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 Triratna Leeds is a registered charity no. 1132691 July 2010
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BE PART OF THIS
NEWSLETTER
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Room to Let
Leeds Buddhist Centre is available for hire for workshops, events and exhibitions. A light, spacious room in the heart of the city.
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| Useful Links | |
(Triratna Buddhist Community's video website)
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GIVE as you SEARCH
Raise funds for the Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
when you search the web
It costs you nothing, but raises funds for us with every search. You can even sign up to see how much you raise!
just follow this link
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| Sangha Snippets | |
Puja celebration - small but beautiful
 The second full moon puja, held on 25th June, was only attended by six of us, but in spite of the low turnout, the ritual felt good. And Kathy led the whole puja - from start to finish - with great aplomb.
The next puja is on Friday 23rd July and will be led by Debbie and Rosemary who hope to see lots of people there! Everyone is welcome. Bring an offering for the shrine if you wish.
(This is now a permanent feature in our monthly programme with forthcoming events on 20th August, 24th September,22nd October, 19th November and 17th December (all Fridays) - see Forthcoming Events below for more details)
Summer School (1)
This summer Samanartha is running two Weekend Meditation Courses. The first (24/25th July) covers Breathing into Awareness and the second (21st/22nd Aug) Metta Bhavana. They run from 10.00am until 4.30pm and are suitable for those wishing to refresh their practice as well as newcomers. More details here.
Summer School (2)
 It's really important that we fill these courses so we're asking everyone who can, to place leaflets in shops in their area. Lots of places will display them - hairdressers, some pubs, deli's, cafes, community centres, lunchtime takeaways... even fish and chip shops. Please pick up a supply from the centre or email Jenny ( jenny@jennyroberts.net) who will gladly post some to you.
Summer of Festivals... we'll be there!
As part of our initiative to publicise our meditation courses (and meditation in general) we'll be joining thousands of festival goers  at various events this summer. Confirmed dates include Hyde Park Unity Day (date to be announced, but sometime very soon) and Todstock (Todmorden Music Festival) on Sat 7th and Sun 8th August. We'll be handing out details of our meditation courses, selling goods from our stall, (hopefully) giving sampler meditation workshops and chatting to people about Meditation and Buddhism. In addition we'll be at Leeds Pride (Sat 1st August) handing out leaflets in the morning and hosting a special social cum meditation event at the Centre in the afternoon. So can you lend us a hand?
These events are going to be great fun and, if you can come along, we'd appreciate your help very much - we promise that you'll enjoy yourself (and you'll also get a free t-shirt into the bargain!) If you can help please email Jenny at: jenny@jennyroberts.net
Dates for your diary
There are some good things coming up in the next few months. (For a full list see Forthcoming Events below.)
Leeds Urban Retreat - led by Khemasara
This is a different kind of retreat, one where you carry on living and working as normal... but with a difference.
 The week starts on Sunday 5th September with a day retreat at the Centre when you'll be helped and encouraged to set up the conditions to take your practice deeper during the forthcoming week. It ends the following Saturday 11th September with an opportunity to reflect on the week and decide where you want to go next. Full details in the August Issue.
Buddafield North Open Retreat
22nd to 27th August and 28th to 29th August
Women's Day Retreat - led by Santasiddhi
Saturday 25th September at Bridge House - details to follow
Young People's Retreat
Friday 8th to Sunday 10th October (near Sheffield)
Details to follow
 Lineham Farm Sangha RetreatFriday 26th to Sunday 28th November
A sociable, friendly weekend of Sangha and Dharma in beautiful surroundings near Eccup, Leeds (details to follow later in the year)
Women's Community?
Debbie writes:
Is there an appetite in Leeds for a women's community? A shared house that we would rent together. Run on a democratic basis, where we could have a dedicated shrine room and maybe eat and meditate together at least once a week? It would probably require 3-4 woman at least for it to work and the women would preferrably be mitras, GFR mitras or Order Members. I would be looking to set this up by November/December 2010. If anyone is interested could they contact me or leave me a note at the Buddhist Centre.
Oops! My computer crashed and died on me just before beginning this newsletter. I had backed up all my documents (phew!) but unfortunately I forgot about the emails! So, if you've sent me a contribution and it isn't here, I haven't left it out on purpose, honest - I just haven't got it any more... Can you resend please if this is you!
P.S. Don't Forget...
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Where are they now?
An occasional feature catching up with past members of the Leeds Sangha
This Month: Samudradaka |
 It's 19 years ago now that I first went along to the Leeds Buddhist Centre with my friend Rich to attend a beginners meditation course - after which I was a part of the Leeds Sangha for 13 years. During that time I lived in the 3 different 'community' houses, was the treasurer, supported and led classes and also helped set up the infamous BLT (Buddhist Labour Team). Towards the end of this time I went off to Guhyaloka retreat centre in Spain to get ordained.
By 2004 I was needing a change and got the opportunity to live and work at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in Norfolk. I worked there initially as the secretary for the Ordination Team and then later took on the role as Chairman. This was a very valuable and rich time for me: Living in a very vibrant community; meeting the many people who passed through the doors; and also enjoying the Norfolk countryside. One of the highlights during that time was going to the west coast of America with my friend Simon (also previously a Leeds sangha person) doing a 3 week road trip 'pilgrimage' to the Spiral Jetty
Towards the end of my time at Padmaloka I met my future German wife Silke at a party in London. After a whirlwind romance we decided we wanted to live together and I moved to London. While in Leeds I'd learnt website design and began doing self employed website work which I continued in the background at Padmaloka. So when I moved to London, with the help of Silke's business development skills, I began working full time doing website design. I really enjoyed living in London for a while, exploring the vast sprawling city and making very good use of my Tate gallery membership card!
After about a year in London Silke applied, partly on a whim, for a job in Saudi Arabia and ended up getting it. So then we had to decide in the space of a few weeks if we wanted to go there or not - which apart from the move also meant getting married as you can't live in Saudi as an unmarried couple! So yes, we decided to go for it and here I am writing this article from our house in Saudi on the campus of KAUST university which is where Silke's job is to build up the Office of Research Services. The University is still being built and only this month did the first academic year end, so it's very much in start up mode. It's been initiated by King Abdullah as a means of connecting Saudi with the world and also to bring more skills and knowledge into the country - part of which means the uni allows both men and women to study together and for women not to have to wear the abhaya - pretty much unheard of in Saudi.
We've been here for 6 months now and has already been an amazing experience. Not always easy as is such a change of culture and in many ways quite restrictive - plus the 40C+ heat gets a bit of getting used to! But has been great to see some of the desert, to explore the crazy city of Jeddah and to go snorkelling in the warm Red Sea with it's coral reefs and 30m visibility underwater.
I'm still doing web design and have recently begun working 4 of my 5 days per week with Candradasa on the Free Buddhist Audio website and soon to begin work on the new Triratna website which we hope to complete the first phase of at the end of 2010. I feel lucky to have this work as I enjoy it and it also means that I'm in contact with people I know on a daily basis.
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| Join us on facebook | |
 Did you know that Leeds Triratna Buddhist Community has a page on facebook. (It is still under the FWBO name at present)
So far 34 of our community are members but we'd like to see more. It's a great way of exchanging information, swapping photos and generally getting involved in conversations and discussions. If you have a facebook account then why not join us? If you haven't then maybe it's even worth considering getting one.
You'll find us here You can join facebook here.
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 Quote of the Month |
"The best things can't be told because they transcend thought.
The second best are misunderstood, because those are the thoughts that are supposed to refer to that which can't be thought about.
The third best are what we talk about." ~ Kant
Thanks to Dayaka for this
If you have a favourite quotation that you'd like to pass on please email it here
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| Trouble Parking? |
The car parks near the Leeds Buddhist Centre are getting choc-a-bloc these days. So much so that we hear that some people have had to pay to use the NCP multi-storey. Well here's a tip, passed on from Ben. It might just help on busy Thursday evenings...
Drive on past the Buddhist Centre and turn left at the lights.Then take the next right towards the retail park. At the roundabout turn right and then at theT-junction turn left. There are payment free spaces here after 5.30pm and during the day, if you drive a little further there are spaces which are always free. And still only a ten minute walk away!
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| Free Buddhist Audio |
 As you know, Free Buddhist Audio is one of the most amazing resources on the web - containing a vast selection of Dharma talks, interviews, seminars, and question-and-answer sessions from the early 1960s to the present day. But did you know that there are over 40,000 downloads each month from this site?!
Now you can keep right up to date with them via their newsletter. The latest issue talks about where they've been and where they are going and includes details of their forthcoming web site plus a chance to play around on it prior to the launch. You can subscribe by writing to them at info@freebuddhistaudio.com Back to top |
| Poetry Corner |
It's not that "I" hear the birds,
It's just hearing the birds.
Let yourself be hearing, seeing, thinking.
It is the false "I" that interrupts the
wonder with the constant desire to think about "I."
And all the while THE WONDERis occurring:
the birds sing, the cars go by,
the body sensations continue,
the heart is beating...
life is a second-by-second miracle.
But dreaming our "I" dreamswe miss it."
Charlotte Joko Beck from "Everyday Zen/Love & Work"
edited by Steve Smith; Thorsons ISBN-10: 0722534353
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| Book Review |
Three books on mindful eating
 Reviewed by Mandy Sutter
As a former yo-yo dieter, 'mindful eating' was an idea I skirted around when first encountering Buddhist practice. It sounded too much like a diet. But the phrase still lurked in a corner, like a giant spider you can't help looking at. Eventually I had to coax the spider onto a piece of cardboard, cover it with a beer glass and take it outside. In other words, buy three books on mindful eating: The Zen of Eating, by Ronna Kabatznick, Ph.D, Eating the Moment by Pavel G Somov, PhD, and Meal by Meal by Donald Altman.
 Kabatznick presents herself as a specialist in weight management first and a long-time mindfulness practitioner second. But The Zen of Eating is a book about spiritual practice: she sets out to show how accepting the Buddha's Four Noble Truths can stop you overeating. She goes on to analyse the Eightfold Path in terms of its relevance to food choices. It's a worry that the Middle Way might end up being pressed into the service of fatties everywhere, and sometimes the text creaks as detailed aspects of Buddhist practice are forced into relevance with eating, but most of the book works very well. In her section on 'Right Aspiration' for example, Kabatznick talks about how mindful eating can be undermined when motivated by vanity. If a choice to restrict certain foods is made to benefit others though, there can be meaning behind the action. She suggests dedication of merit: offering any benefit that comes from your commitment to healthy eating to specific people or groups of people (for example cutting back on red meat could be dedicated to heart disease patients).Verdict: although contrived in places, The Zen of Eating is a thoughtful, intelligent read.
Pavel G Somov's Eating the Moment offers a completely different take on the subject. It's practical and it's funny. Somov has the florid, enjoyable writing style of a raconteur, addressing us as 'dear reader' and advising us to phone in sick to make time to experiment with all the different ways of cooking eggs.
His book is a collection of varied suggestions to overcome overeating: 141 in all. Some relate to spiritual practice as much as to eating: for example, he suggests watching a lava lamp as a visual metaphor for the morphing nature of thought. Another suggestion The Admittedly Annoying Thorough Chewing Exercise is geared at self-awareness, and another The Carrot Cake Fight has us throwing 'snowballs' of carrot cake at a tree in order to stop carrot cake saying simply 'eat me.'
Verdict: delightful to read, but will you practice the techniques? I tried three then got overwhelmed by the number of suggestions.
 Meal by Meal by Donald Altman offers a third approach: a year of daily meditations. I'm a sucker for being told what to do on certain days, even though in voracious frames of mind I'm capable of reading and even doing a whole week's worth of suggestions. In dilatory states I fail to pick up the book at all, of course, and am tempted to time travel if I don't like one particular day's suggestion. So, right from page one, the book's format brings you into contact with yourself. The meditations themselves are quite lengthy, exposing you to a quotation, asking you at least one probing question, then suggesting an action. Some are beautiful, if pious. On March 15th, you quiet a diet-crazed mind by repeating a meaningful word, like Om, to yourself at the table. Some verge on the polemical, and are therefore complicated. On July 21st you're asked, 'do your current food choices leave you wanting fewer side effects and discomforts? Is temporary food pleasure worth discomfort or even long-term health problems?' Others are imaginative: on October 21st you reflect on how cookbooks and diet books are often placed opposite each other in bookshops. It's a metaphor for your conflicting desires: can you walk through the aisle without grabbing either?Verdict: overcomplicated, but containing real gems.
All three books are worth a look. The Zen of Eating came top for me, because I loved its rigour and commitment; the way it reached into all the little corners of its subject. I trusted its author the most. But if you want something practical I'd recommend Eating the Moment and if you value answering questions about yourself as a way to awareness, I'd recommend Meal by Meal.
Mandy's Review also appears on the Wildmind website here
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| Light Night Leeds |
A proposal for The Buddhist Centre to stage an event as part of this years Light Night in Leeds has been accepted.
Light Night is an annual multi-artform festival, which takes place on one evening at numerous venues across Leeds city centre (see http://www.lightnightleeds.co.uk/ for more information and previous year's events).
Light Night takes place on Fri October 8th.
We envisage the Buddhist Centre opening that evening providing a refuge where there will be an opportunity to sit quietly or meditate in the shrine room.
The theme for the evening that we'd like to explore is 'The Light Within'. We would like the environment of the centre to reflect the visual spectacle that Light Night is. For example, this might include showing sangha members' artworks or using light and silhouette in the windows. We would
also like to provide refreshments (such as tea and cakes) on a dana basis.
The Buddhist Centre's involvement in Light Night is an opportunity to let the city know we're here and invite new people in and give them a taste of what's on offer.
However, to make this is a successful evening we need sangha members to volunteer beforehand and to come along on the night. We need volunteers to commit to several different roles:
1. To devise the creative vision for the evening and get other people involved in installing that
2. To oversee the organisation of refreshments
3. To oversee the shrine room (e.g. ringing bells)
4. To meet and greet at the entrance to the building and once people arrive in the actual centre.
If you are interested in volunteering for a particular role/ any of the
above or have further questions/ suggestions please get in touch asap.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Emmy Twigge & David Turner
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| Regular Weekly Events at Leeds Buddhist Centre | |
Every Tuesday: Practice Evening - Unled 'sesshin' meditation from 6.30pm (prompt) until 7.15pm and again from 7.30pm to 8.10pm (with 15 mins silent break in between). One or both sessions may be attended but please do not ring the bell during meditation. Suggested Donation £4/£2 (unwaged)
Wednesdays (Monthly): Young(er) People's Evening - Held once each month, 6.30pm to 9.00pm. Suggested Donation £6/£3 (unwaged)
Every Thursday: Friends' Night Regular Practice Evening. Friends nights are our main Sangha night and in many ways the heart of practice at Leeds Buddhist Centre. It is a drop-in session exploring different themes around meditation and Buddhism. The evenings are based in part on the Free Buddhist Audio Foundation Course (Details Here) From 7.00pm until 9.30pm. (Meditation begins at 7.10pm prompt) Suggested Donation £6/£3 (unwaged)
Fridays (Monthly): Full Moon Puja - Held on the Friday nearest to the full moon each month. Forthcoming dates are: 23rd July, 20th August, 24th September, 22nd October, 19th November and 17th December. All are welcome. Arrive at 7.00pm for 7.10pm. start. There will be a short period of meditation followed by a silent tea break then a Seven fold Puja. Bring offerings for the shrine if you wish. Suggested donation £6/£3
Every Sunday Morning: Sesshin (meditation practice) for people with some experience of meditation who are happy to meditate without guidance or instruction. Three 30 minute unled sits, with breaks between sits. First sit: 10:00am to 10:30am, Second sit: 10:45am to 11:15am, Third sit: 11:30am to 12:00 noon. You may attend one or more but please do not ring the bell during meditation. Suggested Donation £4/£2 (unwaged)
Sunday Afternoons (Monthly): Men's Study Afternoon. Held on one Sunday each month from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. An afternoon of Buddhist study Each month a text or subject is selected for discussion. To receive notification of future monthly study afternoons for men at Leeds Buddhist Centre, please email gfrstudy@hotmail.co.uk Suggested donation £6/£3
***Please remember to leave your dana in the bowl***
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| Forthcoming Events | | Leeds Events
Friday 23rd July - Full Moon Puja. 7.00pm for 7.10 start. A short period of meditation followed by a silent tea break then a sevenfold puja. Bring offerings for the shrine if you wish. Suggested donation £6/£3
Saturday 24th July and Sunday 25th July - Breathing into Awareness. An introduction to a meditation which is centred on the body and the breath plus an introduction to the Buddha's teachings and their relevance to our life today. Led by Samanartha. 10.00am until 4.30pm each day.Cost £60/£30 (conc) More details here.
Saturday 1st August - Leeds Pride Open Afternoon. The Centre will be open to the public from 3.30pm until 6.00 offering a different kind of ending to the Pride Festivities. All of our community is welcome to attend. Volunteers to help with tea and biscuits etc are particularly welcome! Volunteers are also needed to help distribute leaflets late morning in Millenium Square.
Saturday 7th August and Sunday 8th August - Todstock (Todmorden Music Festival)
Leeds Triratna Buddhist Community will be there with a stall selling our merchandise and offering sample meditation sessions. We urgently need volunteers to help on both days. Please contact Jenny at jenny@jennyroberts.net if you can help.
Sometime in August (date TBC) - Hyde Park Unity Festival
Leeds Triratna Buddhist Community will be here as well with a stall selling our merchandise and offering sample meditation sessions. We urgently need volunteers to help with this as well. Please contact Jenny at jenny@jennyroberts.net if you can help.
Friday 20th August - Full Moon Puja. 7.00pm for 7.10 start. A short period of meditation followed by a silent tea break then a sevenfold puja. Bring offerings for the shrine if you wish. Suggested donation £6/£3 Saturday 21st August and Sunday 22nd August - Opening to Kindly Awareness. An introduction to a meditation which allows us to cultivate emotional warmth plus an introduction to the Buddha's teachings and their relevance to our life today. Led by Samanartha. 10.00am until 4.30pm each day.Cost £60/£30 (conc) More details here.
Leeds Urban Retreat - led by Khemasara
A retreat where you carry on living and working as normal... but with a difference. The week starts on Sunday 5th September with a day retreat at the Centre when you'll be helped and encouraged to set up the conditions to take your practice deeper during the forthcoming week. It ends with a second day retreat on the following Saturday 11th September with an opportunity to reflect on the week and decide where you want to go next. Full details in the August Issue.
Friday 24th September - Full Moon Puja. 7.00pm for 7.10 start. A short period of meditation followed by a silent tea break then a sevenfold puja. Bring offerings for the shrine if you wish. Suggested donation £6/£3
Saturday 25th September - Women's Day Retreat - led by Santasiddhi (details to follow)
Monday 27th September - Breathing into Awareness Meditation Course. 7.00pm to 9.15pm for 4 weeks, followed by a day retreat on Saturday 23rd October 10.00 - 4pm. An introduction to the Mindfulness of Breathing - a meditation practice which is centred on the body and the breath
Friday 8th October to Sunday 10th October - Young People's Retreat (near Sheffield) Details to follow.
Friday 8th October - Light Night Leeds at the centre (see article above for details)
Friday 22nd October - Full Moon Puja. 7.00pm for 7.10 start. A short period of meditation followed by a silent tea break then a sevenfold puja. Bring offerings for the shrine if you wish. Suggested donation £6/£3
Saturday 23rd October - Day retreat for the Breathing into Awareness Course. All welcome. You don't have to be on the course to attend the day retreat. 10.00 to 4.00pm
Monday 25th October - Opening to Kindly Awareness Meditation Course. 7.00pm to 9.15pm for 4 weeks, followed by a day retreat on Saturday 20th November 10.00 - 4pm. An introduction to the Metta Bhavana, a practice which allows us to cultivate emotional warmth, kindness and friendliness towards ourselves and others. Cost: £50/£25 concs, including the day retreat. More details here.
Friday 19th November - Full Moon Puja. 7.00pm for 7.10 start. A short period of meditation followed by a silent tea break then a sevenfold puja. Bring offerings for the shrine if you wish. Suggested donation £6/£3
Saturday 20th November - Day retreat for the Opening to Kindly Awareness Course. All welcome. You don't have to be on the course to attend the day retreat. 10.00 to 4.00pm
Sunday 21st November - Sangha Day. Details tbc
Monday 22nd November - Introduction to Buddhism. 7.00pm to 9.15pm for 4 weeks. This course introduces some of the basic principles of Buddhism and the Buddha's threefold path of ethics, meditation and wisdom. Drawing on traditional sources and on our own everyday experience the module aims to explore the teachings and their relevance to our lives today. Cost: £35/£18 concs. More details here.
Friday 26th to Sun 28th November - Sangha Retreat at Lineham Farm. A lovely, sociable and friendly weekend of Sangha and Dharma in beautiful surroundings near Eccup, Leeds (details to follow later in the year)
Saturday 11th December and Sunday 12th December - Weekend Day Retreat - led by Paramananda. Details tbc.
Friday 17th December - Full Moon Puja. 7.00pm for 7.10 start. A short period of meditation followed by a silent tea break then a sevenfold puja. Bring offerings for the shrine if you wish. Suggested donation £6/£3p
Events Elsewhere
Buddhafield North - Buddhafield North is enjoying its eighth year of running camping retreats on a beautiful farm at Addingham Moorside, near Ilkey. Providing a structured retreat environment for you to deepen your practice of meditation and ritual. Vegetarian food is provided but bring own camping and shrine room equipment. Advanced booking essential. Closing date for booking seven days before the start. For further info go to www.buddhafieldnorth.org.uk or contact Tejapushpa on 07952207997, Dayavajra on 07900590340 or Dayaka on 01924 270365
Sunday 22nd August to Friday 27th August - Buddhafield North, THE BIG SUMMER OPEN CAMPING RETREAT (family friendly), The Turning of the Mind More...
Friday 27th August to Sunday 29th August - Buddhafield North Working Retreat, Cost:Free. Ten people needed to join the team in take down after the Big Summer Open Camping Retreat. More...
Friday 27th August to Sunday 29th August - Maitreya Project - Relic Tour  at Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH. Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds invites you to this exhibition of Buddhist relics, some donated by HH the Dalai Lama. This rare collection includes relics of the Buddha and of masters from different Buddhist traditions. The aim of the Relic Tour is to bring people together to create the causes for world peace. Throughout the event there will be blessing ceremonies with the relics. To find out more please visit: www.maitreyaproject.org Friday 14:00 - 17:00
Saturday 11:00 - 16:00 with Opening Ceremony open to all at 11:45 Sunday 11:00 - 16:00
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