Balarka Robinson - Canberra Meditation

March 2026 Courses & Workshops

by Balarka Robinson | Oct 2, 2025 | Events

Why Meditate?

Free upcoming courses in Canberra. Register now!

Our free Why Meditate courses offer the methods, knowledge and inspiration you’ll need to embark on your own inner journey while exploring the many paths of meditation – you only need the sincerity to try and the determination to practice.

Our instructors have many years of personal experience to share with you, and each of the structured free courses will cover a range of techniques and essential meditation secrets. You’ll also enjoy the company of like-minded people who, like yourself, are seeking the inner treasures that the inner life always brings.

Option A: Belconnen

When: Monday 16, Thursday 19, Monday 23, Thursday 26 March, 6.30pm – 8:00pm
Venue: Belconnen Library, Community Room, 12 Chandler St, Belconnen

Option B: Woden

When: Monday 16, Tuesday 17, Thursday 19, Friday 20 March, 6.30pm – 8:00pm
Venue: Woden Library, Community Room 2, Corner of Furzer St & Corinna St, Phillip

Option C: Tuggeranong

When: Tuesday 17, Friday 20, Tuesday 24, Friday 27 March, 6.30pm – 8:00pm
Venue: Tuggeranong Library, Community Room, 175/245 Cowlishaw St, Greenway

Option D: Gungahlin

When: Monday 23, Tuesday 24, Thursday 26, Friday 27 March, 6.30pm – 8:00pm
Venue: Gungahlin Library Training Room 1, corner of Hibberson St and Gozzard St, Gungahlin

Option E – Weekend Workshop: Civic

When: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March, 2pm – 6pm
Venue: The Griffin Centre, Room 6, 20 Genge Street, Civic

What will the classes cover?

• Step One: Breathing and concentration – simple meditation exercises to relax the body and calm the mind.

• Step Two: Mantras and the Spiritual Heart – sacred sounds for inner silence; heart meditation for peace and vastness.

• Step Three: Music and meditation – using music to awaken the heart and calm the mind.

• Step Four: From daily practice to lifestyle – deepening our inner experience through meditation as a lifestyle.

Why Join?

It’s free: No fees, just an opportunity to learn and grow.
Open to everyone: beginners and experienced meditators are welcome.
Personal attention: small class sizes mean more guidance tailored to you.
Flexible format: choose between our intensive evening courses, or our weekend workshop

Keep Going

After the introductory sessions, we offer free continuation classes for those who want to dive deeper into meditation and the inner life. These classes provide a supportive community to explore and grow your practice.

To register for one of the course options or for more information, please contact Prachar on 040-407-1327 or leave a message below. Please include the course option you would like to register for.

July 2025 Courses

by Balarka Robinson | Mar 30, 2025 | Events

Mastering Meditation: The Inner Awakening

Free upcoming classes in Canberra. Register now to get started on your inner journey to happiness!

Our free mastering meditation courses offer the methods, knowledge and inspiration you’ll need to embark on your own inner journey while exploring the many paths of meditation – you only need the sincerity to try and the determination to practice.

Our instructors have decades of personal experience to share with you, and each of the structured free courses will cover a range of techniques and essential meditation secrets. You’ll also enjoy the company of like-minded people who, like yourself, are seeking the inner treasures that the inner life always brings.

Option A: A 4-step, 4-evening challenge

When: Consecutive Thursday evenings, July 10, 17, 24, 31 — 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Venue: The Griffin Centre, 20 Genge Street, Civic

• Step One: Thursday, July 10
Breathing and concentration – simple meditation exercises to relax the body and calm the mind.

• Step Two: Thursday, July 17
Mantras and the Spiritual Heart – using sacred sounds to discover silence; discovering the power of the heart.

• Step Three: Thursday, July 24
Music and meditation – using music to awaken the heart and calm the mind.

• Step Four: Thursday, July 31
From daily practice to lifestyle – deepening our inner experience through meditation as a lifestyle.

Option B: A Meditation Journey in One Afternoon

When: Saturday, July 26 — 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Venue: The Griffin Centre, 20 Genge Street, Civic

A joyful journey into the secrets of a successful meditation practice: breathing, concentration, mantras and the spiritual heart.

Why Join?

It’s free: No fees, just an opportunity to learn and grow.
Open to everyone: beginners and experienced meditators are welcome.
Personal attention: small class sizes mean more guidance tailored to you.
Flexible format: choose between our once-a-week Thursday evening courses or weekend workshops—both designed to fit easily into busy schedules.

Keep Going

After the introductory sessions, we offer free continuation classes for those who want to dive deeper into meditation and the inner life. These classes provide a supportive community to explore and grow your practice.

To register for one of the course options or for more information, please contact Balarka on 045-110-2713 or leave a message below. Please include the course option you would like to register for.

Feb-Mar 2025 Courses

by Balarka Robinson | Dec 8, 2024 | Old

Mastering Meditation Courses

Have you tried meditating before and felt there’s more to uncover? Or maybe you’re just starting and want to make it part of your life? Mastering Meditation is here to guide you on a deeper, more fulfilling journey into meditation.

Our free courses are designed to make meditation accessible, practical, and enjoyable. Our experienced instructors, who have practiced under the guidance of Sri Chinmoy, are passionate about helping you unlock the benefits of meditation.

Course Dates and Times:

Option A: Thursday evenings, May 8, 15, 22, 29 — 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Option B: Saturday afternoon, May 24 — 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Option C: Thursday evenings, July 10, 17, 24, 31 — 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Option D: Saturday afternoon, July 26 — 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

What’s the difference between our weeknight courses and weekend workshops?

Our weeknight courses offer a deeper, more progressive journey into meditation. Each week, we introduce new techniques and build on the foundations from the previous session. To get the most from the experience, we recommend joining by the second session.

Our weekend workshops are ideal if you’re short on time or can’t attend during the week. These focused sessions offer a practical introduction to the essentials of meditation—all in a single, immersive experience.

Why Join?

It’s free: No fees, just an opportunity to learn and grow.
Open to everyone: Beginners and experienced meditators are welcome.
Personal attention: Small class sizes mean more guidance tailored to you.
Flexible format: Choose between our once-a-week Thursday evening courses or weekend workshops—both designed to fit easily into busy schedules.

What You’ll Learn

Our courses explore a variety of techniques to help you develop a rewarding meditation practice, including:

Relaxation & Breath Control: Feel your breath as a peaceful river flowing through your being, calming body and mind.
Guided Visualisation: Imagine a golden sunrise within you, filling your heart with peace and your mind with clarity.
Quietening the Mind: Let go of the noisy chatter and uncover the beauty of a silent mind.
The Spiritual Heart: Dive deep into your spiritual heart—the inner fountain of joy, peace, and light.
Mantras & Chanting: Let sacred sounds calm your mind and awaken your inner peace.
Music in Meditation: Allow soulful music to open the door to inner happiness.

Keep Going

After the introductory sessions, we offer free advanced classes for those who want to dive deeper into meditation. These continuation classes provide a supportive community to explore and grow your practice.

Sep-Dec 2024 Courses

by Balarka Robinson | Sep 17, 2024 | Events

If you have tried to meditate and have experienced something but feel that you could go much deeper, then “Mastering Meditation” is for you. In these free classes we will cover what is important for mastering meditation, and how to make your meditation practice more effective and more fulfilling. The courses are presented as a service by students of Sri Chinmoy who themselves have been practicing meditation for many years.

In our November courses we will be offering introductory one-off workshops in different parts of Canberra during the week of 11-17 November. These workshops will provide a taste of what will be covered in a subsequent 4 session course which will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Griffin Centre in Civic, Canberra. An optional sign-up and further details of this course will be provided at the conclusion of each of the introductory workshops. We will also have a one-off weekend workshop for those who are unable to attend weeknight classes and who are looking for a compact introduction to Mastering Meditation.

Option A: Introductory workshop, Tuggeranong: Tuggeranong Community Centre, 245 Cowlishaw St; Monday, Nov 11, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Option B: Introductory workshop, Queanbeyan: Letchworth Community Centre, 28 Miller St; Tuesday, Nov 12, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Option C: Introductory workshop, Canberra: The Griffin Centre, 20 Genge St; Thursday, Nov 14, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Option D: Weekend workshop, Canberra: The Griffin Centre, 20 Genge St; Saturday, Nov 23, 1 – 4.30 pm (1 x 3.5 hr class)

All courses are free throughout.
Prior registration is required as space is limited.
The classes cover a range of different techniques and are suitable for experienced meditators and beginners alike.
Our weekend workshops offer a compact introduction to meditation in one session.

Some of the techniques and topics include: Practical Tips for Meditation • Relaxation & Breath Control • Guided Visualisation • Quietening the Mind • Understanding the Heart Centre • Open-eye Concentration • Chanting (Mantra) • The Role of a Guru • Music in Meditation

Continuation Classes: After the initial courses, we will offer advanced classes, also free of charge, for those wishing to explore “Mastering Meditation” further. These classes are usually held on weeknights and will bring together students from both the weeknight and weekend courses.

To register for one of the above course options or for more information, please leave a message below or contact us on 045-110-2713. Please include the course option you would like to register for.

Sep-Dec 2024 Weekend Workshops

by Balarka Robinson | Sep 17, 2024 | Events

If you have tried to meditate and have experienced something but feel you could go much deeper, then one of our “Mastering Meditation” workshops is for you. In these free courses we will cover how to make your meditation practice stronger, deeper and more effective. The courses are presented as a service by students of Sri Chinmoy who themselves have been practising meditation for many years.

Option B: Saturday, Oct 12; 1 – 4.30 pm (1 x 3.5 hr class)

Option D: Saturday, Nov 23; 1 – 4.30 pm (1 x 3.5 hr class)

Venue: The Griffin Centre, 20 Genge Street, Canberra

All courses are free throughout.
Prior registration is required as space is limited.
The courses cover a range of different techniques and are suitable for experienced meditators and beginners alike.
We also offer weekday evening courses on Mondays and Thursdays at the same venue.

Some of the techniques and topics include: Practical Tips for Meditation • Relaxation & Breath Control • Guided Visualisation • Quietening the Mind • Understanding the Heart Centre • Open-eye Concentration • Chanting (Mantra) • The Role of a Guru • Music in Meditation

Continuation Classes: After the initial courses, there will be follow up classes, also free of charge, for those wishing to explore “Mastering Meditation” further. These classes are usually held on weeknights and will bring together students from both the weeknight and weekend courses.

To register for one of the course options or for more information, please contact us on 045-110-2713 or leave a message below. Please include the course option you would like to register for.

Establishing a new practice

by Balarka Robinson | Sep 17, 2024 | Getting started

In order to cultivate a regular meditation practice, it is important that we look to first create an external environment that is conducive to meditation. Begin by finding a place in your home that will become your designated meditation area. Choose somewhere that is relatively quiet and where you are unlikely to be disturbed.

Next you will need a couple of cushions, a small table and a few ‘props’. These ‘props’ might include fresh flowers, a candle or two, a picture of a spiritual teacher, some incense to burn, or anything else that inspires you. You might also like to play some simple meditative music. Avoid having a clock that you regularly glance at or soon you will find yourself meditating on the clock! Most of us have an alarm in our mobile phone that we can use.

If you are disturbed by the outer world, be it your family, your housemates, your neighbours or whatever else; treat these distractions with poise and patience. If you react angrily you are bound to feel the echoes throughout the rest of your meditation. It is also helpful to take a shower beforehand and if possible, do not eat for two hours before meditating.

Establishing a regular practice is a challenging task. Be courageous, be determined and don’t give up. If you are able, find a group with whom you can meditate regularly. Their presence and companionship will inspire you and your own personal meditations will grow stronger as a result. Reading spiritual books and maintaining a good level of physical fitness are also most helpful. Above all, just keep at it! It takes a little while to build up momentum, but once you do your life will begin to blossom in ways you could not even imagine.

If you feel inspired, please come along to our free classes. Our instructors will be delighted to assist you in establishing your own regular meditation practice.

“When we meditate we expand, spreading our wings like a bird, trying to enter consciously into Infinity, Eternity and Immortality, welcoming them into our aspiring consciousness. We see, feel and grow into the entire universe of Light-Delight.
—Sri Chinmoy

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