NANAIMO BUDDHIST GROUP
Chùa Hài Ân
587-7TH Street, Nanaimo, BC
Resident Monk: Thich Phap An
http://nanaimobuddhistmeditationgroup.org
Welcome to the Nanaimo Buddhist Group meditation. This hand out is to help you familiarize the meditation format and to encourage you to continue your spiritual growth within our group.
Meditation Format:
* Inviting of the Bell
* 20 minutes seating meditation
* After seating meditation, walking meditation for about 10 minutes
* Reading for the Day
* Resume sitting meditation for another 20 minutes
* Dedication of Merit
* Tea Circle (Dharma Tea)
* Introduction of Guests and Dharma Basket-Bell Master
Other Information:
* The group meets every Saturday at 10:00am.
* Newcomers come at 9:50am for a brief introduction.
* If you are not comfortable sitting on the floor for the meditation, chairs are available. If you are able, please return your chair downstairs after meditation.
* Although not mandatory, wearing a robe provided by the temple is a sign of respect.
* Remove robe before using the washroom.
* Short pants and revealing clothing should not be worn to the temple.
* In the Dharma room always walk behind those seated in meditation.
* Please be respectful in the Dharma room.
* Please do not place recitation books on floor.
* Please do not point your feet at the Buddha or others.
In Asian cultures this is disrespectful.
* Thich Phap An has been generous in allowing us (Sangha) to use his temple as a meditation meeting place
* A suggested donation of $5.00 for meditation sitting is greatly appreciated but not required. Any amount is greatly appreciated. All donations go toward upkeep and temple maintenance.
* Occasionally we are blessed with teachings (dharma) from teachers.
Donation (dana) to the teacher is at your discretion and will be split with the temple. This gives you an opportunity to share in the joyful cultivation of generosity through offering to our teachers. Give whatever you can afford –an offering given from what little one has, is worth a thousand times its value.
* If you can stay back for10 minutes after the ceremony to help with cleaning, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Dana or giving is one of the basic Buddhist virtues. The Buddha taught that when we give to others, we give without expectation or reward. We give without attaching to either the gift or the recipient. We practice giving to release greed and self-clinging. Generosity or Dana is first in a list of perfections that are to be cultivated in Buddhist practice. Giving with pure motivation is called dana paramita, or perfection of giving.
As Buddhism is introduced to the West, teacher support is evolved in different forms. Those who teach are householders who support themselves without a centre or monastery. Those who devote themselves to teachings are held in great respect, and their communities take seriously the responsibility for supporting the teacher and the teachings. For the teacher, teaching is itself a form of Dana. It helps create a field of generosity, trust, goodwill and a sense of community.
A Dana basket is on the ledge as you go down the stairs to give the Sangha members the opportunity to support their teacher for further training and temple upkeep. The fact that there is no fixed amount leaves the responsibility with the individual to decide what amount of support is appropriate for them. It also guarantees that the teachings are available to people of all economic levels. Dana invites each individual to develop his/her own capacity to be generous in a way that directly assists his/her own spiritual growth. This forms your bedrock of spiritual practice. As in Asia, it is understood that to support the teacher is to support oneself.
Chùa Hài Ân
587-7TH Street, Nanaimo, BC
Resident Monk: Thich Phap An
http://nanaimobuddhistmeditationgroup.org
Welcome to the Nanaimo Buddhist Group meditation. This hand out is to help you familiarize the meditation format and to encourage you to continue your spiritual growth within our group.
Meditation Format:
* Inviting of the Bell
* 20 minutes seating meditation
* After seating meditation, walking meditation for about 10 minutes
* Reading for the Day
* Resume sitting meditation for another 20 minutes
* Dedication of Merit
* Tea Circle (Dharma Tea)
* Introduction of Guests and Dharma Basket-Bell Master
Other Information:
* The group meets every Saturday at 10:00am.
* Newcomers come at 9:50am for a brief introduction.
* If you are not comfortable sitting on the floor for the meditation, chairs are available. If you are able, please return your chair downstairs after meditation.
* Although not mandatory, wearing a robe provided by the temple is a sign of respect.
* Remove robe before using the washroom.
* Short pants and revealing clothing should not be worn to the temple.
* In the Dharma room always walk behind those seated in meditation.
* Please be respectful in the Dharma room.
* Please do not place recitation books on floor.
* Please do not point your feet at the Buddha or others.
In Asian cultures this is disrespectful.
* Thich Phap An has been generous in allowing us (Sangha) to use his temple as a meditation meeting place
* A suggested donation of $5.00 for meditation sitting is greatly appreciated but not required. Any amount is greatly appreciated. All donations go toward upkeep and temple maintenance.
* Occasionally we are blessed with teachings (dharma) from teachers.
Donation (dana) to the teacher is at your discretion and will be split with the temple. This gives you an opportunity to share in the joyful cultivation of generosity through offering to our teachers. Give whatever you can afford –an offering given from what little one has, is worth a thousand times its value.
* If you can stay back for10 minutes after the ceremony to help with cleaning, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Dana or giving is one of the basic Buddhist virtues. The Buddha taught that when we give to others, we give without expectation or reward. We give without attaching to either the gift or the recipient. We practice giving to release greed and self-clinging. Generosity or Dana is first in a list of perfections that are to be cultivated in Buddhist practice. Giving with pure motivation is called dana paramita, or perfection of giving.
As Buddhism is introduced to the West, teacher support is evolved in different forms. Those who teach are householders who support themselves without a centre or monastery. Those who devote themselves to teachings are held in great respect, and their communities take seriously the responsibility for supporting the teacher and the teachings. For the teacher, teaching is itself a form of Dana. It helps create a field of generosity, trust, goodwill and a sense of community.
A Dana basket is on the ledge as you go down the stairs to give the Sangha members the opportunity to support their teacher for further training and temple upkeep. The fact that there is no fixed amount leaves the responsibility with the individual to decide what amount of support is appropriate for them. It also guarantees that the teachings are available to people of all economic levels. Dana invites each individual to develop his/her own capacity to be generous in a way that directly assists his/her own spiritual growth. This forms your bedrock of spiritual practice. As in Asia, it is understood that to support the teacher is to support oneself.