"The daily stresses of life can eventually catch up you; work demands, money worries and exams are number of the worries we deal with everyday. Buddhists claim that meditation can help you to create an inner calm, relax both your body and mind, deal with difficulties in a positive way and give you the wisdom to repair relationships. "Sounds interesting" I thought, so I went along to give it a try... On my first visit to the Vajravarahi Buddhist Centre in Preston I was unsure of what to expect, would I get bored? Would I be under pressure to conform or agree with Buddhism? On arrival I was reassured about these concerns, I was a beginner and would be expected to do nothing other than listen and try. The atmosphere at the Buddhist centre is one of peace and tranquility. The meditation room itself is an array of colours, textures and golden Buddhas creating an unusual yet comforting space. The meditations are all guided by a teacher, who will be a qualified person, a Buddhist monk or nun. The class begins with a guided mediation session where guests are encouraged to clear their minds and detach from the world around them. Most of the class appeared to have been regular attendants which daunted me a little although many of them said that they only attended when they could or when they felt it necessary. Once the actual class had begun I no longer felt concerned, the atmosphere was relaxed and I felt I could blend in. I did struggle a little to meditate for the whole time given, although I'm sure others did too. My mind would begin to wander and I'd have to try to bring my thoughts together. I was assured after the class though that meditation, like any other skill or task, was one I would improve at with time. Buddhist monks can meditate for hours on end. After the meditating, the class continued with a short teaching where the teacher discussed a Buddhist practice and how to apply it to your daily life. These teachings can be on a number of things and help you to cope with your demons, such as attachment, jealousy, greed or resentment. The class ended with another guided mediation which brings all that you have learnt into practice, rejuvenating and relaxing you before you head home. Your teacher will stress the importance and difference that a short mediation session, each day can make to your life and outlook. Once the session had ended refreshments were available while we talked together. I noticed the selection of people I sat amongst. There seemed to be no strict type of person, there were people of different ages, sex and race, which meant that there was someone for everyone to talk to. The teacher came and introduced himself to me and asked me if I'd enjoyed the class, I told him I'd found it to be an interesting experience and something I would be doing again." Sarah Athey The views expressed on this page are those of the contributor and the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the BBC. | 
