Nonsectarian Mindfulness meditation

Dr. Douglas Osto is a lay Buddhist who has studied and practised Buddhism for over twenty years. He has trained in all three vehicles (Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana) particularly in Vipassana and Zen. Additionally, he holds master's degrees in Buddhist studies from Harvard and the University of Washington, and a PhD from the University of London. Currently, he teaches Asian religions and philosophies at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

A meditation group meets at the Theosophical Hall (304 Church Street) in Palmerston North every Tuesday from 6pm-7pm. These meetings are open to anyone and free of charge. However, a gold coin koha is appreciated (for those who can afford it) to help support the Theosophical Society.

The Dharma Cloud rains upon everyone! The group welcomes all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, gender or orientation.

The group is nonsectarian in that it does not promote one particular religion as superior to others. While believing that there are many spiritual paths, the group's main focus is on the practice of mindfulness meditation to promote physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Dr. Osto's approach is primarily based on his training in Zen, Vipassana, and the spiritual vision described in the Mahayana scripture known as the Supreme Array (Gandavyuha). The Supreme Array scripture portrays the spiritual path in the form of a story about a young man's quest for awakening. During his travels, this young hero named Sudhana visits numerous spiritual friends in search of the best methods to practice the Way of the Bodhisattva. Thus the spiritual journey begins with the intention to help others and such a motivation guides one to a community of like-minded fellows all striving for the welfare, happiness and spiritual awakening of all.

The philosophy of the group is based on the empowerment of the individual through techniques that are useful for self-exploration. Zen Master Dogen declared,

'To study the Buddha Way, is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things'.

Each one of us must explore our own body/mind and life-situation. Through meditation our lives become our laboratory. Thus blind authority to any teacher, guru, lama, master etc. must be rejected in favour of developing a curious, aware, awake and playful mind that explores the great transformation of reality as-it-is right now. In others words, you can develop the courage, faith and determination to walk your own spiritual path and develop yourself to improve your health, prosperity and happiness.

The main technique used in the group is a mindfulness meditation practice primarily based on the 'just sitting' method of Japanese Zen master Dogen and the vipassana technique taught by the late Sri Lankan lay meditation master Godwin Samararatne .
To begin practising meditation find a quiet place to sit cross-legged or up-straight in a chair. Your back should be comfortably straight, your eyes lightly closed or slightly opened. Placing your hands on your knees or folded on your lap just sit calmly and focus your mind lightly on your natural breath and be aware of what is happening in your mind-body-situation in the present moment. By 'just sitting' one rests naturally in the pre-reflective state of without-thinking. Although sitting meditation is a useful anchor, mindfulness may be practised anytime in any posture throughout the day.