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 Triratna Leeds is a registered charity no. 1132691 August 2010
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BE PART OF THIS
NEWSLETTER
email a contribution or
send info about an event to
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.
More details here |
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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| 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 |
Summer of Festivals...
The Saturday Crew | It was a new venture and none of us knew quite what to expect but last weekend the rain held off, the sun shone and around 5000 people came to Todstock on each of the two days.
Our stall was stocked with items from the Centre shop plus a whole load of Indian (fair trade) craft items which proved popular with the festival-goers. We talked to a lot of people - about our meditation classes, about Tibetan singing bowls, about chakras and auras, about the best way to burn frankinsense and just how delicious Kim's free fruit
The Sunday Crew | cake was. We met loads of interesting people and held two meditation sessions. On top of all that we sold £217 of goods, covered all our costs and made a net profit for the centre of £80!
Thanks to Ann, Kim, John, David and Tim for helping with the stall and meditation. Thanks also to David for sorting out the stock, to Kim for baking the cake and to Sarah and her friend for turning up on Sunday to support us!
Our next two events are closer to home...
Hyde Park Unity Day is on Saturday 21st August from midday to 6.00 pm and we'll be there with our stall and a meditation tent. The event usually draws up to 10,000 people so we need volunteers to sell the merchandise, chat to people and lead a sample meditation session or two.
Chapel Allerton Arts Festival is on Saturday 4th Sept (11.00 a.m to 5.00 pm) and we'll be there with a stall (no meditation at this one). Again we need help with this, so please volunteer to lend a hand
Please help at these events if you can. This is vital work -publicising our courses and raising much-needed cash ( it's great fun too!) Please email jenny@jennyroberts.net
Summer School is filling up...
 Thanks to everyone who helped publicise the Summer School meditaton courses by distributing leaflets to their local shops and businesses. Your efforts definitely bore fruit. The first course, though quite small, was a great success and the second - Opening to Kindly Awareness - has already got nine people taking part.
This course is being held on the weekend of 21st/22nd August so, if you want to attend - or know anyone else who might like to - please apply soon. More details here
P.S. These courses are a really important way for the Centre to make ends meet so we need to keep the publicity momentum going. Leaflets for the Autumn courses will be available next week and, once again, we're asking everyone to help place leaflets in shops, hairdressers, pubs, deli's, cafes, community centres, lunchtime takeaways, even fish and chip shops, in their home area (and/or at work). Please pick up a supply from the centre.
September Sangha Walk
John and Tony will be leading another Sangha Walk after meditation on Sunday September 12th. Details to follow soon. In the meantime here are a few photos from the last walk in May (You can see them full-size on our facebook page )
Mandy goes International!
You've probably read Mandy Sutter's entertaining (and very funny) blog (if not, you should), now she's reached the dizzy heights of the international stage with a regular slot on the Wildmind website. Her article will resonate with quite a few of us. Take a look, you'll find it here.
Starting on time!
We've been drifting into poor timekeeping on Thursday evenings at the Centre. Please note that in future the evening will begin at 7.10 pm prompt!
Triratna Car Stickers?
I thought it might be good to have some 'fun' car stickers that might bring a smile to people's faces and publicise the Centre at the same time. First question: Can anyone suggest a witty slogan? I thought of 'I'd rather be meditating' but I think that theme is far too hackneyed these days. Anyone got any bright ideas? Second Question: They would cost around £2 each, so would you be willing to pay that to help publicise the centre and (more to the point) would you be willing to display the sticker in the back window of your car anyway?
Answers please!
Jenny
Full Moon Puja
Friday 20th August at 7.00pm. Please support this monthly event if you can. 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.
Buddafield North Open Retreat
22nd to 27th August and 28th to 29th August
See Forthcoming Events below
THE URBAN RETREAT
Sunday 5 Sept - Saturday 11Sept
See article below for details
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)
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| Into the Wild |
 I'm going on an adventure. I'm studying a plant called common toadflax as part of my PhD. It is native to Britain and very well behaved here, but in North America it has become an invasive weed. I've spent lots of time surveying and studying it in Britain and now I'm off to a small town in Alaska for a couple of months to do the same and to hopefully work out why their version is such a bully.
If you'd like to follow what is happening and read my ramblings about research and living with pain please go to http://laurajharrison.blogspot.com/
I'm planning on treating this like a retreat, albeit one with long sessions of the mindfulness of plant counting and sending lots of loving kindness towards passing hungry bears. I will be thinking of you all on Thursday at 10 am (Alaska is 9 hours behind) and will see you again in November.
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| THE URBAN RETREAT - Sunday 5th to Saturday 11th September |
The original idea for the Urban Retreat was developed by the Sheffield Buddhist Centre. The overall aim is to help us integrate our practice into everyday life.
A particular advantage is for people who have difficulty in getting away on retreat and so, as it were, bring a retreat home to their normal working and family lives.However an Urban Retreat can have a transformative effect for anyone. We bring retreat conditions to our everyday activities which helps us to reflect on how to make the conditions of our normal lives more supportive to our spiritual practice in the longer term.
 We use the day at the start of the retreat (Sunday) to set up our intentions and think of ways to support these practically. We need to strike a balance here between challenging our usual habits and routines but not setting up unrealistic expectations. We do this as a group of 'retreatants' supporting each other and with reflection and ritual.
We then have our week retreat putting our intentions into practice. As well as bumping up against the nitty gritty of our daily lives, we might also see qualities and texture we might not have previously appreciated. We can keep a diary to help us reflect from day to day and also having contact with one or more fellow retreatants as a way of 'getting a handle' on our experience. Also there will be opportunities to practice together.
We then have a day retreat at the end (Saturday) for reviewing the whole experience, celebrating with puja and setting any intentions for the future.
 We use the Bodhisattva Green Tara as a touchstone for the retreat as she invokes the qualities of generosity and going out, and being in the world. The 2 day events have the usual arrangements of starting at 10am and finishing at 4.30pm, bringing veggie lunch to share. Any queries, contact me on 0775 4380382.
Khemasara
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Money for Clicks! |
Just imagine... that every time you searched the web, you earned a little bit of cash for your Buddhist Centre.
This is no fairy tale, you really can earn money for the Centre just by searching with everyclick. So why not stop your Googling right now and bookmark our page on everyclick? It's good and it's fast and unlike Google, it sends cash to our bank account. If a few of us can raise £13 just think what 50 of us could do!  Helping the Centre to make ends meet has never been so easy. Just make everyclick your search engine of choice
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| Art Day Retreat |
 I love drawing and painting, but seem to do far less than I'd like. I think a lot of that may be to do with feeling inhibited by having to produce something that at the end I can judge as 'good' rather than simply enjoying the process.
On a recent day retreat, art was used as a way to get in touch with the whole of ourselves - including the parts we might prefer to get rid of. After some body based meditation we produced something based on a feeling of what inspired us and on our positive qualities. I felt I'd been given permission to play and enjoy all the textures and colours from a treasure trove of art materials.
  Art opens up something for me that seems more truthful and direct than words. This was very apparent when we turned to produce something based on more negative aspects of our experience that we might want to get rid of. I couldn't think of anything horrible enough to paint onto mine so I just crumpled my piece of paper up into a ball! We then combined the two art works into one to recognise the importance of accepting all of ourselves. Many people did this by producing a Buddha figure containing both the positive and negative pieces we produced. I noticed feelings of not wanting to spoil the positive art work with the more negative one. However, when I did integrate the two, I was pleasantly surprised with how I felt. I certainly feel that for me art can allow me to notice and just be with things in a way that might not feel so possible in meditation.
Thanks very much to Samanartha and Cathy for a fantastic and helpful day.
Laura
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| Buddha Relics at Leeds City Museum - August Bank Holiday |
 An invitation from
Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds
We are delighted to invite you to see some Relics of the Buddha at the
Leeds City Museum from 14:00 on 27 August until 16:00 on 29 August 2010.
The whole event, including an Opening Ceremony at 11:45 on 28 August, is open to all. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony will be the Lord Mayor, the Bishop of Ripon & Leeds, our patron David Lascelles, and representatives from various faith groups across the city.
The aim of displaying the relics of the Buddha and other masters from different Buddhist traditions, is to bring people together to create the causes for world peace. HH the Dalai Lama has donated some of the relics. Many people say that meditating in the presence of these relics is a profound experience.
If anyone is interested in volunteering as a steward at this important event you are welcome to contact us at smile@jamyangleeds.co.uk
Looking forward to welcoming you to the relics,
Kind regards,
Wendy Ridley
Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds
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| Poetry Corner |
This is a poem written by Jamie McDonald and sent in by Laura - Jamie is a Buddhist who Laura met recently at a training event.
The Real Deal
This is the real deal
It does not get any better than this
When you can leap from the edge
with your wings untested and
feel the sheer elation and joy of
being the sun and the sky
and truly know you are the most beautiful gift
It does not get any better than this
When you are being eaten from the inside
by grief that will break your heart
by exquisite pain that'll tear you all apart
how is it to live that hurt
and truly know this is the most beautiful gift?
It does not get any better than this
And here's the levelling truth,
and truly know that the most
vicious
seductive
venomous path
is indifference
Never, never follow indifference
for in that direction lies the only absolute death
so fly
and cry and
scream and
sing
because you do not get any better than this
You are the real deal
Jamie writes: Please feel free to take a copy of this poem and keep my name and copyright clearly attached to it. In return for printing, downloading or saving a copy, I ask that you read the poem out loud to at least two other people, and strike the same deal with them!
Thanks, Jamie
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| Let the light shine out | |
Light Night is an annual multi-artform festival, run by Leeds City Council, which takes place this year on Friday October 8th.It is a celebratory showcase for the creative activity taking place in Leeds all year round, and gives visitors free access to venues that they might not normally see.
This year one of those venues is going to be the Leeds Buddhist Centre and you are invited to help create and run this very unusual evening.This is an opportunity to let the city know we're here and to invite new people into the Centre and let them see what we have to offer.
The idea is to open the Centre that evening to provide a refuge and an opportunity to sit quietly or meditate in the shrine room. There will also be tea and cakes offerred on a dana basis. But the evening goes way beyond that...
The centre itself will also reflect the visual spectacle that Light Night is - centred around a theme of The Light Within. This could include showing sangha members' artworks or using light and silhouette in the windows.
But none of this can be done without your help. A number of sangha members have already offerred to help but we need more people to help with one or more of the following roles:
- To help create an artistic vision and install it on the night.
- To organise refreshments
- To ring bells in the shrine room
- To meet and greet at the entrance to the building
This promises to be a really exciting evening and one which could raise the profile of the centre a great deal. If you can help in any role at all please get in touch so that you can be part of our Light Night Team.
To become part of this exciting event please contact:
Pointed Arrow Performance are also asking for a volunteer from our sangha to help with a performance for Light Night:
My name is Simon Brewis and I am contacting you from Pointed Arrow
Performance. We are creating a participatory theatre project for part
of Light Night 2010 and are looking for a person from the Buddhist
community in Leeds to be part of the project.
'The Crossing' will be an interactive and sensory performance that
will centre around the archetypal story of Re-Birth. This archetype
emerges in stories in every culture across the world and this
production will bring together narrative from the four corners of the
world from the Frog Prince to the story of the Sun God 'Ra'.
Obviously Re-birth is a strong theme within Buddhism and we are
particularly interested in the story of Buddha and the 'Great
Departure'. I would like to get in contact with anyone interested in
helping with research, writing and/or performing a piece based upon
this story.
Performers will need to be available in the evening on the 2nd - 9th
of October, plus some extra rehearsals that can work round their
schedule.
or call 07817 649 699.
With best wishes
Simon,
Pointed Arrow
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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: 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
Saturday 21st August - Hyde Park Unity Festival
Leeds Triratna Buddhist Community will be here with a stall selling our merchandise and offering sample meditation sessions. We need volunteers to help with this. 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.
Saturday 4th September - Chapel Allerton Arts Festival Street Market
Leeds Triratna Buddhist Community will be here with a stall selling our merchandise and publicising our meditation classes. We need volunteers to help with this. Please contact Jenny at jenny@jennyroberts.net if you can help.
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.
Sunday 12th September - Sangha Walk - led by John and Tony (details to follow)
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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