Cape town Meditation Centre

Today, the teaching monk emphasized the importance of meditation and encouraged everyone to practice it daily until it becomes a habit. He used a helpful metaphor, comparing meditation to collecting drops of water in a glass. Each time we meditate, we add a drop of comfort and calmness to our minds.

Over time, these drops accumulate, and our minds gradually fill with relaxation, like a glass filling up with water. This sense of peace can stay with us throughout the day, whether our eyes are open or closed.

However, the monk also reminded us to be mindful not to "break the glass" before it is full. This means being careful not to lose our temper, get into arguments, or become angry with others, as these negative emotions can disrupt the calm we are building through meditation.

In essence, meditation is a practice that, when done regularly, can fill our minds with tranquility. By committing to meditate every day and managing our emotions, we can gradually cultivate a lasting sense of inner peace.��

Meditation Experience from people in Cape Town

Today, the Cape Town Meditation Centre is hosting meditation classes to honor Luang Por Dhammajayo on the anniversary of his ordination.

Many people are finding inner peace and happiness through meditation and are inspired to make it a part of their daily routine. It's wonderful to see such a positive impact on everyone's lives!

Meditation, like watering a plant, requires time and patience to see results. Unlike instant gratification, the happiness it brings lasts longer once you’ve learned how to do it.

In the first few days, you might not notice any significant changes or benefits. However, if you stay committed and continue to meditate daily, regardless of your initial experience, you will gradually find inner peace.

It’s important to meditate with a calm mind and without expectations. Just like nurturing a tree—watering the seed and letting it bathe in sunlight—you may not see it grow dramatically overnight, but each day it grows a little, maybe 1mm or 2mm.

Over time, it will bear fruit for you to enjoy. Meditation is much the same. If you don’t give up and practice every day, eventually, you will experience the deep happiness it can bring.

Be an Observer, Not the Director

When we meditate, it's natural for thoughts to pop up in our minds. At first, this can seem distracting, but it's important to accept that this is part of the process. Once we embrace this, our minds become more comfortable, and we release the need to be serious or stressed when thoughts arise.

Meditation is not about forcing the mind to be still or trying to control our thoughts. Instead, it's about allowing the mind and body to relax. When we do this, our minds will gradually become still on their own. This stillness isn’t something we need to create; it will emerge naturally, leading us to a state of inner peace.

During meditation, the key is to simply observe your thoughts without judgment or effort. Let them come and go, viewing them with a relaxed and comfortable attitude. There’s no need to direct your mind to stop thinking, to think in a certain way, or to chase thoughts away. Just let everything be as it is, and in time, you’ll reach a deep, true happiness within yourself.

Today, a teaching monk reminded everyone about the principles of meditation: relaxation and focus. When meditating, it’s essential to have both, as lacking one can lead to uncomfortable feelings.

If we lack focus, our minds will wander, thinking about many things, worrying about the future, or regretting the past. This prevents our minds from truly resting. On the other hand, if we lack relaxation, we may feel stressed, experience headaches, and perceive time as passing slowly.

Therefore, when meditating, if you encounter unpleasant feelings, don’t hesitate to restart. It’s better to move slowly forward than to move backward.

Practicing meditation correctly will soon lead you to inner peace.

Yesterday, the teaching monk reminded everyone about consistency as a way to improve the meditation experience. He then invites everyone to join a meditation program to practice meditation every day to reward themselves with happiness.

Today, the Thai community and local residents in Cape Town gathered at the meditation center for an alms round ceremony. The event began with everyone chanting a mantra together. Following this, the monks shared their knowledge, and the group meditated collectively.

The teaching monk explained the meaning of the mantra, emphasizing the importance of avoiding two extreme ideologies: indulging in all pleasures and torturing oneself. Instead, he advised following the middle way, which leads to inner peace and true happiness. Achieving this tranquility fills one with happiness and fulfillment, bringing wisdom that can free a person from all suffering.

Finally, the monk walked in line to receive food and necessities that the laypeople had prepared to offer. Afterward, everyone helped clean the room and enjoyed lunch together.

🌟 Invite everyone to join 🌟
Buddhist Lent Alms-Giving ceremony

🌐 Sunday, 21 July 2024
🎖 At Cape Town Meditation Centre 🎖
107 Blaauwberg Rd,Table View, Cape Town, Western Cape, SA

🎀Schedule🎀
10.00 AM. Together at the center.
10:10 AM. Chanting "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta".
10:30 AM. Monk share knowledge.
11:00 AM. Meditation Session.
11:30 AM. Foods offering ceremony.
11.50 AM. Alms-Giving ceremony.
12:10 PM. End of ceremony, Have lunch.

*Things to offer to monks: Rice, instant noodles, canned food, drinking water, laundry detergent, consumer goods, etc.

❇️Information❇️
Monk Prem: (+27)76-523-9576
Monk Sun: (+27)72-013-2149

❇️Donation❇️
Bank Name: First National Bank (FNB)
Account Holder: BUDDHIST TEMPLE OF CAPE TOWN NPC
Account Number: 63045411103
Account Type: BUSINESS ACCOUNT (Current)
Branch Code: 250655

Don't Try So Hard

Why are you trying so hard? You will attain the Dhammakaya because everybody has the Dhammakaya within. The center of the body is within us and your mind is capable of reaching it. All that is left is practicing the correct technique - by feeling relaxed and bringing the mind to a standstill at the center of the body.

Don't make it a race against time. Just keep your mind at the center. If you feel tense or tight, don't oppose it, just open your eyes. Think of things that make you feel refreshed. It could be nature, the beauty of a flower, a good deed, a meritorious activity, a child's innocence, anything that makes you feel good. Once you feel relaxed, bring your mind back to the center of the body.

When you begin to practice meditation, regularly check in with yourself. Are you comfortable? Is your mind stressed, or is your body tense? If so, adjust your posture until you feel at ease. Don’t force anything; if you feel uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to start over. Take your time—there’s no competition in meditation. Unlike the rush to achieve things in daily life, meditation requires you to relax, stay cool, and be at ease. When you do this, your mind will naturally slow down and become still.

Today, the teaching monk reminded everyone about the principles of meditation. You must maintain both consciousness and relaxation during meditation. If you realize you lack something, just take a break, slowly open your eyes, and restart. Don’t think of it as a waste of time; it’s a process of transitioning from thinking to stopping thinking.

To relax, you can start by stretching your body and adjusting your posture to feel more comfortable. Imagine that you are alone in the world or simply do nothing while listening to calming nature music.

For maintaining consciousness during meditation, you can use a mantra—a word that helps anchor your mind. This gives you a place to return to when your mind starts wandering. Visualization or focusing on your breathing can also be effective. These tools help you stay conscious, but once you feel relaxed, they will gradually fade away. This is a good sign. Don’t worry about it; just stay and live with the comfortable feeling you have, and your mind will become calmer, eventually reaching inner peace.

Today, the monk shared knowledge about meditation practice, he emphasized the importance of practicing meditation every day and gave tips for meditation.

As Indispensable as Air
Meditation must become part of your routine, like taking a shower, washing up, and brushing your teeth. It is as indispensable as air. Without it, we cannot thrive. When you lack air, you lose your life. When you lack meditation, you lose everything. Make meditation a priority since it is the most important thing, your only refuge, your access to the Dhamma. With the Dhamma, you attain peace and happiness, and it is the only thing you can take with you through all the lifetimes until you enter Nibbana.

To achieve a peaceful, calm, and clear mind, we should practice meditation every day until it becomes a habit. Regular meditation helps keep our minds clean and makes the practice easier over time, as our minds become familiar with the state of being cool and still.
Just as we don't wait for our bodies to feel dirty to take a shower, or for our teeth to feel grimy to brush them, or for illness to strike to start exercising, we shouldn't wait for our minds to feel stressed or overwhelmed to begin meditating. We take care of our physical health daily to stay healthy, and our mental health deserves the same attention. Regular meditation helps prevent mental distress, making it unnecessary to wait until we feel frustrated, sad, or bored before addressing our mental state.

Prevention is always easier and less tiring than fixing a problem once it has arisen. Therefore, meditating every day helps us maintain happiness and mental well-being naturally.

Today, a teaching monk reminded everyone about the importance of practicing meditation every day. He emphasized that our time is limited and we shouldn’t waste it with excuses not to practice.

When you procrastinate on your meditation, you are essentially postponing your happiness. When you finally decide to come back to it, it will be harder because your mind is no longer familiar with calmness, and you’ll have to start from the beginning.

This can be discouraging. So, if you love yourself and want to achieve true happiness, don't make excuses. Practice meditation every day until it becomes a habit.

In the Buddhist era, there was a monk who was very diligent in his practice and never made excuses. Before traveling, he would meditate, thinking that it would be harder to do so while on the move. Once he was in the carriage, he continued to meditate, believing that if he didn't, he would be tired after the journey.

When he was healthy, he meditated with the thought that it was best to do so before falling ill. Even when he was sick, he meditated with the thought that it was important to practice before his condition worsened. He continued with this mindset for the rest of his life, and this dedication led him to attain true happiness by not wasting any time on his practice.

We should use this monk as our role model and eliminate all excuses, so we can move closer to happiness and experience it every day.

Today, a teaching monk shared his knowledge about meditation. He reminded everyone of the importance of practicing meditation every day. In the beginning, you can start by bringing your mind back to the present moment for a minute every hour. This helps your mind become familiar with calmness and peacefulness. You can recite the mantra "content, content, content" while doing this. Just as our bodies need care and nurturing to be healthy, so do our minds. The healthier your mind, the happier you will be.

Then he shares the meditation tips.

Loosen Up

Being distracted doesn't mean that you will fail.
You must first give yourself the chance to let go of all the things you've accumulated in your mind.
Don't resist, get annoyed or become worried. Let it go, and soon it will disappear. In a similar vein, we wouldn't obstruct strong, flowing rapids with a boat, as it would only cause more pressure to build up.

Luangpor Dhammajayo 31st March 1992

Meditation practice requires us to be relaxed that is the core. So if you feel uncomfortable don’t be afraid to loosen up. Take your time, don’t worry, and hasten this process because in the inner world if you wanna reach inner peace all you have to do is relax your mind and your body and be still with this happiness.

Today, a teaching monk delivered a powerful reminder about the importance of meditation. He likened the practice of meditation to the act of collecting drops of water in a jar. Each time we meditate, it is as if we are adding a drop of water to our jar, gradually filling it with positive energy and good mood. Over time, these small, consistent efforts accumulate, and when the jar is finally full, our minds will overflow with happiness, much like a jar overflowing with water.

The monk emphasized that the benefits of meditation are not immediate but accrue slowly and steadily. Just as it takes time and patience to fill a jar with water, it requires regular practice and dedication to experience the full benefits of meditation. He encouraged everyone to make meditation a daily habit, no matter how busy life may seem, because even a few minutes each day can make a significant difference in our overall well-being.

He also gives tips for meditation:

“Don't Worry”

If you feel fatigued, then adjust your sitting position. Don't worry too much about being in the "right" posture. Your main interest is stilling the mind. Also remember: you are not competing against anyone; it's not about winning or losing.

You're not here to practice endurance. You're here to focus on stilling the mind. There's a difference.
Focus on your task and pay no attention to any distractions around you.

Luang Por Dhammajayo 31 March 1992

peace

Today, a teaching monk emphasized the importance of practicing meditation daily, likening it to a skill that requires regular honing. Here is the tip provided by the monk on how to improve and sustain a daily meditation practice.

“An Excellent Chef”

“Still your mind peacefully for as long as possible.
Do just that. Don't concern yourself with anything else.
Your mind will adjust to the correct disposition.
See yourself as a chef, creating the most delicately seasoned meal. Add nothing too much. Having the proper ingredients is key to success. So too must we condition and prepare ourselves: with the right ingredients for a peaceful mind.” Luang Por Dhammajayo 22 April 2002

Meditation practice takes time, patience, and self-awareness to truly benefit from it. When you meditate, just allow yourself to relax and be at ease. After each session, reflect on what made you feel good or happy during the meditation. Note those positive experiences and try to recreate them in future sessions.

Remember, everyone has their own unique way of meditating, so there's no need to compete with others or imitate their methods. Practice at your own pace, and soon enough, your mind will find stillness naturally.

Today, the Cape Town Meditation Center organized a Vesak ceremony to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Lord Buddha.

The event began with the teaching monk providing insights into the life and virtues of Lord Buddha, emphasizing that "Buddha" is not a name but a position achievable by anyone through strong determination and the pursuit of goodness.

Lord Buddha, a human being, dedicated himself over many lifetimes to attain true happiness and enlightenment, which he shared with others to help them achieve inner peace.

Despite the 2567 years since his time, Lord Buddha's teachings continue to guide people towards inner tranquility. On this special day, attendees gathered to honor his deeds and express their reverence by lighting candles together. This act symbolized sharing happiness with the world and paying homage to Lord Buddha.

The ceremony included a group meditation session, fostering a sense of unity and peace among participants. Following the meditation and candle lighting, the participants joined efforts to clean the room, reflecting the values of cooperation and mindfulness taught by Lord Buddha.

Buddha light

Today, teaching monks remind everyone about the importance of daily practice in meditation and that it is the key to improving your meditation experience. He also gives tips for meditating:

The Path to Perfection

Today, you are content to practice meditation for five minutes. Tomorrow, do so again, and again the next day. Even if today's session was not as good as yesterday's, don't dwell too much on it. If today's session was better than yesterday's, don't dwell on that either. Make it a constant practice.

You will encounter roadblocks, but this is the path to perfection. The mind improves with more practice even though you don't perceive it right away. You may think, "Nothing seems to be happening for me." But slowly, your mind is becoming more refined and you are accumulating merit without even realizing it. Little by little, you are becoming more pure and clean.

Luang Por Dhammajayo 11th August 200

We must acknowledge that every time we meditate, we are different from before. Our moods and thoughts change. It’s important not to expect the same results each time you meditate. The more you expect, the more serious you become, which can lead to tension and discomfort in both mind and body.

Instead, embrace every experience in each session. Your mind will become calmer and closer to stillness, similar to how a tree grows. Although it might seem like nothing changes in a day or even a week, after months or years, the tree bears fruit.

This happens without us noticing, simply because we waited patiently with a calm mind. If we try to rush the process, it’s like pulling at a sprout to make it grow faster—it won't grow and might even die. However, if you nurture it with water and sunlight, and wait day by day, that’s the right method to grow a tree.

The same principle applies to meditation: be content with every experience and wait patiently with a calm mind. If you practice this way, you will eventually reach inner peace.

Today teaching monks share the meditation tips “ You are a normal person and it's normal to feel sad, fatigued, or distracted as everyone else does. You are not alone in facing this challenge.
So don't feel distressed or anxious” Luang Por Dhammajayo.

Life as a human involves facing a myriad of problems and emotions throughout the day. It can be tough to maintain a positive mood and hope that our minds will instantly clear when we sit down to meditate. These things take time, so don’t be discouraged if you find yourself thinking or feeling uncomfortable during meditation.

Simply take a moment to reset: gently open your eyes, relax your body, let go of everything, and when you're ready, gently close your eyes again. You can restart this process as many times as you need, whether it's 10 times or 100 times.

Don’t get frustrated by the challenges; it's completely normal, and everyone experiences them. If others can overcome them, so can you. Just stay content and keep practicing. Soon, your mind will naturally become still and calm.

Today, the monks are sharing tips on how to stay in a good mood all day by not letting anything bother you. Whether it's noise, actions, or events not to let them get to you.

Keeping your mood steady, not getting too excited or sad, just staying calm and relaxed. If you practice this daily, they believe your mind will get used to feeling content and won't crave anything else.

During meditation, this calm mindset is super important. It helps you quiet your mind more easily and for longer periods. You'll find yourself thinking and feeling less, and your mind will just chill out without you having to do anything.

Think of it like driving a car. If you slow down before hitting the brakes, the car stops smoothly. But if you're going full speed and then slam on the brakes, you'll crash. Keeping a good mood all day is like driving slowly, so when you try to calm your mind, it's easier.

At first, it might be tough to stay positive all day, but let go of any bad moods as soon as you notice them. Just let them go, like sneezing them out, so all that's left is a good mood.

If compared mindfulness practice is like keeping water warm at all times; when you want it to boil, you simply turn up the heat, and soon it will. In contrast, if you don't practice mindfulness during the day, it's like letting the water cool down, requiring more time and energy to bring it to a boil.
Today, we continue in the details of homework No.8-10.
(Continue reading in the comment.)

Today, monks who teach are sharing knowledge about 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, which stem from human suffering. When we experience pain and agony, our patience diminishes, leading us to unintentionally harm the environment through our actions or words.
For instance, when we speak rudely to others or litter the garbage in the city. Thus, if we desire to change the world and make it a better place, we must begin with ourselves. We must cultivate happiness within ourselves to fortify our minds, ensuring that regardless of circumstances, we refrain from harming people and the environment. When we are content, our minds expand, allowing room not only for our concerns but also for those of others. We develop greater empathy and care for others more than before.
A notable example is 𝘓𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘢𝘺𝘰, who has dedicated over 50 years to establishing meditation centers worldwide because he believes that inner peace is the key to a better world.
Following the sharing session, participants meditate together and then collectively nurture the center's tree by watering it.
At the end of the session, local volunteers clean the room, ensuring it is tidy and welcoming for other meditators the next day.

🌍 I would like to invite you to join the Earth Day ceremony.
🌿 Learn about the relationship between the environment and us.
🧘‍♀️ Meditating, sharing kindness, and Nurturing the tree together.

The meditation session scheduled for Sunday, April 14th, 2024, has been canceled.

Today the teaching monk shares knowledge about how to improve the meditation experience. There are two factors, First, meditate in the right way, Second, meditate longer.

Meditating in the right way means you will need to reset yourself whenever you feel you do it wrong don’t feel like it is a waste of your time. Using yourself as a teacher if your body feels stiff or uncomfortable or you feel bored or stressed it means that you do it in the wrong way you have to open your eyes and restart gently. You will slowly build a new habit of meditating in the right way

Meditating longer means you spend more time during the day to meditate and preserve the calmness of your mind don’t let anything disturb your comfort and happiness of your mind.

Meditation practice to be effective requires 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 throughout the day. However many people can't maintain mindfulness all day because they have a lot of work at the workplace and their house. They may spare some time for meditation but they might not get good results. Due to the mind needing to take time to clear trash of emotions and thoughts that the mind has collected the whole day. Before your mind can be calm, you must meditate for 30-50 minutes or more, but you run out of time. Increasing the meditation time might not be feasible because we have no time left. Thus, we suggest to do the 10 items of homework.

Today, we continue in the details of homework No.5-7.
(Continue reading in the comment.)

The teaching monk demonstrated that our minds in normal conditions are initially clear like water in a container. However, throughout the day, we encounter various matters, both concerning ourselves and others, as if we were putting dirt into the water. When the water is dirty, our options for using it become limited. If it's clean, we can drink it, wash our faces, bathe, clean things, tidy up the house, water plants, etc.

We can see that the dirtier the water, the fewer options we have. We might be able to water plants, but we can't drink, wash our faces, or bathe. If it's filthy, even watering plants may not be possible, and we may have to discard it altogether. Therefore, training the mind to be clear is crucial; it enables us to have constructive thoughts and see possibilities.

As for the method of cleansing the mind, it's not about pushing thoughts or what's in the mind away. Rather, it's about letting things settle naturally by calmly focusing on our inner peace. Eventually, the dirt will settle, leaving only a clear mind like the clear water on top.

Meditation practice to be effective requires consistent effort throughout the day. Due to your responsibilities at work and encountering various emotionally impacting situations, your mind may not find peace easily. It takes time for your body and mind to adjust, and it may take an hour or more before you can sit quietly and calm down. Increasing the time might not be feasible because there are still household chores to do or want to rest.

(Continue reading in the comment.)

Today, the monk talked about mindfulness exercises in daily life. Due to a distracting life, filled with temptations pulling our attention outward, we may hope that meditation alone will maintain our mental health and solve all our problems, which is not realistic. Focusing solely on meditation without addressing the turbulence in our daily lives may not yield the expected outcomes.

Luang Phor Dhammajayo devised an easy and practical set of ten guidelines for daily life known as "𝟏𝟎 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤".

At this time the monk explained the first two items:

𝟏. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲.
If you practice doing this homework. While you come out to work You will look for opportunities to do good things. When you do it, you will feel happy. And on the way back home you will try to compile all the good stories you have done to share with your family. That makes your mind immersed in happiness throughout the day. This kind of mind is more prepared to be still than a confused mind.

You may fear a negative response from your family or feel embarrassed. Keep persistently sharing your goodness until they become accustomed to your words. It's a way to add goodness and spread positive energy to yourself and your family. Eventually, everything in the family will improve, and the existing happiness of everyone will attract more good things into the home.

𝟐. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞.
Each day can bring different emotions, influencing your meditation. Regardless of the daily outcomes of your meditation, it's okay. Keep recording frequently, and soon your mind will settle naturally. Reviewing your practice allows you to identify weaknesses, make adjustments, and track the results of your modifications. You'll start understanding what causes your meditation to be either good or challenging.

🌟ขอเรียนเชิญชาวไทยในเคปทาวน์🌟
🌹ร่วมทำบุญปุพเปตพลี วันพระใหญ่🌹
💕 ( อุทิศบุญให้ญาติผู้ล่วงลับ ) 💕
⏱️ประจำเดือน มีนาคม 2567⏱️
🌐วันเสาร์ที่ 9 มีนาคม 2567
🇿🇦 ณ วัดพุทธเคปทาวน์ 🇿🇦
107 Blaauwberg Rd,Table View
🪷 กำหนดการ 🪷
10.00 น พร้อมกันสถานที่จัดงาน
10.15 บูชาพระรัตนตรัย
10.20 อาราธนาศีล 5
10:30น คณะสงฆ์เจริญพุทธมนต์
10:55 น พิธีทอดผ้าป่าบังสุกุล
11:30 น ปฏิบัติธรรมร่วมกัน
12:00 น ฉันเพล/รับประทานอาหารกลางวัน
❇️สอบถามรายละเอียด❇️
พระเปรม : 076-523-9576

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🔆การสั่งสมบุญนำสุขมาให้🔆
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