Meditation for Everyone: A 12 Step Guide

By Bernard Vorster

Intellectual understanding means nothing without experience; experience means nothing without intellectual understanding
Meditation for Everyone is a beautifully clear and concise guide to what meditation can do for you, how to begin and what to expect. Written by a wise, compassionate and experienced teacher, the book covers the seven points of mindfulness, the seven steps of meditation posture and twelve specific meditations including:
•Calm abiding
•Sense
•Walking
•Mantra
•Insight
•Gratitude
•Loving kindness
Also included are Guidance from a Master and a section on understanding the mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robin Beck
• Release date: Nov 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781920535667

Bernard Vorster

Bernard lives down the Kwa Zulu Natal Coast with his wife Melody. In retirement since 2007, they run a yoga, meditation and retreat centre in the small village of Southbroom. Here they also show monthly cinema nouveau-style movies and invite guests to run various workshops. In his spare time from the centre, he enjoys playing golf – in fact their home is just a few metres from the golf course and the 13th tee-box.He comes from a microbiology laboratory background, but has always had an interest in the workings of the mind and the practice of meditation.Besides attending many short and long retreats in South Africa, he has travelled to China, Tibet and India as part of his spiritual quest, attending a number of retreats there as well. Being an avid reader himself, he has also studied many teachings from both east and west.In helping many people begin their own practice of meditation, he has gained a lot of experience which he shares with new students. He hopes to encourage many more through the publication of this work, as he continues his work at their yoga and meditation centre.

Book preview

Meditation for Everyone

A 12 Step Guide

By

Bernard Vorster

Intellectual understanding means nothing without experience.

Experience means nothing without intellectual understanding.

Published by:

Kima Books

Denmark

Copyright Bernard Vorster 2014

ISBN 978-87-93886-82-7

First edition October 2014

Publisher’s web site

Author’s web site

With the exception of small passages quoted for review purposes, this edition may not be reproduced, translated, adapted, copied, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any from or through any means including mechanical, electronic, photocopying or otherwise without the permission of the publisher.

Acknowledgments

The following words, believed to be said by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, are worth remembering about the Spiritual Path: Better you don’t start. But if you do start, better you don’t stop!

I would like to acknowledge all those who have helped me along this path, which I decided to continue, and not stop. It is thanks to these wonderful teachers that I am able to offer this simple guide to those wanting to learn meditation: Nan Hua Temple, Bronkhorstspruit and the team which conducted beginner’s retreats; Master Hui Re of the Meditation Centre who helped his students to the next level. This is where it all really started for me.

Mark Joseph and Martin Kristiansen for introducing me to Tibetan Buddhism and the profound teachings. And to Mark again for assisting with the editing of this manuscript prior to publication.

His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, head of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, who triggered some great change in me during our visit to the Twenty-Fifth Monlam in Bodh Gaya in 2007, where Buddhists from around the globe came to pray for world peace.

His Eminence Choeje Ayang Rinpoche for his guidance and teaching in understanding the process of dying and the opportunities for enlightenment this affords us humans (he is considered to be the world’s living master on the practice of Phowa, which is the transfer of consciousness at the time of death).

Chamtrul Rinpoche Lobsang Gyatso for his teachings and blessing in our centre in Southbroom.

Ringu Tulku, for accepting me as his long-term student along this path and for continuing to peel away the layers of ignorance which cover my eyes. Our fourteen-day retreat with him as our teacher in Sikkim has been one of my more profound experiences of meditation.

Rob Nairn, who continues to call me his spiritual friend, yet he has been that and so much more as mentor and guide to me these many years. His vast knowledge of the workings of the human mind and Buddhism has been inspirational over a number of three-day and ten-day retreats. Rob conducts retreats around the world and those at Tara Rokpa Centre in Groot Marico – silence is a great teacher.

To my friend Palo de Alpoim, whose honesty has always reminded me to keep my feet on the ground and head out of the clouds; and for his comments during the writing of this guide.

Also to the many teachers who have entered my consciousness through the written word; I have read many books from A to Z to complement my understanding of the mind, meditation and the spiritual path, and continue to do so to the present day.And lastly to my wife, Melody, for joining me on this exciting path and bringing her support, strength and insights to our progress – and for being my constant and patient sounding board as I compiled this guide.

My thanks also to Claire Strombeck for editing and to Kima Global for believing in the need for such a meditation guide. A dream has come true.

Meditation is not a search; it is not a seeking, a probing, or an exploration.

It is an explosion and discovery.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Table of Contents

Part One: How did we Get There?

Introduction

The Seven Points of Mindfulness

Seven Steps of Meditation Posture

Meditation Guidelines for all Meditation Sessions

Reflecting

Part Two: Shall we Start?

Meditation