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
*** Tuesday night Sangha evenings are moving to Zoom effective Tuesday 7th December through to January 2022. ***
We strongly encourage attendance in person to get the most out of your engagement, but for those whom physical attendance is a problem or during Covid restrictions, we also offer online participation via Zoom. Just click this link to join.
Programme
Buddhism & Friendship | The Mandala of 5 Buddha Families
From late September to the end of the year, after our regular meditation session, we will explore two new themes: Spiritual Friendship and the Mandala of the Five Buddha Families.
"Spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life."
— The Buddha
In what way is spiritual friendship the whole of the spiritual life? How does it support our spiritual growth? Why do so many discussions of Buddhism overlook it?
We’ll be exploring these questions by delving into teachings and stories from the Buddhist scriptures and by drawing on Western thinkers and personal experiences of friendship on the Buddhist path.
The mandala of the Five Archetypal Buddha Families is an important Buddhist teaching. Like a multi-faceted jewel it communicates the different aspects of Enlightenment. By contemplating the figures in the mandala we tap into the power of imagination, and start to awaken to the qualities the Buddhas embody - energy, beauty, love, confidence, and freedom.
These themes are suitable for newcomers to Triratna and those with experience.
On October 26th we invite you to join us to celebrate and remember Urgyen Sangharakshita, the Founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community of which Adelaide Triratna is a part, on the third Anniversary of his death.
On November 9th we will celebrate Sangha Day. The Buddha exhorted us to meet in large numbers to practise and that’s what we do on Sangha Day. It is a celebration of our friendship together following the Buddha’s teachings and example.
In keeping with Buddhist tradition, teachings are offered free of charge. There is no need to book, but a donation to cover costs on the night is welcome.
| Date | |
|---|---|
| 28 September | Buddhism & Friendship 1. "Friendship, Path & Goal" |
| 5 October | The Mandala of 5 Buddha Families - East |
| 12 October | Buddhism & Friendship 2. "The Tradition & New Challenges" |
| 19 October | The Mandala of 5 Buddha Families - South |
| 26 October | Anniversary of the death of Sangharakshita (2018) |
| 2 November | Buddhism & Friendship 3. "True Friendship" |
| 9 November | Sangha Day Celebration |
| 16 November | The Mandala of 5 Buddha Families - West |
| 23 November | Buddhism & Friendship 4. "Helping Friendships Flourish" |
| 30 November | The Mandala of 5 Buddha Families - North |
| 7 December | Buddhism & Friendship 5. "Friendship, A Spiritual Practice" |
| 14 December | The Mandala of 5 Buddha Families - Centre |
| 21 December | Buddhism & Friendship 6. "Friendship Leads to Awakening" |
4 December: Practice Night with 7-Fold Puja
The Four Sangharavastus
The spiritual community, the Sangha, is the ideal context in which we can practise the Dharma. It is also a force for good in the world and an ideal in its own right. But how is the Sangha sustained?
In our exploration of ‘The Four Sangharavastus’ (or Means of Unification of the Sangha), we will gain a greater understanding of how to create, develop and strengthen Sangha.
Each week will explore one of the Sangharavastus: Dana, Priyavadita, Samanartha, and Arthacarya.
On the 1st of February we will hear from our newest Order Member on his “Journey To Ordination”.
| Date | Subject |
|---|---|
| 11 January | The Four Sangharavastus: Dana |
| 18 January | The Four Sangharavastus: Priyavadita |
| 25 January | The Four Sangharavastus: Samanartha |
| 1 February | "My Journey To Ordination" |
| 8 February | The Four Sangharavastus: Arthacarya |
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.
What is a Puja?
A devotional ritual which invokes a sequence of spiritually beneficial moods, helping us bring our emotional side as well as our thinking side into our practice. It involves speaking in call and response and some simple chanting, so anyone can take part or just observe, as you feel comfortable.
Where to Find Us
We meet at the Anthroposophic Book Centre in Halifax Street.