​DDM Sydney 2024 March 23 & 24 Beginners Meditation Workshop Personal Recount

On 23 March 2024 and 24 March 2024, DDM Sydney Chapter welcomed three Venerables from DDM Taiwan to lead and teach a two-day beginner's meditation workshop at St Leonard's Library, Sydney, Australia. Both days were structured and packed with practical gems of wisdom.

After explaining the 6 years of disciplined training and 3 years of practicals required to become Chan monastics teaching meditation classes, Venerables began the day explaining various sitting meditation postures for safe practice and reminded everyone to listen to their own bodies.

Throughout the two day workshop, under the patient tutelage of the Venerables, they introduced a variety of meditation practices. Sitting meditation is the most commonly associated with "meditation", but participants quickly learnt that Chan is a much broader practice. We also learnt Eight Form Moving Meditation, slow walking meditation, nature walking meditation, lying down meditation and eating meditation.

For many of us, juggling the demands of life, it is rare to be able to sit and focus on eating one dish at a time, chew each bite of food 40 times and be fully present eating in silence. Lunches became moments of self-care, reflection and gratitude to all those who helped prepare nutritious vegetarian meals to nourish our bodies in order to also replenish our minds. We were blessed to enjoy sunny weather eating lunch outdoors at Newlands Park on yoga mats, seated in our meditation groups, listening to nature and being aware of each bite we ate.

During each type of meditation, we were asked to first be relaxed, find peace of mind and body to be able to become aware of our minds and bodies. When our minds and bodies are aligned and at ease, ultimately, the aim is to develop compassion and wisdom through meditation, so that we can clearly see true reality without agitation or stray thoughts or strong emotions clouding our judgement.

The meditation retreat was wholesome and replenishing, thanks to the dedicated efforts of DDM Sydney volunteers and the three Venerables who flew 7,192km across the ocean to bring some calm, compassionate nuggets of wisdom to Sydney. Amituofo _/\_ 

Text: Sunny Lee
Photos: DDM Sydney