~ Meditation in Victoria BC

Friends of Open Dharma in Victoria BC

~ Introducing the Victoria BC Meditation Group

Friends of Open Dharma - Open Dharma is growing, and circles of friends
have been established in a number of cities and towns around the world
to introduce people to this remarkably accessible approach
to meditation and spirituality.

As Friends of Open Dharma we combine a program of deep relaxation, meditation, instruction, discussion and spiritual videos from a variety of traditions that inspire and deepen our quest. Group instruction is combined with personal guidance because no two people have exactly the same needs, and adaptations must be made to suit the tastes and temperaments of each individual. Each of us is unique, and instruction must honour and cater to individual requirements.

~ Open Dharma-Style Meditation

A variety of techniques are taught to facilitate the attainment of meditation: techniques to relax the body and eliminate tension, to free the mind of thoughts and focus it without the need for undue effort or concentration. We ‘fall into meditation’ much the same way as we fall asleep. People from all traditions find these techniques in no way contradictory to their own practices. Complementarity is one of the hallmarks of Open Dharma.

Another hallmark of Open Dharma is a complete lack of dogmatism. No one way will work for everybody. No individual or tradition has ‘the tablets’: they are written within the heart of each individual; teachers, gurus, guides and facilitators can only direct us there. We ourselves must learn to read what is written. As we become familiar with our heart and its unique message to us, we find our own particular way to tread the Path of Life.

For more information Contact Us.

~ A Note about Dana

Dana is a Sanskrit word similar to the Latin caritas, meaning giving, unconditional sharing, and is commonly rendered as ‘charity’ or ‘generosity.’ Dana consists not so much in the act of giving as in the feeling of wanting to give, of wanting to share what one has with other people. It is in the spirit of Dana that all teachings, retreats and personal guidance are offered freely from a full heart, never sold. It is also in the spirit of Dana that the teacher and the teachings are supported.

But this ancient tradition, common throughout the East and even in the early Church, has been lost in the West. We have come to believe we can buy anything – even peace, even enlightenment. This attitude, born of ignorance and based upon the notion of separateness, has led to the overabundance of greed that has so imperilled our world today. This idea of getting rather than sharing actually perpetuates our unhappiness. By participating in the spirit of Dana, we join in the growing wave of spiritually oriented sharing that is beginning to be felt in the world today, and which will ultimately reclaim it – and us – from our self-generated misery.

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