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A beginners group meets every Tuesday at 7:30pm at 'The Millbrook Centre, Millbrook St, Off Edward St., Opposite the Town Hall Entrance, Stockport Classes re-commence 8th January 2008 Everyone is welcome at any time. Contacts: Richard Jones 0161 487 1150 Peter Needham 0161 303 8100 email : Peter Needham A group of experienced meditators meets on Monday evenings during term time at 7:45pm at the Friends' Meeting House, Cooper St. (Junction Higher Hillgate & Longshut Lane). Members of the original Stockport group, which was founded in 1990, also continue to meet regularly with their teacher.

Samatha means calm. Samatha meditation is a gentle, effective way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil, leading on to clarity and understanding. By daily practice the chattering, unruly mind gradually becomes calmer and develops clarity. The way our mind works becomes less confusing. We begin to understand the habits of mind that hold us back from happiness and freedom. We become kinder to ourselves and those around us. Meditation is a practical matter: increased awareness brings an ability to make the most of ourselves in our daily lives. This path from calm to insight was followed by the Buddha, and is a central tradition of Buddhist meditation. There are many kinds of Samatha meditation techniques: this one is based on attention to the breath, a subject which is said to be suitable for all. It is rooted in the Theravada tradition, and was introduced to England in 1962 by a Thai meditation teacher.