St Mary's Calne
On Friday 19th May, the Religious Studies Dept took the LIV girls on our annual trip to the International Meditation Centre in Heddington, just a few minutes' drive away in the Wiltshire countryside. While the weather wasn’t as good as on previous visits, the welcome was just as warm, the gardens as beautiful and the food as delicious. This visit consolidated the girls’ recent lessons in Buddhism as well as giving them an experience of Anapana Meditation for those who wanted to participate.
Here, two of the LIV report on the visit:
'Last Friday, LIV enjoyed a fascinating trip to the International Meditation Centre in Heddington. We learnt about the Meditation Centre’s background and purpose. We discussed our prior knowledge of Buddhism and learnt more interesting facts about the religion. We enjoyed 10 minutes of meditation, then went outside to see a stunning golden temple! Finally, we ended our memorable visit with a delicious afternoon tea and relaxing walk around the garden.' Jemima
‘The International Meditation Centre was one of the most memorable trips of LIV. I really enjoyed the place itself; the pagoda was covered in gold leaf which shone into our eyes very brightly. Meditating was very relaxing, but it took us a while to learn to not lose our concentration, as our minds often wandered. The people at the centre were very friendly, but I believe the highlight for most people was the tea that was served there! The food really added a sparkle to our experience in the Meditation Centre.’Claudia B