We are pleased to announce there will be sitting practice every Saturday at the Buddha house. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
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Sangha Newsletter August 15, 2013 Upcoming Meeting Schedule Saturday, August 17 from 10 AM - 12 PM
Dr. Cheryl Fraser gives a Dharma talk: The 6 Parami - The 6 qualities of Enlightened Living, Part 2 Saturday, August 24 from 10 AM - 12 PM TBA Saturday, August 31 from 10 AM - 12 PM TBA Saturday, September 7 from 10 AM - 12 PM TBA Workshops & RetreatsFrday, August 23 at 7 pm: Evening teaching at Denman Island with Dr. Cheryl Fraser Moods and Meditation; How the Buddha describes good mind states and bad mind states and what you can do about your own mind and mood Location: Jane & Patrick Fawkes 4060 Wren Road 250-335-1605 jpfawkes @ telus. net (ferry pick up can be arranged - please call ahead) The Buddha was a great psychologist. He clearly identified the four positive states of mind (emotions) and the three root negative states of mind. He then illustrated how we can work with our own thoughts to decrease the negative and increase the positive. Modern neuroscience is now beginning to prove what Buddhist meditators have discovered over the last 2600 years; meditation and the study of Buddhist principles leads to increased calm, happiness and compassion. Turns out the old adage is true; it IS all in your head. _____________________________________________ Friday evening Sept. 6 – Sunday afternoon Sept. 8 Retreat with Dr. Cheryl Fraser Living in the United States of Happy Mind Location: The Hermitage on Denman island Register: www.dharmafellowship.org/hermitage/retreat-schedule.htm www.dharmafellowship.org/pdf/DharmaFellowship_Retreat_Info_Brochure.pdf This weekend retreat will focus on developing the four wholesome mental states, known in Buddha Dharma as the Brama Viharas, or the Divine Abodes. These four psychologically healthy, happy mind states are loving kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. This silent retreat will have periods of vipassana (insight) meditation practice and periods of guided meditation practice on each of the four divine abodes. Daily Dharma talks/interviews with the teacher. The emphasis will be on opening the heart and thus allowing a deeper settling of the mind. _____________________________________________ Dr. Cheryl Fraser’s Bio Cheryl Fraser Ph.D. has been studying Buddha Dharma for 20 years. Her root teacher was the venerable Namgyal Rinpoche. Other teachers include Lama Mark Webber, Phillip Moffit, and Adrianne Ross. Cheryl studies and practices in both the Tibetan Vajrayana and the Theravaden Vipassana traditions. She is the resident teacher for the Nanaimo Buddha House and she teaches retreats at the Hermitage on Denman Island and elsewhere. She is a clinical psychologist in private practice, and she draws extensively from Western science and psychology, applying even the more complex Dharma's to "real life". Cheryl writes a column for Best Health magazine. She teaches Dharma in an approachable, colourful and humourous style. She invites us to examine the question: How can I be happy for no reason. _____________________________________________ Saturday, September 28 from 10 AM to 3:30 PM A teaching with Tibetan monk Lama Geshe YongDong Tibetan View of Life Location: The Buddha House Suggested donation: $25 More information: yangilhamo@gmail.com You often hear that someone lived a good life, but rarely hear that a person had a good death. The book The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying, was written not only as a means of help & guidance for the dying, but also as a guide for living, with valuable advice on how to live without the fear of death and the unknown. If we fear death we cannot really choose life. We are, instead, trying to figure out how to avoid death, rather than focusing on how to live passionately! Geshe YongDong's qualities of wisdom, compassion & humor will help students to recognize & eliminate some of the fear & myths that surround death. Students will learn methods of preparation that teach how to take control over our lives & fears. How we can give unconditional love, acceptance & joy to others, to live peacefully & fully, & to end our lives without fear or regret when the time comes. Sangha NotesSaturday, August 17, 2013 - Teaching by Dr. Cheryl Fraser. In keeping with our respect of the meditation hall, we request that you follow the following BUDDHA HOUSE ETIQUETTE: Please… Practice silence in the Meditation Hall Wear modest attire - you may wear a robe to cover up if you are wearing shorts Turn off cell phones Remove shoes and hats Do not step over Dharma books and images Do not place prayer books or Dharma images on the floor Do not point the bottom of your feet toward the altar or teacher Thank you for respecting these traditions. Dr. Cheryl Fraser will meet with individual Sangha members to discuss their personal practice at 9:15 am and 9:35 am on the Saturdays that she is teaching at Buddha House. To book an appointment, call Sunny at 250-754-6322 (before 7 pm please) by Wednesday and leave your name and phone number for confirmation. These interviews are offered in the spirit of generosity - that is, on a Dana basis - by the teacher. If you feel moved to express your gratitude, please place offerings in the Dana box. NOTICE!
The meditation hall will be closed for renovation on November 17th and 22nd See you in December!  We are working on putting together an afternoon picnic for the Buddha house Sangha on Sunday June 24 at Pipers lagoon. We would love to have help organizing this event. Please call Josephine at 250-756-2127 and leave your name and number if she is not available to take your call. She would also like you to RSVP if you are planning to come and how many children there will be so she can put together some children's activities. So far the plan will be to - Bring a vegetarian dish to share - Bring your own cutlery, beverage ,napkin and chair or mat -RVSP – call 250-756-2127 ; leave name , telephone # for your self and if you have children number of kids coming
Tentative schedule: Out side yoga outside meditation children's games - start time 3:00 - Eat at 5:00 I will include an update in the next Sangha and Friends email . Best Wishes Susan  Dr. Cheryl Fraser opened up with an amazing guided meditation into the opening of the heart and followed with the dharma teaching . We have been blessed with many new people joining us at the Buddha house the last few weeks it is lovely to have people showing up with interest in Buddhism and meditation.In this email I am including a Love meditation practice that you can do at home if you are interested - it is out of the Chanting and recitation Book compiled by Thich Nhat Hanh . Over the next couple of weeks we will meet for our regular meditation practice, walking meditation and dharma tea ; it is always wonderful to practice together I hope you will all join us . The Yoga class’s will be cancelled now for the summer months and we will try to have them start again in September. I would like to send out a heart felt Thank You to Kelli and Michael for sharing these well attended lovely classes with us all.
Love Meditation ( We begin practicing this love meditation focusing on ourselves (“I”). Until we are able to love and take care of ourselves,we cannot be of much help to others.Next , we can practice towards others (substituting “he/she” or “they”), first with someone we love, next with someone we like, then with someone neutral to us, and finally toward someone who has made us suffer.) May I be peaceful , happy , and light in body and spirit. May I be safe and free form injury. May I be free from anger, afflictions, fear, and anxiety. May I learn to look at myself with the eyes of understanding and love. May I be able to recognize and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in myself. May I learn to identify and see the sources of anger,craving,and delusion in myself. May I know how to nourish the seeds of joy in myself everyday. May i be able to live fresh,solid, and free. May I be free from attachment and aversion, but not be indifferent. Coming Events: June 2nd. – 10:00 Regular meditation practice June 9th. - 10:00 Regular meditation practice June 24th - Group Picnic at Pipers Lagoon (more information to follow) Community Events: (Please do not contact me for community events) Retreat with Dr. Cheryl Fraser July 27 –31 To register you can go to there web sight http://www.dharmafellowship.org/hermitage/retreats.htm there is a registration form that you will fill out and send it by mail. This retreat is held at the Hermitage on Denman Island Mindfulness Practice at 5- 6:30 p.m. Mondays At 40 Kennedy St., Dharma Books on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 (same address as above) Maggy.MacDonald@viu.ca We are very fortunate to have such wonderful dharma teachings at the Buddha house. Please find below the teaching schedule . We have also scheduled a business meeting on Nov 12th. after our regular meditation practice. The business meetings are open to everyone to attend. It is a time that we can share with each other new ideas and support what is already happening in our community. If you would like to bring snacks to share it is always appreciated. Please come at 9:45 to get settled in as the teachings will begin at 10:00 am.
Teaching and Practice Schedule: Oct 22 – Dr. Cheryl Fraser Oct.29 – Dr.Cheryl Fraser Nov.5 – Geshe Yong Dong Nov.12- Regular meditation practice followed by a Business Meeting Nov.19- Regular meditation practice Nov. 26- Dr.Cheryl Fraser Thank You for joining us at the Buddha house for these precious teachings. The Buddha house and the teachers that visit are supported by your generous donations. Dharma teachings coming to the Buddha house this Fall ,both Dr. Cheryl Fraser and Geshe Yong Dong will join us. There will also be a vegetarian pot luck to follow the teaching on Oct. 15th. Please be here a bit before the teaching so you can be seated and settled by 10:00 thank you so much.
Dr. Cheryl Fraser -Sat October 1st – 10:00 – 12-00 Topic: Good States/ Bad States: A Buddhist Perspective on Emotions and how to have a Happy Mind -Sat October 15th - 10:00 – 12-00 Topic: Yikes! Fear, Anxiety, and the Buddha-Dharma prescription for Peace Vegetarian pot luck lunch to follow this teaching Geshe Yong Dong -Sat November 5th. 10:00 – 12-00 Topic to be announced. I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Cheryl Fraser will join us at the Buddha house for Dharma teachings. The format for the teachings will include a short opening as well as a 20- 30 min. meditation practice followed by a dharma teaching. Please come and be seated at 10:00 am . The teaching dates will be Sept. 10th. and Sept. 17th. The Buddha house is open for regular meditation practice on all other Saturdays thanks to the many wonderful dedicated practitioners that donate there time to keep this practice center open for us all. Thank You so Much and hope to see you soon.
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