Sangha Night
Meditation
We teach two Buddhist meditation practices: Mindfulness of Breathing, for developing awareness, integration and clarity of mind; and Mettā Bhāvanā (“development of loving kindness”), which brings about a gentle but radical transformation of our emotional world. Each week we alternate between the two practices.
We will help you to set up in good posture and give a fully led practice, so there is no need for any previous experience.
Dharma
We introduce traditional teachings of the Buddha in a way that is accessible and practical to everyday life in the modern world. Usually the format is a talk, followed by breaking into smaller groups for discussion. Each week will stand alone so there is no need for any previous knowledge.
Online Link
We strongly encourage attendance in person to get the most out of your engagement, but for those whom physical attendence is a problem we also offer online participation via Zoom. Just click this link to join.
Programme
Buddhist Ethics and The Dhammapada
The ethical precepts are the pillars which support our efforts to develop and transform ourselves, helping us live in harmony with one another and to refine and calm our minds, making them ever more receptive to the truth of the way things are. The Dhammapada is one of the earliest of the Buddhist texts and so is as close as can be to the words of The Budhha himself. It paints a vivid picture of the spiritual life which is as relevant in the present day as it was when the words were first spoken some 2,500 years ago. During this series the two themes will be interleaved and interspersed with some special events until the end of the year.
| Date | Subject |
|---|---|
| 14 July | The Ten Pillars: First Precept |
| 21 July | The Dhammapada: Talk 1 - Feeders On Rapture We Shall Be |
| 28 July | Not About Being Good: Doing It For You |
| 4 August | Not About Being Good: Doing It For Others |
| 11 August | The Ten Pillars: Second Precept |
| 18 August | The Dhammapada: Talk 2 |
| 25 August | The Ten Pillars: Third Precept |
| 1 September | Special Event: Padmasambhava Day |
| 8 September | Not About Being Good: Doing Something That Works |
| 15 September | The Dhammapada: Talk 3 |
| 22 September | The Dhammapada: Talk 4 |
| 29 September | The Ten Pillars: Fourth Precept |
| 6 October | No Class (Spring Retreat) |
| 13 October | Special Event: Ambedkar Jayanti |
| 20 October | The Ten Pillars: Speech Precepts (Fifth, Sixth and Seventh) |
| 27 October | Special Event: Sangharakshita's Death Anniversary |
| 3 November | Puja - Mitra Ceremonies |
| 10 November | The Ten Pillars: The Mind Precepts - Tranquility |
| 17 November | Not About Being Good: A Deeper Motivation |
| 24 November | The Ten Pillars: The Mind Precepts - Compassion |
| 1 December | Special Event: Sangha Day Pūjā |
| 8 December | Not About Being Good: Being Reborn |
| 15 December | The Ten Pillars: The Mind Precepts - Wisdom |
| 22 December | Beyond Goodness |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book?
No, just turn up!
What should I wear?
There are no special requirements, just whatever is comfortable to sit in
Do I need to be a Buddhist?
No, the class is suitable for everyone who wants to learn about Buddhism, or just to meditate.
Can I come just for the meditation?
Of course! The meditation part of the evening will finish around 7:30pm.
What time should I show up?
The meditation will start at 6:45pm. You're welcome to turn up any time from 6:30pm.
How much does the class cost?
We don't charge a fixed price for our classes but instead invite you to make a donation to the centre to help us cover our running costs.
A donation of $10-20 would help us to cover our costs, but everyone is equally welcome, even if you cannot give anything at all.
We are a non-profit organisation and support charities such as the ITBCI School for Tibetan refugee children.
You can give cash on the night or make a transfer to the following bank account: BSB: 313140 / Account: 12113931
Is it possible to participate online?
We strongly encourage attendance in person to get the most out of your engagement, but for those whom physical attendence is a problem we also offer online participation via Zoom. See above for the link to join.
Where to Find Us
We meet at the Anthroposophic Book Centre in Halifax Street.