April Newsletter

THIS IS A CLOSED RETREAT. UNLESS YOU HAVE BOOKED A PLACE THROUGH THE CENTRE IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO ATTEND.

Nyungney practice is renowned as a supreme method of purification as well as for the development of loving-kindness and compassion. Through giving up food and drink, we learn to accept discomfort and to pray for those who are suffering the torments of the lower realms.

We hope that as many people as possible will join us for this precious practice, and to facilitate this there will be no retreat fee, although donations are always welcome.

Breakfast and lunch will be served on the eating day only to those who are participating in the entire retreat and are engaging in the full practice.

To participate in the retreat it is a must to have taken Refuge, received the Chenrezik empowerment as well as the intructions for this practice.  

Please read the Behaviour Guidelines which are listed below the daily programme on the website. Texts are available from the shop. Advance booking is essential!

The Nyungney Easter Weekend Retreat runs from Saturday 4th April and ends on Easter Monday morning, 6th April. Full details of this retreat, including the daily programme and Behaviour Guidelines, can be found on the website.  

On Saturday 18th April Lama Zangmo will start a series of five monthly teachings on The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva.   

In his book "Travelling the Path of Compassion", HH 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje writes:

"When we study and reflect on a teaching, we should choose a text that provides a broad understanding of the Buddha's teaching as a whole. The great Master Atisha said that within all the sciences there is so much to know that one lifetime would not suffice. We do not have the time to study every one of the teachings of the Buddha, and life is too short to go through every commentary and root text. Therefore, we choose a text that allows us to know everything by studying a single one; like the rising sun, it can illuminate all things. A famous statement runs: Knowing one, you know all. Studying a particular text in depth, we can cut through all doubts, so there is great benefit in narrowing our focus in this way.

The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva is this kind of text. It is mainly a teaching on mind training from the Kadampa tradition. In Tibet many great masters from all the lineages have studied, reflected and meditated on this text, and they have also written commentaries and taught it. The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva is considered both deep and broad, comprehensive and concise.  It includes all the necessary points for understanding the practices of a bodhisattva."

In essence, meditation is simply the practice of paying attention to what we are doing while we are doing it, whatever this may be. In the Buddhist tradition, this type of attention is called mindfulness.  

On Saturday 2nd May, Lama Zangmo will be teaching a one-day course - Taming the Mind. During the day Lama Zangmo will talk about the benefits and the common difficulties encountered when first learning to meditate, and explain how to deal with them.  Sometimes being reminded of small things can make a great difference. When we are alone or under the influence of negative surroundings, we can't always see the bigger picture or put things into perspective. For that reason it is helpful to be reminded and to gain more understanding of how the mind works and how to train it.   

Bernard Mordan's class, Introduction to Meditation, commencing on 8th April is now fully booked. However Bernard will be running this course again commencing 3rd June. If you've missed out this time, please try and book reasonably well in advance for this increasingly popular course which takes place every Wednesday evening for eight weeks from 7.00-8.30 pm.  It is perfect for beginners and will cover posture, relaxation, breathing and other meditation essentials.  

For those who have already received meditation instructions and would like to deepen their practice there is More Meditiation with Gelong Trinley at Manor Place. This course runs over six Thursday evenings from 30th April from 7.00-8.30 pm and is ideal for those who have done the Beginners Meditation courses.  

Lama Zangmo will give instructions in the practice and go through the text and the meaning and benefits of doing this meditation. You will need the Chenrezig text (available from the shop), pen and paper.

Please book in advance

Chenrezig Practice Instructions with Lama Zangmo takes place at Spa Road on Sunday 3rd May, 10.00 - 4.00 pm.