Mindfulness meditation has been practiced for well over 2500 years and it is without doubt the case that those who commit to a regular practice will reap the benefits (as evidencd by clinical trials including brain imaging studies carried out at Harvard University and elsewhere (see below for links)). That is, they become less stressed; less reactive to troublesome mood states (such as anger, anxiety and depression); less reactive to chronic pain and/or chronic illness; more attentive to what's important in life; and more appreciative of their on-going experience from moment to moment.
Furthermore, regular meditation benefits not only those who practice but also those close to them who frequently report that whenever an individual is actively engaged with his or her practice they seem happier and easier to get along with. Indeed, such changes are one of the best indicators of whether or not the practice is 'working'.
That said, there are many pitfalls to be negotiated along the way to establishing a committed practice and so in order to reap the benefits it is helpful to engage a teacher to encourage you through the hinderences which can all too easily dishearten the beginning student.
I was first introduced to meditation some thirty years ago when I enrolled onto course for students of Transdental Meditation. I enjoyed the course very much but for whatever reason my attempts to establish a practice at this time failed to bear fruit.
About a decade later I was introduced to a different style of meditation (called mindfulness meditation) through the writings of Stephen Levine (in particular his book entitled, 'A Gradual Awakening') but remained unable to establish a regular practice. Only after attending a group run by a London based Zen Teacher and psychotherapist named Thomas Grieves did I commit to a daily practice and I am eternally grateful to Thomas for his clear and compassionate guidance over our eighteen months of working together.
Since then (1994) I have attended retreats in London, San Francisco, Bangalore (India) and Sydney and have taught mindfulness meditation to small groups (including a series of groups targeted at other health professionals with my colleague Michael Dash) in both London and Sydney.
For one-to-one meditation instruction in Sydney CBD or in Summer Hill please phone 0402 303 730 or send an email to max.rutheford@optusnet.com.au
Links yet to be added but for moment you might want to google names like: Jon Kabat-Zinn (re mindfulness in general), Sare Lazar (re brain imaging studies), Mark Williams (re mindfulness and depression) and Masha Linehan (re mindfulness and borderline personality disorder).