Toby Gillies Buddhist Meditation

Meditation, Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism

Articles related to our meditation classes

Venerable Toby Gillies

These essays explore some of the topics we cover in our introductory meditation classes and some of the subjects examined in our Buddhist meditation classes. The perspectives are drawn from the Tibetan Buddhist teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Geshe Thubten Loden.
Pick any topic that may interest you, they have links to any other related topics. The most recently posted is always at the top.

Let us know if you have any comments or questions through the email contact page here. 

Meditation

Some of these articles focus on how to meditate. They range from an overview to a detailed explanation of the stages of concentration. Clear concentration provides a sound basis for greater understanding. We gain further insight through the practice of wisdom. Several posts discuss the benefits of integrating meditation with wisdom.

Meditation itself is not dependent on any form of religious belief. Whatever your beliefs you can benefit through the practice of meditation. We can incorporate the practices into traditional religions and also secular and scientific views of the world.

Buddhism

The source of knowledge presented here is the teachings of the Buddha. This Dharma (truth) aims towards freeing one from suffering and the cause of suffering. The truth delivers an experience of ever greater happiness. The pinnacle is the constant bliss and peace of enlightenment.

There has been interest in Buddhist teachings in the West for the last forty years. Western science and psychology have been enriched. They have used Dharma teachings on meditation and mindfulness. Scientific verification has given confidence in approaching meditation practice.

Tibetan Buddhism

One of the greatest influences of Buddhism in the West has been Tibetan Buddhism. Tibet’s Dalai Lama has interacted with leading scientists. He has also established regular conferences with academics in psychology and philosophy.  This has enriched our modern understanding. Elements of the Tibetan tradition have helped a better understanding of the mind. Meditation and mindfulness are now common.

Tibetan methods of investigating reality use formal logic. They engage in systematic debate and test this with meditation. This wonderful tradition of Buddhist practice is now finding expression in the West.

A Buddhist meditation on Christmas for all

A Buddhist meditation on Christmas for all

A Buddhist meditation on Christmas examines the significance of this special time of year. A Buddhist monk reflects on the meaning Christmas. Christmas is a wonderful time of year for Buddhists. We love to celebrate the birth and life of Jesus Christ. The message of...

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How karma works in Buddhism: I won the fight, but..

How karma works in Buddhism: I won the fight, but..

An example of how karma functions People often ask me how karma works. What is the connection between cause and effect? How is it that our actions come back at us? In an earlier article I summarised karma and examined how it works to our benefit in good actions, and...

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Buddhist meditation: how it is different

Buddhist meditation: how it is different

The purpose of Buddhist meditation practice is to end samsara. Samsara is the state of being governed by the causes of suffering and varies from extreme levels of suffering to temporary experiences of happiness. In fact, while caught in samsara we can move through...

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Euthanasia: A Buddhist view on life and death

Euthanasia: A Buddhist view on life and death

Euthanasia has now been made law by the Victorian parliament. The following article was written in the hope that they would not pass this terrible law and allow such degeneration. But… I suppose I was expecting a bit much.  I still recommend a read as way of...

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Meditation – Twelve Dependent links retreat

Meditation – Twelve Dependent links retreat

How the twelve dependent links produce the effects of karma During our meditation retreat day on Sunday, October 8,  we did our meditation on the twelve dependent links. The meditations were drawn from the wheel of life. The wheel of life shows the round of samsara....

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How mindfulness and meditation give self-confidence

How mindfulness and meditation give self-confidence

Overcome low self esteem and be confident   Meditation and mindfulness are critical elements in overcoming low self esteem and generating true self confidence. If we rely on external things for self confidence we will never develop real self belief. As long as we...

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Buddhist meditation path

Buddhist meditation path

A comprehensive approach to life The Buddhist meditation path is a path to enlightenment. There are many paths that we can take in life. Career paths, social paths, community paths, relationship paths. We may take a rapid path to the top or a wild ride to the next...

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How to meditate: a step by step explanation

How to meditate: a step by step explanation

How to meditate  How to meditate is a step by step guide to a basic meditation. Learn how to calm the mind and develop concentration with mindfulness of the breath. The purpose of this article is to give a simple beginners guide on how to meditate. Actually, how to...

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Reincarnation: infinite life

Reincarnation: infinite life

Reincarnation and karma In the previous article we spoke of karma. Now we examine karma linking from life to the next reincarnation. Most people have an intuitive sense of karma as cause and effect. However the full implications of karma cannot be seen outside of...

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Meditation on Karma

Meditation on Karma

Karma – cause and effect To meditate on karma is to relflect on our actions. The sanskrit word karma translates literally as action and implies the results of those actions. It is the process of cause and effect and the way that we create our quality of experience....

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How meditation relieves stress

How meditation relieves stress

Meditation for Stress This article will show how meditation and meditation classes can help in relieving stress. We need to understand more about how stress is produced.  In particular we can benefit from discovering the inner cause of tension. Tension may be felt...

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Buddhist teachings: communication – skilful speech

Buddhist teachings: communication – skilful speech

Communication: How we connect Communication occurs at many different levels. There is communication through speech, the words and meaning we convey. At a deeper level we communicate with our body language and our mindset. As soon as someone comes into our awareness...

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