About

Does Mindfulness Work?

In recent years, there has been

  1. An explosion in contemplative sciences. Mindfulness is just one of these.
  2. Considerable research resulting in substantial scientific evidence that mindfulness is efficacious.
  3. Proven evidence that Mindfulness can significantly reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and other nervous disorders.

In the "Intensive Care Medicine Journal: Survey of GPs in the UK" we read that:

  1. 72% of GPs think it would be helpful for their patients with mental health problems to learn mindfulness meditation skills.
  2. 66% of GPs would support a public information campaign to promote Mindfulness Meditation.
  3. 64% of GPs would like to receive training Mindfulness skills.

Interest in Mindfulness and Meditation is growing steadily worldwide, especially from people seeking answers in this current global age of clashing ideologies, fanatical strife and senseless violence and warfare. 

Why is this interest growing so quickly?

Perhaps it is because more and more people now realize that being truly mindful involves compassion, tolerance and moderation and provides a clear path for spiritual and personal development. Further, it has no room for blind faith or unthinking worship.

Our approach  encourages questions and Investigations into the nature of spirituality, mindfulness and wholesome living, requiring us to take full responsibility for all of our actions.

Mindfulness can be learned, understood and experienced, with immediate results.

Thich Nhat Hanh says that you can be a Christian and still follow the teachings on Mindfulness taught by Buddha over 2500 years ago. 

Lastly, Buddhist teaching on Mindfulness, Concentration and living a life having learned to live with our human weaknesses, is very much in harmony with modern science.

Meditation alone does not bring lasting happiness. 

We seek to foster a deeper, spiritual life as well.

Blue Lotus Courses

We have been providing training in Mindfulness for the past five years. Some have been held at our Mindfulness Centre in Elms Green, some in village halls and one in a church hall. They have been well subscribed.

Mindfulness Course Agenda

Each Unit takes two hours and also includes practical work.

Unit 1: Introduction:  

Nature of Mindfulness. Evidence of its efficacy.   Simple Practice Technique

Unit 2:  Habits of Thinking:

Anxiety. The Need to be Right.  Fear of change.  Fearing What Other People Think About Us

Unit 3: Key Concepts of Mindfulness:

Living in the Present Moment, Awareness. Being Non-judgmental

Unit 4: Mindfulness and Suffering:

Anxiety, Worry and Stress. Being Haunted by Past Events. False Concepts of Time. Being Controlled by the Mind

Unit 5: The Nature of Suffering:

A Buddhist perspective on suffering: the four noble Truths. The 8-fold Path to overcome Suffering -specifically Right Mindfulness. Mindful Meditation.              

Unit 6: Mindfulness and The Imagination:

Sleepless Nights. Wild Imaginings. Negative and Positive Uses of the Imagination. Body and Mind are One

Unit 7: Mindfulness: Setting Boundaries:

Effect of Poorly Defined Boundaries. Setting Boundaries. Dealing with Conflict and Bullying

Unit 8: Mindfulness in Daily Life:

Awareness and Remaining Awake.   Mindful Meditation Methods. A Plan for the future. Course Conclusion