Time to Think

            

There is a Buddhist centre less than one cigarette’s distance from my house which I’ve walked past many times but tonight I’m walking in. I’ve booked myself on a meditation course called “Letting go.” 3 Wednesday nights from 7 until 8 with refreshments after.

                I am uncomfortable with places of worship. I see them as cold and restrictive with lots of rules and apologies for things I haven’t done (yet) but this aimed to be far more relaxed and free. I am also uncomfortable with people sitting in a field singing “Kum-By-Yar My Lord”, all with a uniform of smiles and joy but here I am, sitting in a relaxed room with happy people. In silence.

                We sang a prayer accompanied by a CD of a guitar (I say we, a few sang while others mouthed the words like school assembly or a goldfish that was the prize at a fare) and settled into a ten minute relaxation meditation before Darren talked through the possible stresses in life, interestingly mostly focussing on family life and kids with occasional references to work. He seems a decent man and very genuine and, according to these topics, I must be stress free.

                Darren moved on to the “Four Nobel Truths” as taught by Buddha but with a modern take before finishing with a meditation reflecting on what he had talked about.

                I didn’t stay for refreshments this first week and I didn’t talk to a single person. I didn’t smile with anyone which is very unlike me and I was out of my comfort zone but on the way home I noticed as I smoked that I felt very relaxed and for a brief moment, very positive.

Next week I’ll stay a bit longer.