These dates have been adjusted so as not clash with Bodhicharyia’s retreat days – in order that we can attend each event if we wish – they are now confirmed for the year.
• Feb 17th
• Mar 18th
• April 22nd
• May 20th
• June 17th
• July 15th
• No Aug Mtg
• Feb 25th, 1–4pm
• March 25th, 1–4pm
In-Person meetings at The Buddhist Society have now resumed
to sign up for the Study Group Newsletter
About Our Group:
The group is small, informal and friendly.
If you would like to come along please contact Elizabeth West:retreatsccn@gmail.com.
All are welcome. No previous experience of meditation is required.
If you wish to be placed on the mailing list for the Study Group please click here.
The Buddhist Society,
58 Eccleston Square,
Pimlico,
London
SW1V 1PH.
Miguel will lead the meetings of the virtual sangha.
If you wish to attend the monthly zoom meetings please email: miguelmarcosccn@gmail.com
The text for discussion will be …..(DETAILS OF TEXT COMING SOON)
Attendance at both In-Person and Virtual days is welcomed.
Zoom Link for the Monthly Virtual Sangha:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82960086742?pwd=Q2NQNmZaeEdsTWJnSUxQdUV4ZmdQdz09
Meeting ID: 829 6008 6742
Passcode: 476598
The text under discussion this term is a section of Mathieu Ricard ‘s book, Altruism. A pdf of the sections under discussion will be distributed in the newsletter to members of the Study Group. Leading the Group in discussion rotates between members of the group.
The Study Group takes place at The Buddhist Society Premises (address above) in the Yellow Shrine Room (next to Library) from 10am – 4pm.
Format:
It will be helpful if you can let us know if you are able to attend
The excerpts from our discussion in January 2023:
At the beginning of our life is birth, during which we suffer, and at the end of our life is death, during which we also suffer. Between these two come aging and illness. No matter how wealthy you are or how physically fit you are, you have to suffer through these circumstances.
On top of this comes discontentment. You want more and more and more. This, in a sense, is real poverty—always to be hungry, hungry, hungry with no time to be satisfied. Others might not be rich, but contentment provides them with fewer worries, fewer enemies, fewer problems, and very good sleep. On more than one occasion, when I have visited very nice homes in rich communities, I have peeked inside the medicine chest in the bathroom and found some medications to provide energy for the day and others to induce sleep at night. Contentment might do both of these jobs better since it reduces anxiety during the day, paving the way for sleeping peacefully.
Holiness, The Dalai Lama His; Hopkins Ph.D., Jeffrey. How To Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life (pp. 34-35). Atria Books.
Enemies provide us some of the best opportunities to practice patience, tolerance, and compassion. Shantideva gives us many marvelous examples of this in the form of dialogues between positive and negative aspects of one’s own mind. His reflections on compassion and patience have been very useful in my own practice. Read them and your whole soul can be transformed. Here is an example:
For a practitioner of love and compassion, an enemy is one of the most important teachers. Without an enemy you cannot practice tolerance, and without tolerance you cannot build a sound basis of compassion. So in order to practice compassion, you should have an enemy.
When you face your enemy who is going to hurt you, that is the real time to practice tolerance. Therefore, an enemy is the cause of the practice of tolerance; tolerance is the effect or result of an enemy. So those are cause and effect. As is said, “Once something has the relationship of arising from that thing, one cannot consider that thing from which it arises as a harmer; rather it assists the production of the effect.”
Holiness, The Dalai Lama His; Hopkins Ph.D., Jeffrey. How To Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life (p. 75). Atria Books.
Visualization
The following visualization technique is very helpful in daily practice.
You remain calm and reasonable.
In front of you to the right, imagine another version of yourself who is a solid mass of egotistical self-centeredness, the kind of person who would do anything to satisfy an urge.
In front of you to the left, visualize a group of poor people who are not related to you, including some who are destitute, needy, suffering.
Be calm and unbiased as you observe these two sides. Now think, “Both want happiness. Both want to shed suffering. Both have the right to accomplish these goals.”
Consider this: We often work long and hard for a better salary, or we spend a great deal of money in hopes of gaining even more; we are willing to make temporary sacrifices for a long-term return. By the same logic, it makes perfect sense for one single person to make sacrifices in order to help a larger good. Naturally your mind will favor the side with the greater number of suffering people.
Holiness, The Dalai Lama His; Hopkins Ph.D., Jeffrey. How To Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life (pp. 84-85). Atria Books.
Authentic Doubt & Vipashyana
Heart of Reality – D5S1 – Alan’s Guided Meditation
Integrating the 3 Phases of the Vajra Essence
Riding the Ray of Pristine Awareness
Lama Alan Wallace – Embracing Shantideva’s Guidance
Guru Rinpoche, or Padmasambhava, is not an ascetic monk. He is a wild man who had many lovers.
He is a magician who had a miraculous birth, who subdued demons and bound them to the dharma – the Buddhist teachings.
This most extraordinary and least well-known story of the great religions also reveals a radically relevant truth – the darker the times, the greater the potential for transformation.
Precious Guru features stunning cinematography, a beautiful soundscape, and compelling voices from the Himalaya and beyond. Watch on the biggest screen you have and enjoy the ride!
NEW! In addition to the film, the bonus features total more than 30 minutes of new content.
****************
This 70 minute film, endorsed by H.H. the Dalai Lama, is a documentary presentation and analysis of the life of Guru Rinpoche – the spiritual life and legacy of the 8C Tantric Master Padmasambhava.
The story of Guru Rinpoche is also told through the voices and perspectives of prominent contemporary teachers and practitioners — among them:
Mingyur Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, Ani Bumchung, Lama Tsultrim Allione,
Robert Thurman, Glenn Mullin, Ontul Rinpoche, and Ngak’chang Rinpoche
— each of whom speak to the profound Dharmic realization Guru Rinpoche embodies and the deeply held reverence he inspires.
For further information on this documentary that was 9 years in the making, please see: