About

Slow Space is an inclusive space for mindfulness and meditation practice. On and offline - in Brisbane/Meanjin, Australia.

My name is Lauren and learning to meditate has been the most important skill I have learned so far in my life. My own journey with meditation began in 2018 when I was suffering from very poor mental health. I feel that meditation and mindfulness are the most practical and accessible way for all humans to keep a healthy mind, resilient body and open heart. This is the gift I have received from my own practice.

In 2022 I completed certification to teach and guide mindfulness and meditation through ACMM. My wish is to spread the lasting peace, joy and wakefulness these practices cultivate.

At Slow Space we hold weekly classes to support your meditation practice and offer workshops in community and corporate spaces. We use a contemporary understanding of mindfulness practices and approaches to teaching which are consistent with modern living. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, all are welcome to join.

Mindfulness and Meditation

In Buddhist tradition it is said that “life is suffering” due to being caught in a cycle of constantly craving pleasant experiences and having aversion to unpleasant experiences. In modern terms this can be understood as being stuck on autopilot, feeling constantly stressed and finding life generally difficult to navigate.

This is where mindfulenss and meditation offer a very practical training to guide us home to our true nature, which is a state of flexibility and adaptability to lifes circumstances.

The way to break this cycle of “suffering” is to bring attention deeply into the present moment without judgement. When we break the cycle a few things happen. We regulate our nervous system, we have focused attention and we press pause on the busy mind we all experience.

While reading this is giving you an idea of what mindfulness is, your direct experience with the practice that will give you the best understanding.

We can all build a buddha brain

There is emerging research in neuroscience, which tells us the brains “default mode of operation” is mind wandering. Our default state of mind is a rumination of thoughts of past and future that may not represent what is actually happening for us right now. This is said to affect our ability to feel satisfied with our lives. Both the Buddha and modern science suggest that the missing piece to lasting happiness is our ability to live with true presence.

What is in the way of living mindfully and being present? Our constant habit of thinking, thinking, thinking. Our mind produces thoughts the way our heart produces a beat, it is a natural process. Mindfulness and meditation requires a new kind of effort, to build a new habit of establishing presence and awareness instead of being lost in thought. This can feel hard at first as our habit of thinking is very strong.

How do we build a buddha brain? It takes time, patience and some discipline to master the skill of meditation. It’s not a “quick fix” and we can’t expect an overnight transformation. We water the seeds of our happiness by paying attention to what is happening inside of us and develop a friendly attitude towards emotions, feelings and thoughts.

Recent Scientific studies tell us that mindfulness can significantly reduce physiological and pyschological pain we experience. Beyond this we are able to touch our true nature; the quiet, wise and peaceful space beyond emotions, thoughts and beliefs. This is called our “Buddha Nature” . “We could think of Buddha nature as what exists beneath or behind the mind” Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.

With time our practice gifts us the realisation that every aspect of our life is precious and worth paying attention to.

“An unexamined life is not worth living” - Socrates

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Find out more about the practical elements of mindfulness by joining the weekly in-person class or setup a 1:1 practice consultation.htr