Meditation course starts next month

Letting go is an important practice in everyday life.

It is a skill we need every day to allow us to live fully in the present, unburdened by our past, so we respond appropriately to our current life situations.

That’s according to Kelsang Drolma who will be teaching a four week meditation course in Cork, starting next month.

Speaking ahead of the course, Kelsang said that daily life provides many situations where letting go is appropriate, or even required.

She explained: “We have innumerable small and more difficult situations which challenge us to let go of plans, fears, desires, preferences, anger, worry and opinions.”

Kelsang continued: “We are often afraid to let go of painful feelings and suffering and hold onto these due to familiarity or misunderstanding.

“Learning both, how to let go skilfully and what to let go of, is essential to a happy life. Buddha taught the importance of this skilful practice in ancient times.

“These same methods he taught are as applicable today as they were in Buddha's time. These techniques help us not only to let go of, for example, fear, but to open and rest into a sense of calm and relaxation.”

She said there are so many good reasons to learn how to meditate. The main benefit of meditation is that it enables us to develop and maintain a peaceful mind all the time. If our mind is peaceful all the time, we will be happy all the time.

Kelsang also said that letting go, unleashes a real joy.

She explained: “Just as a skilful gardener removes the weeds that are choking the flowers and trees inhibiting their growth, by letting go we also free ourselves from what is holding us back.

“In place of tightness, suffering, and stress we experience a new sense of real joy, flexibility, happiness, and mental freedom. We all deserve this,” Kelsang concluded.

The four week course takes place from 2-23 March from 7-8.30pm in the Western Gateway Building, UCC, Western Road.