This weekend we launched Practical Buddhism at the Norwich Buddhist Centre.

You can buy my book in the UK from Amazon and it's also available on Kindle.

One of the themes that came up is how to practise Buddhism when conditions are not ideal. In fact, with some effort and a little creativity we can practise in any situation. Here are some tips from the chapter on Taking the Teachings to Work in Practical Buddhism:

Whatever our work situation, it is always possible to put mindfulness, kindness and the other precepts into practice. A good place to start is trying to be more aware of our body and mind. We can pause a moment between emails and check our posture, sitting up if we find we have slumped. If we have to move between places, even if it is just to the next room, we can bring awareness to our feet as we are walking. This can take us for a few moments out of our habitual thinking, which may include worrying and be causing ourselves additional stress. We can take a breathing space (chapter 2) while standing at the photocopier or waiting for the kettle to boil.

Work usually involves other people, albeit perhaps only at the end of a telephone or email. There is a lot of scope for considering how we can be kind and helpful in our interaction with others. We can reflect on how to best co-operate rather than just trying to get our own way. Work situations often invite gossip. There can be a strong pull to join in to be part of the group. A worthwhile challenge can be finding ways to talk skilfully about other people or desist from talking about others at all.

Maitreyabandhu interviews Paramabandhu on the launch of his book at the London Buddhist Centre on April 24th, 2013.

Here's a Soundcloud set of recordings to accompany the book, Practical Buddhism: Mindfulness and Skilful Living in the Modern Era by Dr. Paramabandhu Groves. These meditations are designed to help you live more mindfully and more skilfully...

Join the Group to contribute your own thoughts, and download more resources.

Get the mp3 versions of these meditations

Here's an easy online reading version of Chapter 2, which is an introduction to mindfulness. As well as explaining what mindfulness is, the chapter discussed common patterns of the mind that we meet in meditation and some misconceptions about meditation...

Here is a sample chapter of Practical Buddhism. It's chapter two, which is an introduction to mindfulness. As well as explaining what mindfulness is, the chapter discussed common patterns of the mind that we meet in meditation and some misconceptions about meditation.

Here are some pdf versions of my talks to download and read on whatever computer or portable device you favour!

Review by Free Buddhist Audio.

A useful look at the role friendship plays in our lives as practising Buddhists, following a classic '15 Points' model... A good-humoured, honest approach to understanding what the Buddha means when he talks about spirtual friendship being the whole of the spirtual life.

Review by Free Buddhist Audio

A timely and invaluable talk from Paramabandhu. Drawing on many years of experience as a consultant psychiatrist and Dharma teacher, he invites us to consider the lessons Buddhist techniques around meditation and mindfulness training can bring to the field of mental health - especially to problems with depression and addiction. The talk evokes the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta to explore the four traditional foundations of mindfulness and discuss their potential use in therapeutic contexts. It is a kindly and empowering expression of practical hope, whose message applies to us all as we struggle to overcome whatever it is that holds us back from greater freedom in our lives.

Complete with a subsequent question-and-answer session on the talk in which Paramabandhu elaborates on the general theme. There's a wide range of material opened up - and considerable detail about how we can actually go about applying these techniques to whatever challenges we face in your own lives. Essential listening.

Please note - the questions in this recording were made at very low levels. We've amplified and clarified where possible - but the general sound quality drops noticeably at these points. However, they are all now audible and, in almost all instances, questions are repeated by Paramabandhu before he answers.