‘Shakyamuni Buddha’: literally translates to ‘Sage of the Shakyas’ & name used to refer to Gautama Buddha, a Prince born in North East India around 563 BC.

He sought the truth through several years of ascetic practice (such as fasting and long hours of meditation).

The Buddha reached enlightenment after a committed period of meditation underneath a bodhi tree, in Bodhgaya, India. From then on he was called ‘the Awakened One‘ and he travelled India, sharing spiritual teachings on how others could also become ‘awakened’.

Buddha referred to his recommended path to enlightenment as the ‘Middle Way’. His teaching was clear, consisting of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi (‘meditative absorption or union’).

Theravada Buddhism is often denoted as the most conservative school of Buddhism and it has attempted to conserve the teachings of the Buddha.

At Kalyan Yoga, we share a few practices inspired by Theravada Buddhism, including walking meditation and anapanasati (watching the sensations of the breath with detachment)