20260516-17【Beginner’s Meditation Class】

Bringing the Mind Back to Daily Life

Text by Ang Shao Ting

Photos by Shirley Wong

On 16 and 17 May 2026, Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia welcomed 40 participants to its English Beginner’s Meditation Class. Led by Venerable Chang Ji and Venerable Yan Cheng, the two-day class introduced participants to the basic principles and methods of Chan meditation practice.

For sitting meditation, participants were guided through the complete process, beginning with preparatory exercises and relaxation before sitting, followed by meditation practice, and ending with post-sitting massage to help the body adjust with ease.

The class also helped participants understand that Chan is not limited to sitting in stillness. A key teaching shared during the class was: “Wherever the body is, there the mind should be.” Through walking meditation and eight-form moving meditation, participants experienced “meditation through motion”, a practice that brings body and mind together with clarity and relaxation. Whether walking, standing, sitting, or reclining, Chan practice can be brought into daily life, allowing practitioners to remain more composed and at ease wherever they are.

During the sharing session, one participant mentioned that after sitting meditation, the hearing seemed to become much sharper, and even small sounds felt more noticeable. In response, the Venerables explained that such experiences may naturally arise during meditation, but they are not the goal of the practice. “The essence of Chan practice is to train the mind, from a scattered mind that is easily distracted by thoughts and external conditions, to a concentrated mind that stays with the method, to a unified mind that is no longer caught in inner conflict or opposition, and finally to the realisation of no mind, which points to freedom from attachment and self-centred views.”

Rather than chasing special experiences during meditation, practitioners are encouraged to return gently to the method, allowing the mind to become clearer, steadier, and more at ease.

The Beginner’s Meditation Class may have ended, but the actual practice has only just begun. Building a new habit takes time, patience, and regular practice. Participants are encouraged to continue practicing Chan meditation in daily life and through group sitting.