, and you may even ask to form a working relationship with the instructor of your choice.

Depending on a student’s interest and experience, possible meditation instruction includes:

Introducing the practice of meditation

Introductory meditation instruction presents the basic meditation techniques taught in the Shambhala community.

Clarifying the view of meditation

In our tradition, meditation instruction involves more than the communication of a technique.   It is, at heart, about the transmission of the revolutionary view that unconditional wisdom and compassion are the very ground of our being. Thus, by learning to relax more and more fully, we allow this fundamental nature to flower.

Instruction on working with obstacles to meditation

Common obstacles to meditation include disheartenment, resistance, procrastination, discursiveness, and spacing out. The Shambhala Buddhist teachings well document the obstacles and their antidotes.

Guidance on the path of practice and study

Shambhala presents many opportunities for students to deepen their practice and study.  Shambhala offers public meditation sessions, weeknight classes, weekend programs, and retreats, to name a few. With all these options, a meditation instructor helps you decide what to do next and when to do it.

Guidance on joining meditation and daily life

The workaday world is where the rubber meets the road. Getting the tools to meet life’s ups and downs with a strong and pliable mind and an open heart is another potential benefit of working with a meditation instructor.