The "I can't Meditate Trap" and How to Escape it.

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026 at 11:00 pm to Sun, 22 Feb, 2026 at 06:30 am UTC+11:00

2 Smith St, Charlestown NSW 2290, Australia | Warners Bay

Rigpa Australia
Publisher/HostRigpa Australia
The "I can't Meditate Trap" and How to Escape it.
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A Weekend of Discovery.
21-22 February, 9am – 4.30pm, with an introductory zoom session on Wednesday 11th February.
Newcastle Rigpa Centre, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown.

Many people believe meditation is something you either “get” or you don’t. They imagine a quiet mind or an instant sense of calm—then feel discouraged when thoughts inevitably show up! Western concepts of meditation have set us up to fail.
Meditation isn’t about banishing thoughts to achieve peace. It’s about changing our relationship with thoughts, so they no longer trigger anxiety, fear, or negativity. And it isn’t about becoming a different person. Meditation is about discovering the peace, clarity, and ease, that are already there— hidden beneath our habits of rushing, striving, and self-criticism.
This weekend course is an invitation to step out of that pattern and explore and experience meditation in its most natural form without pressure or performance.
What we’ll explore together
Across the weekend, we’ll discover why trying to “force” meditation often backfires. Instead we’ll explore:
• How genuine ease can arise naturally
Discover the quality of ease already present in your very being through meditation.
• How mindfulness, awareness, and spaciousness work in everyday life
Not as abstract concepts, but as lived experiences that can shift how we respond to stress, relationships, and uncertainty.
• How everything can become meditation
Sitting, walking, eating, conversations, movement—even the difficult moments. Life becomes the practice.
• How to meet your mind with curiosity rather than judgment
This includes learning simple techniques to work with overthinking, restlessness, emotional turbulence, and sensory overwhelm.
• How change becomes possible without straining for it
When awareness deepens, clarity and resilience emerge on their own.
Who this course is for
This weekend is designed for people who:
• have tried meditating but feel they’re “not doing it right”
• have never meditated but are keen to dip your toe in
• are curious about meditation as a way of being, not just a technique
• feel stuck or overwhelmed and want a spacious reset
• want to build confidence in their ability to find inner peace and calm
What you’ll take away
By the end of the weekend, you can expect to leave with:
• a sense of ease you can access anytime
• practical tools for navigating stress and change
• a renewed relationship with your own mind and emotions
• confidence that meditation is possible for you
• a simple daily practice you can sustain
Why a weekend?
A short immersion allows you to slow down just enough to notice what’s always been available but rarely seen. This often leads to breakthroughs that are hard to access in quick or isolated sessions.
Evening Zoom call introduction – optional Wednesday 11th February
This is a free introduction to the weekend that you can attend as either a taster and introduction to the weekend or to help you decide if you want to attend the weekend course.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

2 Smith St, Charlestown NSW 2290, Australia, 2 Smith St, Charlestown NSW 2290, Australia, Warners Bay

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