Online Sunday morning meditations for a more peaceful life

With the Australian Buddhist monk Ven. Gönpo

“Many people think excitement is happiness.... But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

Join us on Sunday morning for an hour to pause, center, and restore to a happier and more peaceful mind to support you in being a bit more resilient in a world which does not always make sense anymore. These guided meditations are to help you calm your mind, explore your own nature and develop a more peaceful perception on life. When you are well with yourself, you will be more able to be well with others and the world. 

These meditations are very practical, they are not within a religious context, so they are suitable for people of different beliefs, ages and abilities, for beginners as well as for those with more experience. The meditations are developed with the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom.

How to join?

The sessions are online only, every Sunday morning from 10.00 – 11.00 am CE(S)T, starting on January 19th  (until May 4). You are free to join, we offer these meditations to you.

Please use this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87612805746?pwd=jMDuXFdYnRmzrnFicEdaI7ntrEfpnL.1 (Passcode: 353076)

If you would like to make a free donation, you can use the sign-up button on the right. The meditations will be recorded and made available to you to use them during the week. Please send us an email if you would like to join us to get access to the recordings.

What are the meditations based on?

They are based on a set of values and principles aimed at helping individuals cultivate a more peaceful and meaningful life. They are divided into four categories: 

• how we think (humility, patience, contentment and delight) 
• how we act (kindness, honesty, generosity and right speech) 
• how we relate to others (respect, forgiveness, gratitude and loyalty)
• how we find meaning (aspiration, principles, service and courage). 

These guidelines provide a framework for personal growth, encouraging individuals to think, act, relate, and find meaning in ways that foster a harmonious and fulfilling life.

Who is your meditation guide?

Ven. Gönpo is an Australian Buddhist monk who first discovered Buddhism as a child through martial arts movies and TV shows. This was the inspiration for the childhood dream of becoming a wandering kung fu monk. It was a few decades before part of that dream could be realized with many other life adventures distracting him from the spiritual path in his teens and twenties.  

It wasn't until he was in his thirties that Gönpo began to really understand the power of Buddhist teachings when he used them to navigate the emotional roller-coaster of life's many experiences such as a marriage break down and raising children alone. Fortunately, due the kindness of his teachers and great good karma, after his children finished school, Gönpo was able to fulfil the long-held dream of becoming a monk, albeit without the kung fu. Ending a 20-year career as a high school teacher of languages, he become a wandering monk spending time studying and meditating in Europe, India and Nepal before returning to his hometown, Brisbane, to take up the role of Spiritual Care Practitioner at Karuna Hospice Services, giving care and support to people with life limiting illnesses and their families.

In his time as a school teacher, it was the feedback from students around mindfulness practices and life lessons that had the biggest impact on Gönpo, motivating him to become a 16 Guidelines for a Happy Life facilitator. In his sessions, Gönpo encourages discussion and deep engagement in the topics, challenging participants to examine their own ways of thinking. Through understanding how we are now, we are better equipped to develop the habits that will bring us closer to how we want to be, interacting with our own minds and the people around us in ways that will make us and the communities we live in, happier and healthier.

Donation based on generosity

Dāna (generosity) is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. By virtue of their generosity, the Buddha and the ordained sangha offer us the teachings, and in exchange, the lay community supports Dharma centers and the monastic community. This interdependence is essential for us to share the Dharma and continue our work to benefit all sentient beings. With your donation we uphold our Dharma center, which is managed entirely by volunteers. Participation is free, registration is not needed, but a donation is very much appreciated!