~ Frequently Asked Questions ~
Can I attend the classes if I've never meditated before and am a complete beginner? YES! Most classes are introductory and suitable for beginners. People with more experience with meditation can also take the classes and receive benefit. Do I have to be a Buddhist to benefit from meditation? NO. Anyone can learn basic meditation and experience the benefits. The Kailua Shambhala Meditation Center respects all people and spiritual paths and are happy to help anyone regardless of whether they subscribe to another faith, or to none. The method of meditation taught at the center does not require a Buddhist belief system and can be of benefit to any spiritual path or simply the enhancement of one's life. Do I have to wait for the next series of classes to begin? NO. Each class is self-contained. You can attend only one class or the whole series . Come to as many classes as you wish. No previous knowledge is necessary. Is it better to attend the whole series of classes, or is it okay if I just go to a few of the classes? Attending the entire series of classes is highly beneficial because each class builds on the next. However, each class is taught in such a way that if you only attend one class, you will derive great meaning from it. Any little bit of meditation you do will help, so don't worry if you can't attend the whole series. What does it cost? With the exception of specific retreats most classes are given for free. The Kailua Shambhala Meditation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving others and is completely run by volunteers. In order to help cover our costs of operation we gratefully accept donations of whatever you are comfortable with. Our wish is to benefit everyone without exception. If you choose to donate there is a donations basket available near the entrance to the meditation room, and you can pay by cash or check. Do I need to pre-register for the general program classes ? No pre-registration is required. Do I need to pre-register for the weekend classes , retreats, empowerments, and other special events ? It is helpful to the event coordinators if you pre-register. However, you can still attend these events, even without pre-registration, unless the event specifies that pre-registration is required. How should I dress for class and what should I bring? Dress comfortably. If you wish to take notes, please bring a pen and notepad. What happens during a class? Classes vary in size depending on the course or event and take place in the meditation room which holds a maximum of about 40 people. The Teacher sits at the front of the room and will, depending on the teacher, lead us in opening chants or prayers and then either give a talk or guided meditation or both. There is always time for questions and answers. There is usually ending prayer at the end of the session dedicating any merit that was generated from the session to all beings. After everyone is invited to stay for refreshments and get to know one another.
What is meditation? Meditation is simply a method to calm your mind in order to gain clarity and perspective on your life. There are many different kinds of meditations, all serving different purposes, but the common purpose is to make our mind calm and peaceful. We do this by developing positive states of mind in meditation and integrating this experience into our daily life. You don't need an excessive amount of time or experience to start meditating. All you need is a few minutes every day to settle your mind. Once you learn the basic meditation techniques, you can use these methods for 5 minutes every day to help you improve your life. If we train our mind to become peaceful we will be happy all the time, even in the most adverse conditions. But if our mind is not peaceful, even if we have the most pleasant external conditions we will not be happy. Therefore it is important to train our mind through meditation. What is Buddhism? Buddhism is a major world religion that arose from the inspiration and teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. It is a complete way of life concerned with the wholesome development of the individual. Buddhism can be best summarized by the words of Buddha himself: Learn to do good, Cease to do harm, Control the mind, And benefit others. Buddhism teaches us how to overcome our problems and difficulties by understanding and preventing their causes. Whereas we usually look to outward circumstances for the causes of our problems, Buddha taught us to look inwards. He showed how our feelings of dissatisfaction arise from negative states of mind - primarily anger, attachment, and ignorance - and offered methods to eliminate these by developing generosity, compassion, wisdom, and other positive states of mind. Through cultivating these qualities we discover an inner state of peace and strength. The Buddha also taught not to blindly believe what he taught. He simply said to try what he suggested and see if this is true for you. Who was Buddha? The founder of Buddhism was Buddha Shakyamuni who lived and taught in India some two and a half thousand years ago. Since then millions of people around the world have followed the path he revealed. In general, 'Buddha' means 'Awakened One', someone who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and sees things as they really are. A Buddha is a person who is completelyy free from all mental obstructions. There are many people who have become Buddhas in the past, and many people will become in the future. What relevance does Buddhism have to my life? Although Buddhism first appeared in India over two and a half thousand years ago, it has a timeless and universal relevance. In a nutshell, Buddha explained that all our problems and suffering arise from confused and negative states of mind, and that all our happiness and good fortune arise from peaceful and positive states of mind. He taught methods for gradually overcoming our negative minds such as anger, jealousy and ignorance, and developing our positive minds such as love, compassion and wisdom. Through this we will come to experience peace and happiness. These methods work for anyone, in any country, in any age. Once we have gained experience of them for ourselves we can pass them on to others so they too can enjoy the same benefits. What kind of Buddhism does this center teach? The Kailua Shambhala Meditation Center is a non-sectarian center that focuses on Tibetan Buddhist teachings and Shambhala Training which is a secular form of Buddhism developed by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to create an enlightened society that incorporates many different practices from various Buddhist and contemplative traditions. . Please do not hesitate to call 808-342-6298 or email info@ksbcenter.org
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