Dear Meditator,

In this issue:

• Meditate On-The-Spot with your iPod
• Download some free guided meditations for use at your desk
• Register for a Winter Course of Meditation
• Get some Balance at the Augustine Centre on Thursday June 12
• Find out how interesting boredom can be

Spaces for both the upcoming Eric Harrison workshop "How to Meditate Well" and the Inaugural Australian Meditation Conference & Expo "Meditate08" are filling fast. Best to get in quick if you want to reserve a place.

A new term of 4 and 6 Week Basic Meditation courses starts in July and there are still a few places left for this years final Meditation Teacher Training Course.

I hope you enjoy the newsletter. Feel free to email comments, questions or suggestions to: matt@melbournemeditationcentre.com.au

Spot Meditation

It seems that every second person on the tram or train, at the gym, or even just walking down the street, is listening to an iPod. I've noticed that many are also reading books, (and sometimes even talking on their mobile!) at the same time. In this months spot meditation you're invited to listen fully to whatever it is that you're listening to. Whether it's an iPod, the car radio or just music at the cafe where you're eating lunch. See if you can dive right into the music, just for one song. Notice the difference between having music on in the background and listening carefully to it. See which experience is more rewarding.

How and where do you meditate when you've only got a minute? Send your own spot meditations to matt@melbournemeditationcentre.com.au

The best suggestion each month will be published here.

Free Mediation Download

Meditation is easy (and hard). The hard bit is often getting started, or simply making time for it in the working day, or letting go of the voice that says "You should be working, you've got stuff to do." The two short guided meditations on this page might help to keep your mind on track. Give them a try.

Course Schedule

Term 4 Courses commence the week beginning July 6. You can register online for any of the following.

Term 4 July/August

Meditation Events

June 21 - How to Meditate Well with Eric Harrison

This workshop will be conducted by Eric Harrison from Perth Meditation Centre. Eric is one of Australia's most experienced meditation teachers and this will be a rare opportunity to catch him in Melbourne. For more information or to register for the workshop visit the Melbourne Meditation Centre website.

Meditate08

This June the inaugural Australian Meditation Conference & Expo will be held at the Melbourne Museum. To the best of my knowledge this is a first of its kind and will provide an opportunity to listen to and attend workshops conducted by some of Australia's most prominent meditation teachers, including Ian Gawler, Eric Harrison and Dr Craig Hassad. More information and tickets at www.meditate08.com.au.

Meditate in the Gardens 2008

Thanks to everyone who turned up to Meditate in the Gardens. We had a great turn out, and it's likely that we'll do it again in September as the weather starts to warm up. Hope to see you again then.

Simply Silence

Get your regular dose of relaxation and calm at one of our Simply Silence sessions in North Melbourne or Elwood. It's a great way to discover and explore meditation in a friendly group environment.

Elwood Schedule:

• June 9 - Matthew Young
• June 23 - Sarah Fletcher
• July 14 - Yvonne Anderson
• July 28 - Kate James

North Melbourne Schedule:

• June 5 - Rita Cattivera
• June 19 - Garth Stone
• July 3 - Paul Majewski
• July 17 - Stephen Penman

Thursday June 12 — Balance

BALANCE is a fortnightly sound meditation held at the Augustine Centre in Hawthorn. Balance is facilitated by Garth Stone and Elise McColl from ONEVIBRATION, who use didgeridoos, crystal bowls and other instruments to produce a harmonic blend of earthly and heavenly tones. Each session Garth and Elise are joined by a local or interstate guest who adds a unique musical influence to the Balance sound meditation experience. The next Balance session will run on Thursday 12th June 2008 and Garth will be joined by Matt Young and Paul Majewski.

Is Your Meditation Boring?

During class, I sometimes see students open their eyes mid-meditation. They might wriggle in their seat, look around randomly and begin fidgeting restlessly. I do this from time to time too — and I'd be surprised if anyone reading this hadn't experienced such moments, if not during meditation, then perhaps whilst doing something particularly repetitive and dull at work.

There are a number of reasons this might happen; but essentially, it's likely that there's something just beneath the threshold of awareness — some discomfort, some vague emotional unease, some disappointment — that we don't want to face. Or perhaps we just want something to happen.

I've heard the ability to be present without needing something to happen referred to as a sense of 'noble boredom', and it is worth cultivating. When we spontaneously stop meditating, it's often not because we've had sufficient rest, but because we're hit something a little uncomfortable. This discomfort could be searing emotional pain, or something as subtle as wanting something else. Whatever it is, when we fail to address these moment of unease we remain slaves to forces within us.

We all know that meditation can be a struggle — against thoughts, feelings and sensations — but it can also be a struggle against a lack of thoughts, feelings and sensations. During class you may discover that everybody has the same remarkably banal and ordinary difficulties. But difficulties are par for the course for meditators. The obstacles themselves are points of transformation. Patience is key.

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche says: "The fear of boredom often keeps people from meditating. We're afraid there will be nothing to entertain us, nothing to hold our interest. And in truth, we will be bored at times. If we observe the boredom, and taste it completely, we'll begin to just settle in, and accept boredom as part of the landscape of peaceful abiding. That's progress.

"What we're really bored with (instead of meditation) is our repetitive, habitual thought patterns. We see the tricks we play on ourselves with thoughts, emotions and concepts. This boredom is not a problem. Instead, it inspires us."

Alan Watts adds: "The feeling of boredom can be very interesting if we simply watch the feeling, without attempting to change it or judge it in any way. That is the essential process of meditation."

Know someone who could chill out?

Do you have friends who are perpetually stressed or anxious, have trouble sleeping or could just do with learning how to relax? Do them a favour and forward this email to them. (Or if this is you, subscribe here.)