Mindfulness of breathing
In this elegant meditation practice we simply watch the breath as it comes and goes from the body. Through progressive stages, the practice allows us to deepen and refine our awareness becoming increasingly sensitive to our physical sensations and thoughts, and allowing the mind to settle and calm.Metta bhavana
Metta is an ancient Indian word which means loving-kindness or friendliness, and bhavana means development or cultivation. So in the metta bhavana meditation we develop a more positive and kindly attitude towards ourselves and others. We begin by simply noticing how we feel and gently accepting our experience (whatever it is), and then we move through progressive stages of cultivating metta to a good friend, a neutral person, someone we find difficult and then on to include all beings. This is a radical and sometimes challenging practice – it is not unusual for people to find the first stage the most difficult. However it is remarkably powerful and transformative, often leading to a much greater sense of emotional presence in daily life.(published with permission in writing from:http://www.buddhistcentrecroydon.org)
