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bHante Sarnapala began his monastic life when he was 10 years old and has been practicing Buddhism since then. Now 53, Toronto-based Monk leads the weekly Attention session and monthly retreat to help others with their mental health Through mindfulness.
For Sarnapala, every meditation – morning and night – is guided by Buddhist goal of nirvanaAs the Buddha taught, nirvana represents the highest state of enlightenment in buddhismSymbolizing the end of a person’s suffering.
“Meditation should be based on a foundation of morality. We practice meditation to purify the mind, because our actions may be rooted in negative emotions,” he explains. Independent“Meditation gives us the wisdom to see things as they are, and we realize the fact that everything is impermanent, We realize that painful things may not be under our control,”
Although Sarnapala is a Buddhist follower, he emphasizes that anyone can follow religion Meditation, as long as they are done mindfully. In addition to sitting with her legs crossed, a core part of her practice is to train herself to breathe slowly and quietly. He explains that when life feels burdensome – whether due to stress, grief or depression – meditation helps us stop ourselves from reacting impulsively.
He says, “You’re being kind to yourself. You’re calming your body and mind. You’re letting go of what’s bothering you.” “And once you’re calm and composed at the same time, it becomes contagious. Your calm presence helps those around you, too.”
California resident george wigand He did not begin exploring meditation until his early thirties. Under the guidance of his spiritual teacher, Wigand studies Tibetan Buddhism – a branch of Mahayana Buddhism that preserves the core philosophy of the religion from India. Tibetan Buddhism also emphasizes the teachings of the Dalai Lama, which focus on kindness and compassion.
For the past 40 years, Wiegand has been living and volunteering at the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center in Cazadero, California, devoting an hour each day to meditation – a practice he approaches with a deeply analytical mindset.
“Through meditation there is always a mental component and learning what contributes to my perceptions, my way of relating to objects and the things that exist in my mind,” he explains. Independent“The Tibetans have a tradition called silent standing meditation, where you sit, watch, and you just let everything happen, whether you’re attracted to something or you’re indifferent, This allowed me to see clearly what was actually happening in my mind and body,”
More Americans are placing their trust in meditation practices. according to National Health Interview SurveyThe survey, which is conducted annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found the percentage of adults who meditate more than doubled between 2002 and 2022, from 7.5 to 17.3 percent.
As far as its benefits are concerned, a study was published in the journal in 2018. behavioral brain researchfound that brief, daily meditation enhanced memory, mood, and emotional regulation in inexperienced meditators. Mayo Clinic The argument is that even a few minutes of meditation a day can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress and improve your patience levels.
Sarnapal says meditation helps him think more clearly, giving him a calmer mind, sharper concentration and more self-awareness in daily life. He says he sleeps better at night and starts each day with more energy — and much less fear and anxiety.
“I have emotional balance and no stress. I have strong resilience,” he says. “Meditation also helped me improve my relationships because I’m listening better and communicating more attentively. I don’t hold any resentment or animosity toward anyone, and I’m living a life with meaning and direction.”
For Sarnapala, meditation doesn’t end when a session ends—it continues throughout every moment of the day. Whether he’s browsing the grocery store or talking with a friend, he says he tries to be completely present, dedicated to whatever is happening around him. Without that mindfulness, he warns, negative thoughts can creep in quietly. Think about sitting in traffic when you’re already running late, irritability rising at a red light – a brief moment where the mind, left unchecked, can rapidly spiral.
He says, “Sometimes you feel like screaming because of this and you have no control over it. You are reacting emotionally to what is happening in your environment.” “With mindfulness, you have an ‘aha’ moment, and you realize you were behaving that way because of anger. The moment you realize you are angry, you can stop the anger from escalating. It stops there.”
Wiegand says meditation is often misunderstood as a feel-good self-help tool — something to work out mistakes before getting back to daily life. For them, it is the slower, more demanding task of confronting the nature of reality.
“When I have the tools, I don’t have to look outside for happiness. We either know ourselves or others who have everything you want, and still aren’t happy,” he explains. “Buddhism is about looking inward for peace and happiness. We’re not trying to find anything, we’re uncovering what’s already there. We’re trying to get in touch with the mind, with awareness. And it’s a slow process.”