The 1pm free meditation session Friday at this east London Buddhist Centre building was so packed it got divided into two rooms.

People had to sit on the floor in the reception area, it was so crowded.

One lady in a dark-green cardigan sat down in front of me and loudly clicked her neck.

Aging hippies, youngish hipsters … even classic east-end brovs were there to do some yoga or try to get in a frame of mind that would have them “bless their enemies”. (Stage 4 of a 5-stage meditation.)

Loving-kindness (metta) meditation was on offer today:

—Generating feelings of goodwill toward yourself and others

—Often uses phrases like “May you be safe” (I didn’t hear a single ”oommmm”).

—Helpful for anger, self-criticism, compassion fatigue, dealing with inhuman behavior

One seasoned leader of metta meditation practice admitted after today’s class that she too struggled not to get angry, after I mentioned that most of the world’s leaders seem to be trying hard to make us fearful, divided and impoverished, instead of formulating policies that underpin humankind’s commonality.

How does she deal with it? She meditates even more, she replied.

Meditation is meant to enable a tuning in … to earth’s common spirituality.

With sirens blaring outside and injustices dragging on down the road at Westminster Palace, attendees didn’t seem that relaxed, nor overflowing with community spirit, after their one-hour of “peace”.

…As they hurried back to the grindstone, the bankers were bunking off work to spend their bloated bonuses.

The teacher had earlier told us “beginners” that it can take “several” tries before you get the hang of meditation.

With PM Starmer having improperly arrested 3,000 activists for supporting Palestine Action and with the US’s President Trump slashing even more climate protections while protecting pedophiles and insider traders … lord Buddha is facing one of his biggest challenges yet.

https://towerhamletsslice.co.uk/romanroad/london-buddhist-centre-east-london/