Kagyu Samye Dzong London News

October 2008

Contents

1. Rob Nairn - stress, neurosis.. ..and joy!
2. Reflexology - how to treat family and friend
3. The Happiness of Closure
4. Community Clinic Open Day - 5th October
5. Forthcoming Events

News in Brief

1 - Rob Nairn - stress, neurosis.. ..and joy!

This month we welcome Rob Nairn to Samye Dzong where he will be giving a number of teachings. An outstanding teacher with extensive training in both meditation and western psychology, Rob communicates very clearly and directly. Here is an extract from a previous visit on the theme of how mindfulness leads to insight.

"Undercurrent is that flow of thoughts, feeling, activity that’s always in the mind – always flowing, always flowing, always flowing.  So even when you’re relaxed there’s always this kind of background chatter and it’s always drawing you into itself. Then there is the part of the mind that knows about it.  So we’ve got these two factors present: the undercurrent and the observer.  And the observer is always interacting with the undercurrent.

Now, I mentioned last night the undercurrent is autonomous.  That means it arises by itself and, as somebody said, you can’t do anything about it. You can’t do anything about its arising and if you attempt to do so, it is frustrating because it just carries on regardless.  That is the river, and the river is going to flow because there’s a very powerful source related to historical activity, what I’ve done and said and thought in the past.  So the first thing that’s very important for you to understand as a meditator is – do not try to stop the flow!  If you do attempt that, all you’ll end up doing is suppressing, and suppression simply makes the situation worse – so allow the undercurrent.

Now this goes against what most people thought meditation was about.  Most people think “If I meditate, I’m going to be free from thoughts”.  You know we have this image of this lovely experience where we drift above it all and rest on some pink cloud.  This is what I call the Woody Allen syndrome.  You know what Woody Allen said don’t you?  He said “I’m seeking a lifestyle that doesn’t require my participation”.  And this is exactly what you’re trying to do when you try to get into this floaty, not there situation.  You float above it all and be the ultimate Joe Cool.  Well, that gets you nowhere – in fact it gets you into reverse because you probably end up suppressing the undercurrent or, if you’re even more unfortunate, you learn how to experience a little bit of bliss and you park off in bliss, and all you do is park off.  And when your meditation is over, everything is just the way it was before – nothing changed, nothing improved, nothing learned, nothing resolved, you just parked off – so don’t go that route.  It’s counterproductive, it puts you into reverse.

So our first area of training, apart from learning the technicality of mindfulness, is to learn how we’re going to relate to the undercurrent.  And this is where we have to learn what Akong Rinpoche called “acceptance”.  That’s the basis for compassion – you accept the situation as it is.  In other words you accept that there is an undercurrent and that the content is constantly varying.  Some of it the observer likes – sometimes the undercurrent throws up nice feelings, nice thoughts, tranquil feelings, pleasant ideas, whatever – then we like it, we think “Yeah, this is good”.  Other times it throws up negative, disturbing thoughts. Other times it throws up very rude thoughts and we wonder where they came from, especially if we think we’re extremely nice, respectable people.  So we find there’s this constant confusion of observer wanting things to be a particular way  and undercurrent constantly contradicting that.  The key is not to try to change the undercurrent." 

This autumn we are fortunate enough to have Rob Nairn giving a series of teachings at Samye Dzong London from the middle of October through to early November. Rob's first teachings on Wed 16th and Thurs 17th October, 7.00-8.30 pm are on "Making Friends with Stress". This is closely followed by "From Neurosis to Joy" on Sat 18th and Sun 19th from 10.00 - 4.00 pm. To book your place on these and / or his other courses, contact the office at Manor Place by phone on
020-7708 8969 or by email.

2 - Reflexology - how to treat family and friends

Reflexology is an ancient therapy which uses reflex areas found on the feet to treat the whole body on a physical and emotional level. Over two weekends, starting on the 11th October, we are delighted to be able to offer an amazing opportunity to spend three days with Joelle Peeters - a wonderful teacher of reflexology who is offering her time to deliver this course. Joelle has over 10 years experience in reflexology, has taught the ITEC professional reflexology course for over 3 years and is also the author of several books on reflexology.

This is a largely practical course, with some theory, and at the end of it you will be able to give treatments to your family and friends.

Reflexology - how to treat family and friends will run at Manor Place, just 5 mins walk from Kennington tube station on Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th and Saturday 25th October from 10.00 am - 5.00 pm. The cost for the whole course is just £75. Please email Manor Place, or phone the office on 020-7708 8969 to book your place now.

3 - The Happiness of Closure

David Bates writes:

I never thought I’d be happy to see Carlisle Lane closing.  It’s nearly 11 years since we first took possession of the site and buildings, 10 and a half since it officially opened, and what a rollercoaster ride it’s been over the last 5 years since we were given 12 months notice to quit!  I still remember the moment I found out – it was an email sent by a friend with a single word in the subject line – “Impermanence”.  I had a sinking feeling that this was something to do with the Centre and in all honesty my stomach turned over when I read the news.  The next weekend there were people hanging around the Centre, some in tears, others just looking despondent  - I was probably among them!

So what’s changed in me that I could feel so happy as we decommissioned the Shrine Room? 

The main feeling for me was that this was the end of a job well done.  Over the last 5 years especially we’ve built up a community, a group of people who are willing to put time and effort into supporting and developing the Centre. We have a home for now in Manor Place and the prospect of another building which we hope to purchase. The life of the Centre is in the people, not the buildings, so mourning the place where we once stood would be a strange thing to do. Instead I’ll look forward to our next step and where it will take us next.

4 - The Community Clinic

A low cost community clinic runs at Manor Place each Tuesday. Joelle Peeters describes what it's about and what goes on there.

"The aim of The Low Cost Clinic is to provide affordable Complementary Therapies to everyone. These therapies are holistic in that they all help both in a physical and mental plane. Many conditions need quite a few treatments (six treatments is often quoted) and in normal circumstances this can be quite expensive. Especially for the elderly and chronically ill: groups of society, which the therapists in the Low Cost Clinic are particularly interested in treating.

To keep the costs down, most of the treatments are carried out in a large room. This is part of the charm, as this space has both a community spirit and a relaxing feel about it. The music also adds to the ambiance. Some clients enjoy refreshments either before or after the treatments, so one can further relax, whilst others take pleasure in a meditation session in the Shrine Room before venturing outside.

Treatments available: Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Acupuncture, Seated Chair Massage.

This coming Sunday, 5th October, we are holding a Community Clinic Open Day at which you can try out these therapies for only £8 for a 20 minute session. So if you're curious, or would like to treat yourself, we'll look forward to seeing you. To find out more about the regular Community Clinic, pick up a leaflet at the Centre. The Low Cost Clinic is held on Tuesdays from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm.

5 - Forthcoming events

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

OCTOBER

VOLUNTEER DAY
Sat 4th October 2008 10am onwards
An opportunity to enjoy a day together doing some cleaning and leafleting around the area. Lunch and tea provided. Please let us know in advance if you can come.

COMMUNITY CLINIC - OPEN DAY
Sunday 5th October, 11am - 6pm
Now is the time to come and give yourself a treat! We will be offering taster sessions of complementary therapies such as Reflexology, CranioSacral, Massage and many others. The cost is £8 for a 20 minute session. Come and browse in the shop and have a cup of tea.

INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION
Tuesday 7th and 14th Oct, 7pm-8:30pm.
£18
An overview of meditation instructions covering such areas as posture, the use of breath as a focus, and dealing with commonly encountered obstacles. Ideal for beginners.

REFLEXOLOGY - HOW TO TREAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS:
With Joelle Peeters
Sat 11th Oct, Sun 12th Oct and Sat 25th Oct. 10am-5pm.
£75 for whole course.
Reflexology is an ancient therapy which uses reflex areas found on the feet to treat the whole body on a physical and emotional level. In this course you will learn about the Reflex areas found on the foot and the Reflexology sequence.
This is a largely practical course, with some theory. At the end of the course you will be able to give treatments to your family and friends. Please bring a towel, baby wipes and foot cream.
Joelle Peeters has over 10 years experience in reflexology and has taught the ITEC professional reflexology course for over 3 years.

MEDICINE BUDDHA PUJA
Sun 12th Oct, 7pm-8pm. Free
Everybody welcome.

MAKING FRIENDS WITH STRESS:
with Rob Nairn.
Wed 15th Oct and Thurs 16th Oct, 7pm-8:30 pm.
£20
Stress is part of modern life. Does it have to be problematic? We will explore the psychology of stress, discover why we experience it, and learn how mindfulness can lead to freedom.

FROM NEUROSIS TO JOY:
with Rob Nairn.
Sat 18th Oct and Sun 19th Oct, 10am-4pm.
£55
Understanding depression, anxiety and panic from a Buddhist perspective; discovering how neurosis creates opportunity and motivation. We may be trapped in these states because we do not know why they happen. With appropriate training they can become positive points of psychological growth and spiritual realisation. Mindfulness can reveal their causes and lead to integration and freedom instead of suffering.
Rob Nairn has responsibility for several Buddhist centres in Southern Africa. His unique mix of training and experience in law and psychology, as well as having been instructed by eminent meditation teachers, enables him to explain traditional Buddhist concepts from a Western perspective.

MINDFULNESS IN A BUSY WORLD:
With Rob Nairn
Wed 22nd and Thurs 23rd Oct, 7pm-8:30pm.
£20
Mindfulness is a faculty we all have but usually neglect. It brings us into the moment, enabling us to live more effective, stress free and happy lives. We will learn progressive steps which can enable us to live happily in a busy world.

COMPASSION TRAINING:
With Rob Nairn
Wed 29th Oct, 7pm-8:30pm.
£10
Compassion brings happiness to ourselves and others. We will learn how caring and kindness can be cultivated within the context of our busy lives; compassion training exercises will be taught.

GURU RINPOCHE TSOK PUJA
Sun 26th Oct, 7pm-8:30pm. Free. Everybody welcome.
Offerings of fruit and flowers for the Tsok Pujas are welcome.

NOVEMBER

LUCID DREAMING, PEACEFUL DYING:
with Rob Nairn
Friday 31st 7pm-8:30pm; Sat 1st Nov and Sun 2nd Nov, 10am-4pm.
£65
There is a link between dreaming and death. The training for lucid dreaming is the ground for recognition in the death bardos. In this workshop we will seek to understand why these alternative states are important, and then explore practical methods for training our minds to make the best use of our opportunities in life, dreaming and death. Rob will give detailed advice on how to use Western methods for developing lucid dreams, with an introduction on Friday 31st by Charlie Morley.

INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION
Tuesday 4th Nov and 11th Nov, 7pm-8:30pm.
£18
An overview of meditation instructions for beginners covering such areas as posture, the use of breath as a focus, and dealing with commonly encountered obstacles.

TIBETAN LANGUAGE COURSE FOR BEGINNERS
with Lama Zangmo
Part one: from Wed 5th November until Wed 17th December, 7pm-8:30pm.
£50
This is a seven week Tibetan language course where you will learn the Tibetan Alphabet, how to read and write, and also some vocabulary. In order to confirm your place on this course please book and pay in advance.

VOLUNTEER DAY
Sat 8th Nov, from 10am onwards.
An opportunity to enjoy a day together doing some work in the centre and leafleting around the area. Lunch and tea provided. Please let us know in advance if you can come.

GUASHA MASSAGE FOR HOME USE:
with Mette Heinz
Sun 9th Nov, 10am-5pm.
£40 plus £10 for guasha tool and oil.
Guasha is an aspect of Chinese Medicine. Massaging the body, using oil and a jade tool, clears stagnation and increases the blood circulation. It is very effective in treating pain as well as common ailments, and has traditionally been used as a home tool by families. The course will teach you how to apply the technique to yourself and others.
Mette Heinz has qualified from the London College of Traditional Acupuncture and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council. She also holds a certificate in medical qi gong, and is a specialist in ear acupuncture for detox and stress management.

MEDICINE BUDDHA PUJA
Sun 9th Nov, 7pm-8pm.
Free - everybody welcome

HEALING RELAXATION:
with Jane Miller
Sat 15th Nov and Sun 16th Nov.10am-5pm.
£55
This weekend course will focus on the Tara Rokpa approach to relaxation. This unique, practical and effective programme is designed to help us feel better in our daily lives.
Together we will practice breathing exercises, visualisations, simple movement and fully clothed massage. If you are someone who is aware that stress and tension are in the way of your enjoyment of life, then you may be able to benefit from this course. Please bring a blanket and wear loose comfortable clothing. Bring lunch to share.
Jane Miller is qualified to teach Learning to Relax, a method authorized by Tara Rokpa. She is also a massage therapist with over 12 years experience

CHANGE AND TRANSITION:
With Clive Holmes
Wed 26th Nov and Thur 27th Nov. 7pm-8:30pm.
£20
We will explore the field of mindfulness to help with the stress of change. Mindfulness is a basic skill that can be applied universally in all walks of life. It is of crucial importance, if we are to live happy and useful lives. Without it our stress can grow as we are blown about like a feather in the wind by swiftly changing circumstances us. However, within us we can find stability that can help us be flexible and adaptable in a changing world.
This course will present five simple practical mindfulness exercises we can apply in our daily lives.
Clive Holmes has been teaching meditation for the last fourteen years and has completed over a year in intensive retreat. He also has a degree in western philosophy and he is co-editor of "Taming the Tiger" - a book by Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche that has been published in eight languages.

MEDITATION FOR A HAPPY LIFE:
With Clives Holmes
Sat 29th Nov and Sun 30th Nov. 10am-4pm.
£55
In life there are helpful emotions and harmful ones. True happiness arises when we learn to know the difference between them and cultivate the helpful ones. This course will focus on happiness and how a cheerful state of mind can overcome obstacles. Simple exercises will be given to develop joy in skilful living and in being mindful and aware.

GURU RINPOCHE TSOK PUJA
Sun 30th Nov. 7pm-8:30pm.
Free - everybody welcome.
Offerings of fruit and flowers for the Tsok Pujas are welcome.

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.

Back to contents