Every Tuesday

All are welcome.

Every Tuesday

All are welcome.

Every Tuesday

All are welcome.

Atisha, the eleventh-century Indian Buddhist scholar and saint, came to Tibet at the invitation of the king of Western Tibet, Lha Lama Yeshe Wo, and his nephew, Jangchub Wo. His coming initiated the period of the second transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, formative for the Sakya Kagyu and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Atisha’s most celebrated text, Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, sets forth the entire Buddhist path within the framework of three levels of motivation on the part of the practitioner. Atisha’s text thus became the source of the lamrim tradition, or graduated stages of the path to enlightenment, an approach to spiritual practice incorporated within all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

This weekly yoga and meditation session explores the importance of yoga practice in our daily lives. Yoga means to yoke or unite the body and mind so as to still the mind.

It provides a gentle introduction to both physical and mental yoga for those interested in or wanting to learn how to calm the mind. It is particularly suited for beginners as it uses a soft and gentle style of yoga.

Registrations are essential to receive the Zoom link.
The registration page is turned off each week on Thursday at 5pm due to Library’s part-time operating hours.  Please note also that no registrations will be possible after the deadline.

Find out more

Presenter: Venerable Aileen Barry
Online: links provided below
Cost: By donation

Our basic goodness is available to us, regardless of how far it may seem. Fear, anxiety and distraction may seem normal in our often busy lives, yet we can be free of these. It is not something that happens quickly, yet with confidence in our practice, slowly, slowly our hearts can open. And we can recognise our basic goodness and let that be our GPS.  We invite your questions for this talk as the session would be an interactive one. We will also practice some short meditation sessions together.

Login details: If you would like to join our session online, just click on this link to access the session: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83506489824?pwd=cmpNQ1ljSmFVYURLWVN1dWllYUN1dz09

Meeting ID: 835 0648 9824 | Passcode: 718905

I would like to open my heart

We are excited to announce the third module of our program Exploring Buddhism, Exploring the Truths  is starting next 3/8/2022 at 7pm in-person and streamed via Zoom.

In this module we will examine:

• Turning The Three Dharma Wheels
• The Two Truths of Interdependence and Emptiness
• The Four Truths leading to Freedom from Suffering
• Exploring Our Own Wheel of Life
• The Truths and Finding Refuge in The Three Jewels
• Buddha Nature – Our Fundamental Purity

Anyone can attend, even if you have not attended any of the previous Exploring Buddhism modules.

Our Exploring Buddhism Program aims to provide a balance between study and practice, and between the growing understanding of the theory and the deepening of personal experience of the Buddha’s teachings.

About Exploring Buddhism

The program aims to provide a balance between study and practice, and between the growing understanding of the theory and the deepening of personal experience of the Buddha’s teachings.

This is the third of six modules in which we explore the important Buddhist philosophical topics related to the mind, the practice of meditation, the different presentation of truths, the structure of the Buddhist path.

You do not have to have completed the previous module to enrol in this module. It is open to anyone.

Lotus Buds Sangha is the name of the group that meets each Wednesday at the Buddhist Library. Normally there are between 20 and 30 people each week who come from all walks of life with a range of experience in Buddhist practice – beginners are always most welcome.

We are led by lay teachers in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen monk who has lived in the west for the past forty years. Thay, meaning teacher, is a poet and peace activist who has monks and nuns in monasteries in France, USA and Vietnam and is the author of many books on Buddhism.

Each week we practice various meditation techniques including guided meditations, walking meditation, mindful movements and relaxation meditations as well as hearing dharma talks and silent sittings. The teachings are given by a number of teachers, including John Barclay and others.

Together we learn ways to live “deeply in the present moment” – using Buddhist teachings in a practical way to bring peace, joy and happiness to our busy 21st Century lives. Our teacher emphasizes developing mindfulness in even what we might consider the most mundane of our daily tasks; such as brushing our teeth or waiting for the traffic lights to change. The methods have been described as deceptively simple yet deeply profound.

Lotus Buds are a group of everyday people learning to develop our own awareness, understanding and compassion – as Thay would say “growing our hearts a little bigger each day”. Why not drop in one Wednesday and join us?

Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra, In brief, the Buddhahood achieved over countless aeons you will attain in this birth through the most excellent bliss or the state of Vajradhara. Samputa Tantra Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra offers a concise overview of the structure of the Tantric path, widely acclaimed in Tibet as the swiftest and most sublime means to realize Buddhahood. Tantra distinguishes itself in particular through a unique combination of method and wisdom, achieved through meditation on the perfect form of a buddha as completely devoid of true existence. Presenting the paths of all four classes of tantra, while not being a guide to Highest Yoga Tantra practice itself, this subject provides a clear overview of its complex path structure.

This is an advanced level course on Buddhist philosophy and suitable for those with Highest Yoga Tantra initiation only.

10 Sessions – Online with Rigpa Newcastle
Friday Mornings, 22 July – 23 September, 9:30 – 11:30am
Also possible to join at any time

This year long modular course explores the Buddhist path to awakening by reflecting on the example of the Buddha, understanding the fundamental message of his teachings, the Dharma, and connecting with the spiritual community—the Sangha—dedicated to following in the Buddha’s footsteps.

Discovering the True Nature of Your Heart and Mind explores the life of the Buddha, both in its historical context and from a spiritual perspective, and reflects on the relevance that the Buddha’s life has for us now. It presents the key principles of the Buddha’s Dharma teachings: including the four noble truths and the four seals, which form the basis for all levels of practice on the Buddhist path. We will explore these powerful teachings through contemplation and practice, including:
The insights the Buddha’s teachings offer us about life and death.
How Buddhism is both a religion and a science of mind, and how it differs from other religions and philosophies.
The Buddhist view of the nature of reality and ourselves.
We will also explore the idea and value of a spiritual community, Sangha and the role it plays in the path to awakening.

This course is relevant for everyone, and we warmly welcome new students to this course. For more experienced students this is a wonderful chance to clarify, reinforce and deepen the crucial principles of our view and practice.

Meditation practice will help us in our reflection, so we can discover our own patterns and their origin and so free ourselves.

Term 3

An overview of The Four Seals, which are said to be the Hallmark of the Buddha’s teaching. Begins 22nd July
In this new term we will study The Four Seals –

All that is conditioned is impermanent,
All that is tainted is suffering,
All phenomena are empty and devoid of self,
Nirvana is peace.

These four seals are said to be the hallmark of the Buddha’s teaching, and it is often said that the mark of a real Buddhist is that they accept these four. In terms of the View, these four statements encapsulate the uniqueness of the Buddha’s teachings and set the Buddhadharma apart from all other religions and philosophies.

This course is relevant for everyone, and we warmly welcome new students to this course. For more experienced students this is a wonderful chance to clarify, reinforce and deepen the crucial principles of our view and practice.

Register now

A great opportunity to find peace, clarity and spaciousness in the supportive company of a community of meditators.

Cost: Free or by donation

The Buddhist Council of New South Wales offers courses, workshops and events to strengthen Buddhist practice and learning. We are an Approved Provider of Special Religious Education and also provide training in clinical pastoral education to prepare students for Buddhist chaplaincy work in hospitals and prisons.

If you have any questions, please contact education@buddhistcouncil.org.

All three days of training are required for accreditation as a Buddhist Special Religious Education (SRE) teacher in NSW public schools. The training also incorporates ongoing skills development for current SRE teachers, necessary to maintain accreditation.

Find out more

This weekly yoga and meditation session explores the importance of yoga practice in our daily lives. Yoga means to yoke or unite the body and mind so as to still the mind.

It provides a gentle introduction to both physical and mental yoga for those interested in or wanting to learn how to calm the mind. It is particularly suited for beginners as it uses a soft and gentle style of yoga.

Please bring your own yoga mat, or a towel or sarong. Yoga mats are not provided.

Register Here

Suggested Donation: $10  (No one will be turned away because of a lack of funds. Please speak to the instructor)

From April classes will be delivered both In-Person at the Library, and online via ZOOM. Registrations are essential for both formats.
You will have to register each week before Thursday 5pm as the  Library is not staffed from Friday to to Monday (inclusive). Please note also that no registrations will be possible after the deadline.

Note: Only those with Initiation may attend

For more information, please email tashicholing@yahoo.com

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Mindfulness is a natural quality of our mind that, when developed, can facilitate a change in the way our body and mind function. This workshop will introduce the four establishments of mindfulness on the body, feelings, mind and Dharma, and investigate the positive effects of mindfulness, like releasing our reactivities to stress in our body and mind, increasing the sense of bliss and happiness, and becoming more aware of our mental habits and their impacts on us.

All are welcome; there is no prerequisite.

The workshop will feature brief explanations, guided meditations, and time for Q&A.

Find out more

Join Scott Nelson and Mitch Stirzaker (newly part of our MITRA team) for an open discussion weaving together Buddhist dharma, critical inquiry and therapeutic philosophy. Together with spiritual friends, we strive to gain deeper awareness and understanding of our own direct experience of the spiritual, cultural, social and psychological dimensions of our embodied human life. We aim to combine ancient wisdom with contemporary perspectives, and combine awareness of direct experience with critical inquiry.

Hope to catch you this Sunday! And if you have any questions, feel free to contact Scott Nelson (snelson16@icloud.com)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86921389323?pwd=YmJROURvbW1zNWFuWmZYclhCRlFHdz09

Meeting ID: 869 2138 9323
Passcode: MSUN22
One tap mobile
+61731853730,,86921389323#,,,,*402971# Australia
+61861193900,,86921389323#,,,,*402971# Australia
Dial by your location
+61 7 3185 3730 Australia
+61 8 6119 3900 Australia
+61 8 7150 1149 Australia
+61 2 8015 6011 Australia
+61 3 7018 2005 Australia
Meeting ID: 869 2138 9323
Passcode: 402971
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kBaGB6yu9

In this introductory course on mindfulness, we will explore the meaning of mindfulness, the process of nurturing this quality and the benefits that arise from this. Skilful application of mindful attention can help to calm the reactivities of body and mind, much of which are due to our habitual reactions to stressful situations. With developed mindful awareness we can also uncover the deeply held misconceptions about ourselves and our relationship with others that contribute to our distress and unhealthy behavioural reactions. Simple meditation practices and integration exercises will be presented in this course along with the theoretical framework for understanding how mindfulness works in conjunction with other mental qualities.

All are welcome; no prerequisite required.

Each session consists of a mixture of explanations, guided meditations and time for discussion or Q&A.

Every Tuesday

All are welcome.

Atisha, the eleventh-century Indian Buddhist scholar and saint, came to Tibet at the invitation of the king of Western Tibet, Lha Lama Yeshe Wo, and his nephew, Jangchub Wo. His coming initiated the period of the second transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, formative for the Sakya Kagyu and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Atisha’s most celebrated text, Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, sets forth the entire Buddhist path within the framework of three levels of motivation on the part of the practitioner. Atisha’s text thus became the source of the lamrim tradition, or graduated stages of the path to enlightenment, an approach to spiritual practice incorporated within all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

This weekly yoga and meditation session explores the importance of yoga practice in our daily lives. Yoga means to yoke or unite the body and mind so as to still the mind.

It provides a gentle introduction to both physical and mental yoga for those interested in or wanting to learn how to calm the mind. It is particularly suited for beginners as it uses a soft and gentle style of yoga.

Registrations are essential to receive the Zoom link.
The registration page is turned off each week on Thursday at 5pm due to Library’s part-time operating hours.  Please note also that no registrations will be possible after the deadline.

Find out more

Speaker: Bon Hyon Sunim
Wed 10 Aug | 7-8:30pm
Location: In person at Metta Centre (Bankstown) or Online (link below)
Cost: By donation

We look at a red flower and think red, but it may surprise you that there is actually no red colour in the flower … the flower is empty of red! We hold onto thoughts and feelings as if they have real substance – but what if substance is just our illusion?

Why is it that the atoms and molecules in our brains create an experience of substance and substantiality? And how is it that we see and engage with our own body and mind, and the experience of everything around us as having substance and particularity– when all of creation is actually an illusion of manifest reality?

Planet Earth sits in the Milky Way Galaxy. There are over 400 billion suns in our galaxy and our next-door neighbour Andromeda, has a similar number of stars. The scientists tell us there are two trillion galaxies in the known Universe and uncountable trillions of planets, with an estimated 60 billion habitable planets in our own galaxy, which is only point zero one percent of the Universe. The other 99.9% is invisible interstellar dust – unknown and probably unknowable. And yet, that so-called invisible vast emptiness is the ground of all creation, the ground of our very existence! That emptiness, the so-called vacuum, is full! It’s the source of everything in the known Universe, of consciousness itself!

The Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra tells us that in emptiness there is no form, no feeling, no thought, no volition nor consciousness. Form is empty, feeling is empty, thought is empty and therefore no knowing. Volition is empty therefore no doing, consciousness is empty therefore no awakening. If you ask physicists what the Universe is made from, the answer you get is no-thing. It’s an unsolvable conundrum from a science perspective. Science can create models of reality…but it does not access the hidden reality. So how can we engage meaningfully with this vast universe and the galaxy we call home – and what is our part to play in it?

Hybrid event:  Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive session with the speaker. As we invite speakers from all around the world and Sydney, our speaker for this event will be joining us by video. You are welcome to join the session in person at the Metta Centre or online by clicking on this link to access the session: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83506489824?pwd=cmpNQ1ljSmFVYURLWVN1dWllYUN1dz09

Meeting ID: 835 0648 9824 | Passcode: 718905

We are excited to announce the third module of our program Exploring Buddhism, Exploring the Truths  is starting next 3/8/2022 at 7pm in-person and streamed via Zoom.

In this module we will examine:

• Turning The Three Dharma Wheels
• The Two Truths of Interdependence and Emptiness
• The Four Truths leading to Freedom from Suffering
• Exploring Our Own Wheel of Life
• The Truths and Finding Refuge in The Three Jewels
• Buddha Nature – Our Fundamental Purity

Anyone can attend, even if you have not attended any of the previous Exploring Buddhism modules.

Our Exploring Buddhism Program aims to provide a balance between study and practice, and between the growing understanding of the theory and the deepening of personal experience of the Buddha’s teachings.

About Exploring Buddhism

The program aims to provide a balance between study and practice, and between the growing understanding of the theory and the deepening of personal experience of the Buddha’s teachings.

This is the third of six modules in which we explore the important Buddhist philosophical topics related to the mind, the practice of meditation, the different presentation of truths, the structure of the Buddhist path.

You do not have to have completed the previous module to enrol in this module. It is open to anyone.

Lotus Buds Sangha is the name of the group that meets each Wednesday at the Buddhist Library. Normally there are between 20 and 30 people each week who come from all walks of life with a range of experience in Buddhist practice – beginners are always most welcome.

We are led by lay teachers in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen monk who has lived in the west for the past forty years. Thay, meaning teacher, is a poet and peace activist who has monks and nuns in monasteries in France, USA and Vietnam and is the author of many books on Buddhism.

Each week we practice various meditation techniques including guided meditations, walking meditation, mindful movements and relaxation meditations as well as hearing dharma talks and silent sittings. The teachings are given by a number of teachers, including John Barclay and others.

Together we learn ways to live “deeply in the present moment” – using Buddhist teachings in a practical way to bring peace, joy and happiness to our busy 21st Century lives. Our teacher emphasizes developing mindfulness in even what we might consider the most mundane of our daily tasks; such as brushing our teeth or waiting for the traffic lights to change. The methods have been described as deceptively simple yet deeply profound.

Lotus Buds are a group of everyday people learning to develop our own awareness, understanding and compassion – as Thay would say “growing our hearts a little bigger each day”. Why not drop in one Wednesday and join us?

Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra, In brief, the Buddhahood achieved over countless aeons you will attain in this birth through the most excellent bliss or the state of Vajradhara. Samputa Tantra Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra offers a concise overview of the structure of the Tantric path, widely acclaimed in Tibet as the swiftest and most sublime means to realize Buddhahood. Tantra distinguishes itself in particular through a unique combination of method and wisdom, achieved through meditation on the perfect form of a buddha as completely devoid of true existence. Presenting the paths of all four classes of tantra, while not being a guide to Highest Yoga Tantra practice itself, this subject provides a clear overview of its complex path structure.

This is an advanced level course on Buddhist philosophy and suitable for those with Highest Yoga Tantra initiation only.

10 Sessions – Online with Rigpa Newcastle
Friday Mornings, 22 July – 23 September, 9:30 – 11:30am
Also possible to join at any time

This year long modular course explores the Buddhist path to awakening by reflecting on the example of the Buddha, understanding the fundamental message of his teachings, the Dharma, and connecting with the spiritual community—the Sangha—dedicated to following in the Buddha’s footsteps.

Discovering the True Nature of Your Heart and Mind explores the life of the Buddha, both in its historical context and from a spiritual perspective, and reflects on the relevance that the Buddha’s life has for us now. It presents the key principles of the Buddha’s Dharma teachings: including the four noble truths and the four seals, which form the basis for all levels of practice on the Buddhist path. We will explore these powerful teachings through contemplation and practice, including:
The insights the Buddha’s teachings offer us about life and death.
How Buddhism is both a religion and a science of mind, and how it differs from other religions and philosophies.
The Buddhist view of the nature of reality and ourselves.
We will also explore the idea and value of a spiritual community, Sangha and the role it plays in the path to awakening.

This course is relevant for everyone, and we warmly welcome new students to this course. For more experienced students this is a wonderful chance to clarify, reinforce and deepen the crucial principles of our view and practice.

Meditation practice will help us in our reflection, so we can discover our own patterns and their origin and so free ourselves.

Term 3

An overview of The Four Seals, which are said to be the Hallmark of the Buddha’s teaching. Begins 22nd July
In this new term we will study The Four Seals –

All that is conditioned is impermanent,
All that is tainted is suffering,
All phenomena are empty and devoid of self,
Nirvana is peace.

These four seals are said to be the hallmark of the Buddha’s teaching, and it is often said that the mark of a real Buddhist is that they accept these four. In terms of the View, these four statements encapsulate the uniqueness of the Buddha’s teachings and set the Buddhadharma apart from all other religions and philosophies.

This course is relevant for everyone, and we warmly welcome new students to this course. For more experienced students this is a wonderful chance to clarify, reinforce and deepen the crucial principles of our view and practice.

Register now

Every 15th of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar – Monday 17 Jan (7pm), Wed 16 Feb (7pm), Friday March 18, 7pm.
Medicine Buddha Practice
All are welcome

A great opportunity to find peace, clarity and spaciousness in the supportive company of a community of meditators.

Cost: Free or by donation

This weekly yoga and meditation session explores the importance of yoga practice in our daily lives. Yoga means to yoke or unite the body and mind so as to still the mind.

It provides a gentle introduction to both physical and mental yoga for those interested in or wanting to learn how to calm the mind. It is particularly suited for beginners as it uses a soft and gentle style of yoga.

Please bring your own yoga mat, or a towel or sarong. Yoga mats are not provided.

Register Here

Suggested Donation: $10  (No one will be turned away because of a lack of funds. Please speak to the instructor)

From April classes will be delivered both In-Person at the Library, and online via ZOOM. Registrations are essential for both formats.
You will have to register each week before Thursday 5pm as the  Library is not staffed from Friday to to Monday (inclusive). Please note also that no registrations will be possible after the deadline.

Next Session Sunday 10 July
In person and online

The wisdom of the Buddha reveals a whole new way of seeing the world and ourselves within that world.

This interactive course is an exploration of key Buddhist wisdom teachings. We will place these ideas under a microscope bringing the similarities and differences between Buddhist and contemporary views clearly into focus. You will be invited to re-evaluate your own ideas and clarify your outlook on life. The outcome is a surer and sounder insight into the way we see the world.

Details

Where: Online and in-person at 158 Australia St, Newtown

When: Second Sunday of each month
June 12, July 10, August 14, October 9, November 13, December 11

Time: 9.30am – 1.00pm

Cost: Standard: $20 per session. Rigpa subscribers (members): free.

Register now

Join Scott Nelson and Mitch Stirzaker (newly part of our MITRA team) for an open discussion weaving together Buddhist dharma, critical inquiry and therapeutic philosophy. Together with spiritual friends, we strive to gain deeper awareness and understanding of our own direct experience of the spiritual, cultural, social and psychological dimensions of our embodied human life. We aim to combine ancient wisdom with contemporary perspectives, and combine awareness of direct experience with critical inquiry.

Hope to catch you this Sunday! And if you have any questions, feel free to contact Scott Nelson (snelson16@icloud.com)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86921389323?pwd=YmJROURvbW1zNWFuWmZYclhCRlFHdz09

Meeting ID: 869 2138 9323
Passcode: MSUN22
One tap mobile
+61731853730,,86921389323#,,,,*402971# Australia
+61861193900,,86921389323#,,,,*402971# Australia
Dial by your location
+61 7 3185 3730 Australia
+61 8 6119 3900 Australia
+61 8 7150 1149 Australia
+61 2 8015 6011 Australia
+61 3 7018 2005 Australia
Meeting ID: 869 2138 9323
Passcode: 402971
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kBaGB6yu9

In this introductory course on mindfulness, we will explore the meaning of mindfulness, the process of nurturing this quality and the benefits that arise from this. Skilful application of mindful attention can help to calm the reactivities of body and mind, much of which are due to our habitual reactions to stressful situations. With developed mindful awareness we can also uncover the deeply held misconceptions about ourselves and our relationship with others that contribute to our distress and unhealthy behavioural reactions. Simple meditation practices and integration exercises will be presented in this course along with the theoretical framework for understanding how mindfulness works in conjunction with other mental qualities.

All are welcome; no prerequisite required.

Each session consists of a mixture of explanations, guided meditations and time for discussion or Q&A.

Atisha, the eleventh-century Indian Buddhist scholar and saint, came to Tibet at the invitation of the king of Western Tibet, Lha Lama Yeshe Wo, and his nephew, Jangchub Wo. His coming initiated the period of the second transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, formative for the Sakya Kagyu and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Atisha’s most celebrated text, Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, sets forth the entire Buddhist path within the framework of three levels of motivation on the part of the practitioner. Atisha’s text thus became the source of the lamrim tradition, or graduated stages of the path to enlightenment, an approach to spiritual practice incorporated within all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Every Tuesday

All are welcome.

This weekly yoga and meditation session explores the importance of yoga practice in our daily lives. Yoga means to yoke or unite the body and mind so as to still the mind.

It provides a gentle introduction to both physical and mental yoga for those interested in or wanting to learn how to calm the mind. It is particularly suited for beginners as it uses a soft and gentle style of yoga.

Registrations are essential to receive the Zoom link.
The registration page is turned off each week on Thursday at 5pm due to Library’s part-time operating hours.  Please note also that no registrations will be possible after the deadline.

Find out more

We are excited to announce the third module of our program Exploring Buddhism, Exploring the Truths  is starting next 3/8/2022 at 7pm in-person and streamed via Zoom.

In this module we will examine:

• Turning The Three Dharma Wheels
• The Two Truths of Interdependence and Emptiness
• The Four Truths leading to Freedom from Suffering
• Exploring Our Own Wheel of Life
• The Truths and Finding Refuge in The Three Jewels
• Buddha Nature – Our Fundamental Purity

Anyone can attend, even if you have not attended any of the previous Exploring Buddhism modules.

Our Exploring Buddhism Program aims to provide a balance between study and practice, and between the growing understanding of the theory and the deepening of personal experience of the Buddha’s teachings.

About Exploring Buddhism

The program aims to provide a balance between study and practice, and between the growing understanding of the theory and the deepening of personal experience of the Buddha’s teachings.

This is the third of six modules in which we explore the important Buddhist philosophical topics related to the mind, the practice of meditation, the different presentation of truths, the structure of the Buddhist path.

You do not have to have completed the previous module to enrol in this module. It is open to anyone.

Presenter: Dr. Eng Kong Tan
Wed 17 August | 7-8:30pm
Online: links provided below
Cost: By donation

Dr. E-K Tan will be weaving the Cultivation of Joy, the meditative practice of Mudita with the recent advent of Positive Psychotherapy for the benefit of all.  Researchers have found that happiness consists of a set range from birth, (genetic, 50%), circumstances in life (only 10%) and 40% is under our control.  We can practice ways of increasing positive experiences for a pleasant life, exercising our strengths and virtues for a good life and most importantly serving a higher purpose for a meaningful and deeply satisfying life.

Dr Tan will refer to the Eight Pillars of Joy demonstrated by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  He will share a mindful meditation encompassing Buddhist and Psychotherapeutic evidence based practices  to enhance our capacity for joy. There will be time for questions, discussions and contributions from participants as we learn joyfully together.

Login details: If you would like to join our session online, just click on this link to access the session: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83506489824?pwd=cmpNQ1ljSmFVYURLWVN1dWllYUN1dz09

Meeting ID: 835 0648 9824 | Passcode: 718905

Lotus Buds Sangha is the name of the group that meets each Wednesday at the Buddhist Library. Normally there are between 20 and 30 people each week who come from all walks of life with a range of experience in Buddhist practice – beginners are always most welcome.

We are led by lay teachers in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen monk who has lived in the west for the past forty years. Thay, meaning teacher, is a poet and peace activist who has monks and nuns in monasteries in France, USA and Vietnam and is the author of many books on Buddhism.

Each week we practice various meditation techniques including guided meditations, walking meditation, mindful movements and relaxation meditations as well as hearing dharma talks and silent sittings. The teachings are given by a number of teachers, including John Barclay and others.

Together we learn ways to live “deeply in the present moment” – using Buddhist teachings in a practical way to bring peace, joy and happiness to our busy 21st Century lives. Our teacher emphasizes developing mindfulness in even what we might consider the most mundane of our daily tasks; such as brushing our teeth or waiting for the traffic lights to change. The methods have been described as deceptively simple yet deeply profound.

Lotus Buds are a group of everyday people learning to develop our own awareness, understanding and compassion – as Thay would say “growing our hearts a little bigger each day”. Why not drop in one Wednesday and join us?

Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra, In brief, the Buddhahood achieved over countless aeons you will attain in this birth through the most excellent bliss or the state of Vajradhara. Samputa Tantra Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra offers a concise overview of the structure of the Tantric path, widely acclaimed in Tibet as the swiftest and most sublime means to realize Buddhahood. Tantra distinguishes itself in particular through a unique combination of method and wisdom, achieved through meditation on the perfect form of a buddha as completely devoid of true existence. Presenting the paths of all four classes of tantra, while not being a guide to Highest Yoga Tantra practice itself, this subject provides a clear overview of its complex path structure.

This is an advanced level course on Buddhist philosophy and suitable for those with Highest Yoga Tantra initiation only.

10 Sessions – Online with Rigpa Newcastle
Friday Mornings, 22 July – 23 September, 9:30 – 11:30am
Also possible to join at any time

This year long modular course explores the Buddhist path to awakening by reflecting on the example of the Buddha, understanding the fundamental message of his teachings, the Dharma, and connecting with the spiritual community—the Sangha—dedicated to following in the Buddha’s footsteps.

Discovering the True Nature of Your Heart and Mind explores the life of the Buddha, both in its historical context and from a spiritual perspective, and reflects on the relevance that the Buddha’s life has for us now. It presents the key principles of the Buddha’s Dharma teachings: including the four noble truths and the four seals, which form the basis for all levels of practice on the Buddhist path. We will explore these powerful teachings through contemplation and practice, including:
The insights the Buddha’s teachings offer us about life and death.
How Buddhism is both a religion and a science of mind, and how it differs from other religions and philosophies.
The Buddhist view of the nature of reality and ourselves.
We will also explore the idea and value of a spiritual community, Sangha and the role it plays in the path to awakening.

This course is relevant for everyone, and we warmly welcome new students to this course. For more experienced students this is a wonderful chance to clarify, reinforce and deepen the crucial principles of our view and practice.

Meditation practice will help us in our reflection, so we can discover our own patterns and their origin and so free ourselves.

Term 3

An overview of The Four Seals, which are said to be the Hallmark of the Buddha’s teaching. Begins 22nd July
In this new term we will study The Four Seals –

All that is conditioned is impermanent,
All that is tainted is suffering,
All phenomena are empty and devoid of self,
Nirvana is peace.

These four seals are said to be the hallmark of the Buddha’s teaching, and it is often said that the mark of a real Buddhist is that they accept these four. In terms of the View, these four statements encapsulate the uniqueness of the Buddha’s teachings and set the Buddhadharma apart from all other religions and philosophies.

This course is relevant for everyone, and we warmly welcome new students to this course. For more experienced students this is a wonderful chance to clarify, reinforce and deepen the crucial principles of our view and practice.

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A great opportunity to find peace, clarity and spaciousness in the supportive company of a community of meditators.

Cost: Free or by donation

This weekly yoga and meditation session explores the importance of yoga practice in our daily lives. Yoga means to yoke or unite the body and mind so as to still the mind.

It provides a gentle introduction to both physical and mental yoga for those interested in or wanting to learn how to calm the mind. It is particularly suited for beginners as it uses a soft and gentle style of yoga.

Please bring your own yoga mat, or a towel or sarong. Yoga mats are not provided.

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Suggested Donation: $10  (No one will be turned away because of a lack of funds. Please speak to the instructor)

From April classes will be delivered both In-Person at the Library, and online via ZOOM. Registrations are essential for both formats.
You will have to register each week before Thursday 5pm as the  Library is not staffed from Friday to to Monday (inclusive). Please note also that no registrations will be possible after the deadline.

Geshe Chekawa’s summation of the Tibetan Buddhist guidelines for living a compassionate life, known as the Seven Points of Mind Training, have guided practitioners for more than a thousand years. His pithy slogans open the way for each of us to nurture our own compassionate nature and put compassion into action in everyday life.

Cultivating Compassion will present teachings on the Seven Points given by Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche accompanied by reflections from Traleg Rinpoche. In a world full of turmoil these teachings offer a vital practical antidote to despair and despondency.

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche is one of the outstanding meditation teachers of our time. She is known for her penetrating wisdom and humour, conveying the Buddhist teachings in a concise and lively manner, enriched with personal anecdotes, which are of particular relevance to the everyday life of the modern, fast-paced world.

From the early 1980s onwards, Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche was a pioneer in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to Australia and a strong advocate of non-sectarianism. He taught extensively on many aspects of Buddhist psychology and philosophy, comparative religion, and Buddhist and Western thought.

This program is open to all, but does assume some familiarity with meditation and the Buddhist understanding of interdependence.

Details

Where: Online only

When: The third Saturday of each month 10:30am – 12:30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time: 18 June, 16 July, 20 August, 17 September, 15 October, 19 November, 17 December.

Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm

Cost for each session $10. Rigpa subscribers (members): free.

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The Ngöndro, or preliminary practices, are the traditional pathway into Vajrayana Buddhism. Combining meditation, reflection, visualisation, recitation and physical offering, these practices effect a complete and comprehensive inner transformation. Not only do they prepare the practitioner for the profound path of Vajrayana and the teachings of Dzogchen, but they also lead him or her gradually towards enlightenment.

Held on one Saturday afternoon each month, Rigpa Australia’s 2022 Ngöndro workshop series will give you a thorough, practical introduction to the main Ngöndro practices, addressing the what, the how and the why of each element of these life-changing practices. The 2022 workshop program will address practical aspects not covered in Rigpa’s 2021 Ngöndro program.

These workshops will be presented by monastic and lay practitioners from Rigpa Australia and Rigpa’s international retreat centre Lerab Ling. They will share their deep understanding of the Ngöndro based on their decades of practice.

Session Date
(Saturdays) Time Topic Presenter
1 19 February 2 – 6pm (AEDT) What is the Ngöndro Daniella Vedelago
2 26 March 1 – 5pm
(AEDT) The Four Thoughts and how to use the commentaries to enrich your practice Ian and Ruth Gawler
3 28 May 1 – 5pm
(AEST) Refuge and prostrations: what we can truly rely on Catherine Paul
4 25 June 1 – 5pm
(AEST) Bodhichitta: enlightened courage, the heart and wisdom of compassion within the Ngöndro
5 23 July 9am – 4.30pm
(AEST) Full day Ngöndro practice retreat: exercise your practice muscle
6 20 August 1 – 5pm
(AEST) Vajrasattva: purifying and healing our obscurations and defilements Catherine Paul
7 24 September 3 – 7pm
(AEST) Mandala Offering: doing the practice Ane Lhamo
8 22 October 1 – 5pm
(AEDT) Guru Yoga: connecting with devotion as the unbroken receptivity to the truth

Experienced students and any student with a year or more of Buddhist study and a well-established regular meditation practice who would like to start the Ngöndro are most welcome to join all or any of these sessions.

Where: Online and in-person at 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney
We warmly invite students from all centres in Australia and New Zealand to join online.
Students from the USA are also invited to join at these times:
USA Eastern Standard Time (Fridays): February 9pm; March 10pm; May – September 11pm, October 10pm
USA Pacific Time (Fridays): February 6pm; March 7pm; May – September 8pm, October 7pm)

Cost: Rigpa subscribers (members): there may be a nominal fee for some sessions depending on the teacher, otherwise free. If you are a subscriber and have not received a direct invitation to these workshops please email sydney@rigpa.org.au
Non-subscribers: Individual session: $30 full price $20 concession per session
Season ticket (all 8 workshops): $199 full price, $130 concession

Register here

Enquiries: Please email sydney@rigpa.org.au

Note: Only those with Initiation and completion of the fire puja may attend

For more information, please email tashicholing@yahoo.com

Venerable Thubten Chodron will lead a series of teachings delving deeper into the substance of spiritual practice.

During this series Following in the Buddha’s Footsteps you’ll hear explanations of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, why they are reliable guides on the path, and how to relate to them. The series will describe the three essential trainings common to all Buddhist traditions: the higher trainings in ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom. These trainings show us how to live a life free of harm to self or others and give us detailed instructions on how to develop single-pointed concentration as well as the higher states of concentration available to an earnest practitioner. Venerable Chodron will then discuss teachings on the noble eightfold path and the four establishments of mindfulness for developing greater awareness and understanding of our body, feelings, mind, and other phenomena. Together, these topics form the core of Buddhist practice.

Find out more

Join Scott Nelson and Mitch Stirzaker (newly part of our MITRA team) for an open discussion weaving together Buddhist dharma, critical inquiry and therapeutic philosophy. Together with spiritual friends, we strive to gain deeper awareness and understanding of our own direct experience of the spiritual, cultural, social and psychological dimensions of our embodied human life. We aim to combine ancient wisdom with contemporary perspectives, and combine awareness of direct experience with critical inquiry.

Hope to catch you this Sunday! And if you have any questions, feel free to contact Scott Nelson (snelson16@icloud.com)

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In this introductory course on mindfulness, we will explore the meaning of mindfulness, the process of nurturing this quality and the benefits that arise from this. Skilful application of mindful attention can help to calm the reactivities of body and mind, much of which are due to our habitual reactions to stressful situations. With developed mindful awareness we can also uncover the deeply held misconceptions about ourselves and our relationship with others that contribute to our distress and unhealthy behavioural reactions. Simple meditation practices and integration exercises will be presented in this course along with the theoretical framework for understanding how mindfulness works in conjunction with other mental qualities.

All are welcome; no prerequisite required.

Each session consists of a mixture of explanations, guided meditations and time for discussion or Q&A.

Atisha, the eleventh-century Indian Buddhist scholar and saint, came to Tibet at the invitation of the king of Western Tibet, Lha Lama Yeshe Wo, and his nephew, Jangchub Wo. His coming initiated the period of the second transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, formative for the Sakya Kagyu and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Atisha’s most celebrated text, Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, sets forth the entire Buddhist path within the framework of three levels of motivation on the part of the practitioner. Atisha’s text thus became the source of the lamrim tradition, or graduated stages of the path to enlightenment, an approach to spiritual practice incorporated within all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.