On Wednesday in the late afternoon, students gathered in a circle on the floor of the Kay Spiritual Life Center around Buddhist Chaplain Bhante Katugastota Uparatana. For some of these students and others, Buddhist meditation has become a way to release the stress and tension that come with the start of a new school year.
Vipassana meditation, which Uparatana teaches, focuses on cultivating awareness of the body, feelings and consciousness through concentrated breathing and thought. According to Buddhist teaching, human suffering is a result of negative emotions like discontentment, jealousy, anger and agitation. The central goal of meditation is to purge the mind of these negative emotions, thus liberating the individual from suffering.
"Mental health is an important part of life," Uparatana said. "The mind gets sick and we cannot do anything. [It] has to be purified of anger, jealousy and the negative emotions that pollute it. The main goal of meditation is for inner happiness, wisdom and peace."
Uparatana, who has taught Buddhist meditation at the Kay Center since 1989, is also the founder of the International Buddhist Center in Wheaton, Md. The organization was established to promote Therevada Buddhist teaching, and to provide guidance, practices and educational opportunities for Buddhists and others interested in Buddhism.
Though meditation is often thought of as a religious practice, Uparatana stresses the fact that students need not be Buddhist or have any previous meditation experience or religious background to reap its benefits. In fact, the majority of students in his meditation class are not Buddhist, he said.
"Everyone can be involved in my meditation class," he said. "This is a basic meditation we are doing here, so even those inexperienced can participate."
For those who do participate, benefits may include enhanced concentration, increased energy, calmness, creativity and willpower.
"I meditate for a certain level of calm and a sense of focus," said Brian Gardner, a junior in the School of International Service and College of Arts and Sciences. "My mind feels more awake if I meditate. It's very peaceful."
The sessions, which begin with a "loving-kindness prayer" followed by a 20- to 25-minute meditation period and a brief discussion of Buddhist teaching, or Dhamma, are guided entirely by Uparatana. Buddhist meditation classes are offered every Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Kay.
For more information on Buddhism or Buddhist meditation, contact Uparatana at x3329 or the International Buddhist Center at (301) 946-9437.
