|
Sadhu! to our four new mitras!
Hearty congratulations to Bernard, Joy, Mandy and Zara who became mitras in a beautiful ceremony on Thursday 20th January. ****************************************************************
Book Review
 Apart from getting mitra'd last week Mandy has also been busy reading Thich Nhat Hanh's book "Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life".
You can see what she thinks of it on the Wildmind website here.
****************************************************************
Free Buddhist Audio Event this Thursday
This Thursday 27th January, Viriyalila will be over from the USA to visit our Centre and talk about the work of Free Buddhist Audio (http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com) which, as you might know, is the organisation which maintains the Triratna sound archive and makes Dharma talks and study materials available - and easily accessible - to anyone who has access to the internet.
Viriyalila will be talking about the work of FBA and the Triratna Dharma revolution online and the cutting edge technology which supports deep practice. She'll be playing some audio tracks which explore themes relating to our oral tradition and the different learning and teaching styles in it. Many of us rely on and value the mitra study courses and other material available on FBA so this is a great opportunity to learn more about the archive and its work.
The evening will begin promptly at 7.00 pm.
**************************************************************** Clear Out Your Clutter...
for the Triratna JUMBLE SALE this March We're organising a fund-raising Jumble Sale in Chapel Allerton one Saturday in March so we need all your unwanted household items, books and clothes as soon as possible. (and those of your friends, neighbours and relatives too!)
Please stick everything in cardboard boxes, seal with tape, mark as 'jumble' and bring to the centre as soon as you can. David will collect the boxes weekly and store them until the event.
Apart from this being a great opportunity to detach yourself from some of the possessions in your life, donating stuff is also an act of great generosity which will benefit the Sangha (and the people who buy the items).
We'll also need about 15-20 volunteers on the day (from around 9.00 am to about 2pm) and, as a perk, you will get the first chance to buy any goods that you fancy. If you've ever done a jumble sale, you'll know already what fun it is but we also hope that it will be a great sangha-builder and also raise lots of much-needed cash for the Centre.
Details of the date will be circulated soon
With Metta
****************************************************************
Ratnaguna's Book Launch Thursday 10th February Ratnaguna will be at the Centre to talk about his new book The Art of Reflection, and to tell us how to go about this valuable and important practice. Reflection, he says, helps us understand ourselves and other people better, so it can go some way to help alleviate suffering as well as being enjoyable and (sometimes) challenging. The evening begins promptly at 7 pm. Everyone welcome.
*************************************************************** Join us on Facebook!
We have a growing community on the Leeds Buddhist  Centre facebook page and we'd love you to join us.
If you are already a member why not post something? Tell us what you're up to in your practice, post a photo... or just say hello!
You can find us here:
***************************************************************** Kathy's sponsored slim  From Jan 1st to July 1st Kathy plans to lose between 20 and 40 pounds and she would very much like you to sponsor her, as this will give her even more incentive. The good news is that every penny raised by Kathy will be split equally between the Centre and the Buddhafield land appeal.
You can add your name and amount to the growing list on the noticeboard or you can contact Kathy direct ( kathyjarvis64@gmail.com)
***************************************************************** Super friends Appeal... ...is S-l-o-w-i-n-g Down We had a great start to our appeal for financial support for the Centre but since the New Year the flow of new standing orders has almost dried up. We are nearly a third of our way to our target - but we need more.
REMEMBER: - We are only asking you to donate £5 per month (more if you can afford it) and you can date your standing order to begin in February or March if this is easier
- The centre will eventually close if we don't raise enough money to clear our deficit
- Generosity is part of our practice and this small act of dana will keep the centre functioning for the sake of others as well as yourself.
If you aren't already contributing, please consider doing so
Please print off a Standing Order Form here(it's very easy to complete) and return it to the Leeds Buddhist Centre Office asap.
| 
Are YOU a SUPER friend?
This is an important book recently published by Ratnaguna - one of the leading thinkers and clearest communicators in the Triratna Buddhist Community. As important as Ratnaguna is and has been over many years as a teacher and speaker he hasn't often turned his hand to writing and this is the first book from him that I can recall. 
to experience and it's a journey undertaken through the fine art of reflection. He shows us quite simply how to do it, the alternatives available and the depths to which we can go in moving from simple everyday thinking to imaginative insight in the higher realms of spiritual experience.
The session will be on Tuesdays to start with but may expand with enough interest. The idea is to create a tranquil, retreat-like space where people can come along to commence their busy days in a warm and friendly environment.
Buddhist Centre website and it costs you nothing except a few clicks of your mouse.