Regular classes and one-off events exploring Buddhist practice
Wed PRACTICE Night:
Vijayasri talks about her long Dharma Life
Wednesday 2nd July from 7.00pm to 9.15pm
This evening Shakyapada will be in conversation with her Private Preceptor Vijayasri who has had a long and interesting life in the Order taking on many responsibilities, raising a family and being a very good friend to many people. During the evening there will be an opportunity to ask questions about her practice and her life in the Order. The evening will begin, as usual, with meditation.
All over 18 are welcome. No experience of Buddhism is necessary. No need to book - just turn up.
Thursday DAYTIME Class:
New Module
The Mystery of Being
Thursdays from 3rd July for Six Weeks - 11.00am to 1.15pm
This weekly daytime drop-in class includes many aspects of Buddhist practice which can be helpful to you whether you wish to practice Buddhism or not. Each week begins with a guided meditation, after which Shakyapada will introduce a particular theme for the week. Discussion and questions are encouraged. From 3rd July for six weeks we will be exploring the Buddhist concept of non-self or anatman. This is not to say that the self does not exist, merely that it does not exist in the way that we think it does.
All over 18 are welcome. No need to book - just turn up when you can.
Wednesday PRACTICE NIGHT:
Dharma Day
The Buddha's First Teaching
Wednesday 9th July from 7.00pm until 9.15pm
Today we celebrate the Festival of Dharma Day, an occasion when Buddhists from all traditions celebrate their good fortune in coming across the Dharma, the Buddha's teaching. The Buddha Sakyamuni first Turned the Wheel of the Dharma some weeks after after his Enlightenment, 2,500 years ago. Then, in our own time, our teacher, Sangharakshita, brought the Dharma to the West in 1967 and began our own Western Buddhist Movement. On this day mitras (friends) from York Buddhist Centre will be telling the story of that special day and leading us in our celebration.
All over 18 are welcome. No experience of Buddhism is necessary. No need to book - just turn up.
Wed PRACTICE Night:
Cultivating the Noble Qualities of Awakening
The Six Perfections or paramitas are the transcendental qualities enjoyed by a Bodhisattva - someone who is on the verge of Buddhahood but chooses to remain in the world in order to help all beings free themselves from suffering. These are very lofty ideals indeed, yet they are also familiar qualities which we aim to cultivate in our spiritual lives.
Over these six weeks we will be looking at each of these qualities in detail and exploring how they relate to our own lives.
EXTRA EVENT:
New Moon Puja in the Woods
Friday 25 July 7pm – 9pm
The New Moon each month is the occasion when, in the Buddha's time, his followers would gather together in the forest. We too will be gathering as a sangha in the woods at Rowntree Park to practise in the open air (and in the centre if very wet!). As in June, we'll be meeting in the woods with our portable chairs or cushions, refreshments and a small shrine. And together we will be meditating, socialising and performing a special Puja to celebrate the New Moon of July. The venue is accessible by car and okay for wheelchairs. There is a car park.
All over 18 are very welcome. Details of the venue, and how to find us, will be emailed nearer the time, so please book a place so we have an idea of numbers. Please bring any natural materials (pine cones, a flower etc) with which to make an offering.