buddhist centre and 'happiness hacks'

📜 I'm doing Blaugust this year. This is 10/?. I started writing this post in January 2026. I've been to a couple of courses at the Buddhist centre this year. I've been aware of it before, and having some spare time I decided to check it out. This is part of a vague desire to return to meditating. The centre is in an old vicarage, a pretty old building with a garden (not relevant at this time of year) and a wood burning stove (quite relevant) in a little sitting / café / shop area. The meditation room is white, with one decoration - a giant Buddha statue that sits in front of the window, facing into the room. Glimpsed from outside the building, it makes you do a double take. The following are transcripts of notes I took after the meditation sessions, largely so I can reflect on them later. Lunchtime meditation - this was 30 minute guided meditation. Settle in - and approach distractions with light-heartedness. If your mind was a river, how would it look? Your consciousness is big (how…