Mindfulness in depth
Are meditation and mindfulness the same thing?
Meditation has three different meanings in the Buddhist tradition.
beginners to advanced courses
Firstly it means mental development (bhavana), an overarching term covering both meditation and mindfulness. Its second meaning is calm and concentration (samadhi) and its third is absorption (jhana), referring to the deepening states of meditation.
Mindfulness (sati) is a term derived from the Buddhist tradition which refers to a particular way of using meditation. In fact there are four different streams or ways to use meditation in the Buddhist tradition: relaxation and calm; mindfulness meditation; integration and ethics.
We begin to cover all these things in our Learn to Meditate course along with a range of meditation techniques to suit all people.
The goal of mindfulness
Along with the other streams of meditation, mindfulness has been at the core of the Centre’s teaching since its inception. The goal of mindfulness is to develop awareness, and ultimately to gain insight into the fundamental nature of human consciousness.
Obviously therapeutic goals are more individual and immediate so mindfulness based therapies, such as MBSR (Mindfulness based stress reduction) and MBCT (Mindfulness based cognitive therapy), simply use basic meditation techniques.
For an excellent discussion on this topic see Dr Michael Yapko’s book Mindfulness and Hypnosis.
The four streams at Lifeflow
All four streams of meditation are introduced in our Learn to Meditate course. If you wish to explore them further, see our text Life in Balance. As with everything in our curriculum, we have created an integrated approach to physical and mental health, personal development and spiritual growth based completely in our culture but remaining true to the intention of the original tradition.
More about the four streams
Relaxation and calm
The first stream of meditation is for developing relaxation, calm and concentration, all the things people look for when they learn to meditate. It has specific meditations designed to bring you quickly to a relaxed and calm state and to take you through the deepening stages of meditation. This stream ‘brings you to your senses’.
Mindfulness meditation
In the stream of Mindfulness meditation you learn to bring your mind fully to whatever you are doing. In the Learn to Meditate course you learn a range of mindfulness meditations we call Spot Meditations which enable to you do this quickly and easily. They enable you to be mindful of your body and what you are doing, mindful of the sensations you are experiencing, mindful of your emotions and mindful of your thoughts. This gives you a strong basis for becoming mindful in the situations you face every day, from painful situations you habitually get caught in right through to the caring and loving relationships where you want to be open-hearted and truly responsive. Mindfulness meditation allows you to deal with all these situations more skilfully.
The mindfulness meditation technique, a specialty of the centre, is called the Three C Technique™. It is easy to remember, easy to do, and can be applied in any situation whatsoever. Our Level 2 course has a complete module dedicated to mindfulness in which you extend your knowledge and experience of mindfulness meditation, and Levels 3 and 4 develop the practice of mindfulness even further. Mindfulness meditation can lead to experiencing and understanding the relationship between our bodies, emotions and thoughts, how emotions and thoughts work, the relationship between our minds and the world around us, and the fundamental clear, open awareness of our minds and bodies.
The Lifeflow Centre has thoroughly incorporated and adapted the best aspects of the mindfulness tradition into all its courses and retreats so we provide a complete and thorough experience and training in this stream. Not only have thousands of people from all walks of life found this training valuable in their lives, but health professionals including doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and nurses have incorporated the techniques in their work with their own clients. A number of leading mindfulness teachers in Adelaide have trained at the Lifeflow Centre.
Integration
This stream brings together both the relaxation and calm and mindfulness streams and enables you to integrate them with your own physical experience and the different situations of your life. It provides a range of unique techniques, derived from both the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and the discoveries of Western psychology, which are extraordinarily useful and easily incorporated into daily life. They are aimed at bringing your mind, emotions and body into a unified whole so you can sustain a happy and healthy state of mind and enable your relationships to be rich and fulfilling.
Ethics
This stream is not what we usually think of as ethics. Its aim is to bring the skills of calm and mindfulness into all of our actions and relationships so we can act mindfully no matter what situation we find ourselves in.
Ethics begins by using meditation to become kinder to yourself and more accepting and understanding of yourself. Then you can develop the ability to see others and the situations around you more clearly, and so be open and responsive to both your own needs and the needs of those with whom you share your life. You can become more aware of the communities and the natural world in which you live and have the confidence to live more richly and open-heartedly, feeling yourself an integral part of them.
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All you need to learn the skill of meditation PLUS tools for emotional well-being and joy. For beginners and experienced meditators. This course doubles as the foundation for the Levels program and Lifeflow Teacher Training.
… Mindfulness and meditation [at Lifeflow] has truly transformed my life, more than anything I've ever encountered before. I am more confident, happier and healthier than I've ever been…
- David Trousdell, Head of an Independent Senior School (Adelaide)
Having attended several [mindfulness] courses in Adelaide, I believe that Lifeflow are providing one of the best sources of training in this area.
- Hilary Stein, B.A. Hons, M.Psych (Clin) M.A.P.S. Clinical Psychologist
We received great feedback from the sessions. Even the most hardened anti-meditators were won over.
- Nina Lucas, Senior Learning and Development Officer, Marketing and Communications, Super SA
Thank you so much for a life changing week at the retreat. I am still feeling the benefits and remain calmer than I have been in a very long time.
- Carolyn, 7-day retreat participant
… Mindfulness and meditation [at Lifeflow] has truly transformed my life, more than anything I've ever encountered before. I am more confident, happier and healthier than I've ever been…
- David Trousdell, Head of an Independent Senior School (Adelaide)
Having attended several [mindfulness] courses in Adelaide, I believe that Lifeflow are providing one of the best sources of training in this area.
- Hilary Stein, B.A. Hons, M.Psych (Clin) M.A.P.S. Clinical Psychologist
We received great feedback from the sessions. Even the most hardened anti-meditators were won over.
- Nina Lucas, Senior Learning and Development Officer, Marketing and Communications, Super SA
Thank you so much for a life changing week at the retreat. I am still feeling the benefits and remain calmer than I have been in a very long time.
- Carolyn, 7-day retreat participant
more . . .
Refresh Meditation Classes
Relax your body and refresh your mind simply and naturally with drop in meditation and mindfulness classes.
Meditation courses
Check through our range of meditation courses that explore things like mindfulness, neuroscience and decision making within the context of the meditation tradition.
Has almost completely eliminated my insomnia. I am much happier and enjoying life more.
- Mary, Learn to Meditate course
Less angry when stressed.
- Peter, Learn to Meditate course
Calmer, more equanimeous, less tension, less reactive to stress, happier 🙂 The teacher is a great facilitator and guide.
- Student, Learn to Meditate course
Increased cognition and memory and increased focus.
- Sam, Learn to Meditate course
I feel calmer, more peaceful and more confident I can meet difficult emotions.
- Teresa, Learn to Meditate course
Has almost completely eliminated my insomnia. I am much happier and enjoying life more.
- Mary, Learn to Meditate course
Less angry when stressed.
- Peter, Learn to Meditate course
Calmer, more equanimeous, less tension, less reactive to stress, happier 🙂 The teacher is a great facilitator and guide.
- Student, Learn to Meditate course
Increased cognition and memory and increased focus.
- Sam, Learn to Meditate course
I feel calmer, more peaceful and more confident I can meet difficult emotions.
- Teresa, Learn to Meditate course