Chand Sirimanne – The wings of the bird: combining concentration and awareness

Description

The wings of the bird: Combining concentration (samādhi) and awareness (sati) – using different types of meditative practices.

In Buddhism sati (mindfulness) is part and parcel of every type of meditative practice, conduct and world view rather than a specific, disengaged technique. It is also a positive mindset that we seek to cultivate rather than ordinary awareness that we use in every type of mental, verbal and physical action including negative ones. After all, one needs to be very mindful in carrying out criminal activities so as not to get caught!

The suttas describe this positive mindfulness and focused attention as the wings of a bird. The bird cannot fly with only one wing, and it is well developed concentration that sharpens and strengthens mindfulness helping to cut through delusion. There is also nothing secular about a high level of concentration – we need it for doing any activity well. From driving, cooking to learning a language. While focusing on the breath is excellent, not everyone finds it easy to sustain their attention for any length of time especially at the start. Buddha himself is said to have stated that it is not for everyone, and he recommended specific meditation types to suit different personalities.

Buddhism has a range of meditative objects and subjects designed to improve levels of samādhi suitable for those who struggle with keeping their attention on the breath.

We welcome you to join us in this meditation & discussion series guided by Chand Sirimanne, where we can learn some different techniques to improve our practice. We will have an opportunity to discuss & share our practice in a safe and supportive environment.

Speaker

Chand R. Sirimanne was born in Sri Lanka and migrated to Australia in 1990. She has worked as a freelance writer and an ESL instructor for over three decades mainly in Australia but also in Canada and Sri Lanka. Chand currently works as a writer/researcher, and she has written and translated several articles and works on Buddhism. She has a MA in Applied Linguistics from Macquarie University and a PhD from the Department of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney. Chand’s doctoral thesis was on The evolving relevance and therapeutic value of the ethico-psychological perspective of the mind-body complex and meditation in Theravāda Buddhism. She has been practising meditation since 2001.

Info

View live on Zoom from 7.25pm on the night. Talks include meditation and generally conclude at 9pm. Download iCal calendar for the Zoom event.

• Meeting ID: 985 1050 0274
• Passcode: 645945