The Meditation Guy

You can ask him anything!

About Peter Fernando

Peter trained as a Buddhist monk for seven years, and lived in a monastic practice environment for most of his twenties. Upon returning to lay life he was invited to teach in Wellington by New Zealand meditation teacher Stephen Archer, and was one of the founders of Original Nature Meditation Centre in 2009, and created an ongoing online course, A Month of Mindfulness, in 2011.

The joy hidden within chaos

Chaotic kitchen

by regular columnist Peter Fernando, The Meditation Guy. You can ask him anything! (On meditation that is.) On the surface of things, spirituality can seem to be about control, right? 'Mind Control' perhaps. Or 'Body Control'? On the far end of the spectrum you even get teachings suggesting that the point of life is to have ultimate control over the universe. Sounds good, doesn't it? But is that what 'spirituality', or more accurately, freedom is about? I personally wonder if it … [Read more...]

Why ‘letting go’ and ‘detachment’ can be pitfalls on the spiritual path

Mother and child

by regular columnist Peter Fernando, The Meditation Guy I received this honest and moving question a few weeks back: If you have never bonded with your mother and so have never experienced secure attachment in a primary relationship, how can you work with non-attachment? And letting go? When you have never really experienced having anything to hold onto? The first thing I should say is this: I am no expert in this field, so please don't take my word as gospel. I can only reflect from … [Read more...]

Starting a Home Meditation Practice

Anyone can meditate at home

by regular columnist Peter Fernando, The Meditation Guy   Are you wanting to start your own home meditation practice? The number one piece of advice I have for you is: Just do it! Having said that, a recent question that came in asked for more details, so in response to that reader, here's... Six Useful Home Meditation Tips   1) Don't meditate in front of the TV (even when it's off), or in front of the computer. If you take some time to create a meditation-only space … [Read more...]

Why Do I Meditate?

From BMXIng to Meditating

I've got to be honest with you. The desire to be a well adjusted person wasn't really what motivated me to commit to meditation practice. I remember once, when I was about thirteen, riding my bike home from school down the main street of Whanganui. It was a normal day, nothing spectacular going on. The usual concerns going around in my mind; 'I wonder if such-and-such a girl likes me...' 'Maybe I will become a rock star one day...' And other such wanderings. Then out of the blue, a … [Read more...]

Walking the Path with Peter Fernando, The Meditation Guy

Peter Fernando, The Meditation Guy

Born? Scotland Grew up? Wanganui Wanted to be? An Artist Social clique at school? Didn't really have any 'clique' I belonged to. I've never really felt like I belonged to anything exclusively. Hardest thing about being a teenager? Testosterone :) Greatest disappointment hitting adulthood? ... Greatest challenge or hardship to date? Monastic life during my twenties, and the challenges that brought up. In that environment I met, for the first time, the rawness of the … [Read more...]

Establishing a daily mindfulness practice is easier than you think

A month of mindfulness

by guest author Peter Fernando, meditation teacher and founder of A Month of Mindfulness Establishing a daily meditation practice can be an opportunity for creativity and a fresh perspective on how we live in the world. It doesn't have to seem like just another thing we should be doing, but aren't... One of the most frequent struggles I hear shared by those of us living in urban environments is around maintaining a continuity of mindfulness – both in terms of times alone, sitting in … [Read more...]