Kagyu Samye Dzong London News

December 2007

Contents

1. The ABC of Meditation - with Alastair Appleton
2. Some thoughts on the benefits of long term retreat, by Lama Zangmo
3. Intermediate Meditation with Ani Kunzang
4. Forthcoming Events

Welcome to the December newsletter. The end of another year again, and at this stage it seems pretty certain that it will be our last in Carlisle Lane. We will have a meeting with the hospital in early December and will let you know as soon as we have any further news.

News in Brief

• As we reach the end of the year it's time to announce the winter closure dates and times. The Centres will be closed from 9.00 pm on Sunday 16th December and re-opening at 2.00 pm on Wednesday 2nd January - with one exception
• Carlisle Lane will be open on New Year's Eve from 7.00 pm until 1.00 am for Tsok puja and at midnight a Chenrezig puja - suggested donation, £5.
• There will be a jewellery sale at Manor Place on Sunday 16th December from 12.00 - 5.00 pm. Mention has been made of mince pies and (non-alcoholic!) fruit punch too. A chance to buy presents (which can be gift wrapped there and then), have festive food and drink and do meditation all in one place - a bargain if ever there was one!
• A class in Jiulong Baguazhang now runs on Tuesdays from 7-9pm at Manor Place. It is comprised of a unique fusion of meditation and stretching exercises which bring relaxation, vigour, strength and improved health. Contact Rey Bowen on set1uk@yahoo.co.uk for more info.
• A Tibetan Language class will commence on the 9th January for 8 weeks. This course will follow up on the previous course for beginners held in Oct/Nov. There will be further practice in spelling, reading and writing. Pre-booking is essential.
• A new Kagyu Samye Dzong is opening in Surrey. If you live in Surrey or near Camberley
  and want to find out more, contact Joy Godfrey at surrey@samye.org or tel: 01276 65271.
• Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland is looking for someone with knowledge of computer networks, setting up systems, sorting them when they go wrong, troubleshooting, handling hardware, ....if you are interested and have the skills, please contact lhamo@samyeling.org

1 - The ABC of Meditation, with Alastair Appleton - Sat 1st - Sun 2nd December

Interested in meditation but not sure whre to start? Alistair is running an intensive version of his ABC course which normally runs over a week. It’s a great, fun way to get to grips with the basics of meditation over a weekend and pick up the building blocks of regular practice. The course will cover concentration and relaxation, mindfulness and insight ending with visualisation and the creation of positive mindstates. There is some dormitory space for those who live outside London but the course is not a residential one.

For more information about Alastair, click here. To book your place on this course now, contact the office at Manor Place either by email or by phone on 020-7708 8969.

2 - Some thoughts on the benefit of long term retreat, by Lama Zangmo

"Within Buddhism there has always been a tradition of doing intensive meditation retreats for varying lengths of time. Depending on the circumstances and inclinations of the individual, people have spent time ranging from weeks, months and even up to their entire lives in retreat, contemplating the teachings and meditating in order to deepen their inner understanding.

The image that comes to mind of the process of the retreat establishing itself here on virgin Scottish soil, is a bit like watching an underground spring of fresh, pure, healing water emerging into open air. During the first retreat the water had to break through the ground, forcefully pushing its way through tiny cracks in the earth. Then with the second retreat the water had emerged and was tumbling down the rough cliffs and hillsides, and now after the third retreat, the water is winding its way on lower land, starting to form into a river.

In Tibet those Dharma rivers and healing springs have been flowing for hundreds of years, giving refreshment to whoever cares to drink or dip their toes in the cool waters, but here in the west we are as yet unfamiliar with the experience. It is regarded as mysterious and daunting to dedicate such an amount of time to pursuing ones' spiritual path. However, in Tibet the three year retreat was a central part of the Kagyu monastic education, giving the direct experience of the teachings which is necessary to enable the individual to deepen his or her meditation independently after completing the retreat.

The retreat program covers all the main practices of the Karma Kamtsang tradition, and as such embeds the practitioner in the soil of the Kagyu Lineage. Just as a small plant embedded in rich, fertile soil with good growing conditions eventually reaches full bloom, so also the practitioner who takes root in the rich soil of the Lineage ultimately grows into full realisation of the nature of the mind. For most of us, however, the practice is initially more like clearing the field of weeds and tilling the soil before the actual planting. Theory alone doesn't work, one needs to start where one is, and the groundwork is indispensable for a good future harvest.

For a period of four years the retreatant applies body, speech and mind to virtuous activity and trains the mind in meditation through various skillful means. This is a process of recognizing the selfish habitual
patterns of ones mind and transforming them into loving kindness, tolerance and compassion for others. Through mindfulness and awareness one works on increasing the wholesome and eliminating the unwholesome habits of the mind. The length of time of the retreat gives the possibility to develop the intensity in the practice which is necessary for a significant change to take place, but on the other hand for someone without the proper foundation or preparation that intensity can be overwhelming.

Throughout the retreat the opportunity is always there to tune into the lifeline of the blessing of the Lineage, like an inexhaustible treasure offering itself to anyone who wants it, again and again. Being faced with ones own limitations one cannot help but feel great appreciation and devotion for the Masters, past and present, who are the embodiment and examples of limitless wisdom and compassion - true guides on the path to inner freedom."

Well, we can't quite match a four year retreat in London - but Lama Zangmo will be leading a New Year's Retreat from 7pm Fri 28th Dec - 10am Tue 1st Jan 2008, £90. See Forthcoming Events for more details. To book your place on this course now, contact the office at Carlisle Lane either by email or by phone on 020-7928 5447.

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3 - Intermediate meditation course with Ani Kunzang...

An opportunity for those who already have some experience to refresh and deepen a daily practice of meditation. This weekend is a chance for practitioners to take a peaceful break from the hectic festive season. Basic meditation techniques which may already be familiar will be clarified and some new ones will be presented. The emphasis will be on actual practice.

Gelongma Kunzang is a fully ordained Buddhist nun and has completed a four-year closed retreat. She is particularly well versed in Tibetan Buddhist ritual, music and art and also teaches meditation and Buddhist studies at Samye Ling and associated centres. To book your place on this course now, contact the office at Carlisle Lane either by email or by phone on 020-7928 5447.

4 - Forthcoming events

To see the full programme of activities at the Centre, please click here to visit the website

This newsletter goes out to those who have expressed an interest in Kagyu Samye Dzong London. It covers news of the efforts and progress towards finding and funding a new site for the centre, and other events taking place in the coming weeks Being on this mailing list is not compulsory. If you do not want to receive this newsletter, or would like it to be sent to a different email address, please use the links at the bottom of the newsletter.

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