Meditation Resources
This page offers a space for visitors to explore the concept of meditation. There are explanations and entry level meditations for those who are newer to the practice and guided meditations, retreats and recommended books for those who are hoping to establish a meditation practice or further develop an existing one.
About Meditation
The challenges of daily life often leave us feeling overwhelmed, struggling to focus and less able to be present for our friends and loved ones. It can be hard to find the mental space to switch off, relax and recharge. Even when we find time in our schedules, our busy minds make it hard for us to feel properly rested. This is where meditation comes in.
Simple meditation practice gently relaxes us into a calm mental space, where we are aware of our thoughts and are no longer carried away by them. We can then direct our attention to what matters and face challenges with a happier, lighter and more loving mind.
Some meditation, such as calm abiding, is focused on watching the breath, feeling different sensations or placing the mind on some other particular object or concept and keeping your focus there. On the other hand, analytical meditation goes over a certain topic or philosophical point using logic and reasoning to investigate it in greater depth.
How does mindfulness meditation apply to daily life? Interview with Ven. Amy Miller by Shantideva Centre
How Does One Begin a Meditation Practice Interview with Ven Amy Miller by Shantideva Centre
‘Meditation is very simple. Actually watching television, which we all do, is a bit like meditating. When you watch television, you watch what is happening on the screen, and when you meditate, you watch what is happening on the inner screen of your mind, where you can see all your good qualities, but all your inner garbage as well. That is why meditation is so simple’
– Lama Yeshe –
Retreats & Courses at Land of Joy
Please click on the button below to learn more about our meditation courses & retreats and book your place.
Please find the recordings of Ven Mary’s course that you can use for a personal guided home retreat below.
[Video & Audio Recordings]
This guided home retreat is a perfect opportunity to learn or revisit the Tibetan Buddhist path of meditation. The recordings provided offer the opportunity to listen to teachings on analytical and single-pointed meditation which incorporate posture, mental attitude and joy. Ven Mary highlights the main points help you learn and practice the main steps of the Lam Rim meditations (Steps on the Path to Enlightenment).
Click here to learn more
Other Courses
Buddhist Meditation 101 is an introductory course to Buddhist meditation. It is suitable for people encountering both meditation and Buddhism for the first time, as well as for people who have done some meditation in other traditions but would like to know more about how meditation is practiced in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It provides an overview of meditation and basic meditation techniques, including breathing meditation, mindfulness meditation, visualization meditation, and analytical meditation, in the context of the Tibetan Mahayana tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa (Gelug). It includes an explanation of what kinds of skills are developed in meditation and how to apply them in daily life. The course is taught by Ven. Connie Miller, a senior American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism known for her accessible teaching style.
Click here to learn more.
This online resource offers the chance to learn the definition and purpose of meditation, how to sit, how to set up a meditation session, different meditation techniques, and how to deal with obstacles to meditation. Materials include video recordings of teaching sessions and guided meditations plus transcripts and recommended reading.
Click here to learn more about the How to Meditate module and here to learn about the Discovering Buddhism programme
Podcasts
[To explore more of Ven Robina’s podcasts please click here]
[To explore more Wisdom Experience Podcasts please click here]
Guided Meditations
Audio Recordings from Land of Joy
Audio from Elsewhere
Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path by Ven. Thubten Chodron
The Complete Lamrim by Ven. Karin Valham
Videos
Meditation on Forgiveness with Ven Sangye Khadro (video by Sravasti Abbey)
Mind is the Source of Happiness and Suffering with Thubten Chödrön (video by Sravasti Abbey)
Compassion Burnout with Thubten Chödrön (video by Sravasti Abbey)
Morning Meditation: 9 Round Breathing Guided Meditation with 2 minute introduction with Ven Lozang Yönten
“Tong Len” Meditation (Giving and Taking) with brief introduction and Q & A at the end with Ven Lozang Yönten
Meditation: Touching Your Potential Through Poetry: Maitreya’s 9 Analogies for Buddha Nature with Ven Lozang Yönten
Books
There are many, many books written about meditation. Below is a selection to get you started but we recommend searching places like FPMT’s Foundation Store, Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive & Wisdom Experience and other sources to browse for more.
