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Our thriving spiritual community is not a service provided by some for others. It is the joint creation of all of us who come together in harmony, out of a deep response to the Dharma.
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Jumble Sale a big success!
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Thanks to everyone (around 20 of you!) who turned out to help with the Jumble Sale on March 10th (some as early as 7.00 am!) - you were all really brilliant.
 You raised the magnificent sum of £741.96
That's £41 more than last year!
 Thanks also to the three Sangha members who walked miles on the Thursday before, pushing handbills through more than 1,200 letterboxes in Chapel
Allerton! Their efforts helped bring in a record number of people on the day.
Finally many, many thanks to everyone who donated jumble - and all those delicious cakes and scones! Without you we would have had nothing to sell!
 The money raised is vital in helping to cover some of the major costs involved in running the Buddhist Centre and helping to bring the Dharma and the friendship that goes with it to many more people in West and North Yorkshire.
There will be another jumble sale around the same time next year so please start storing your unwanted items now!
Many thanks for everyone's help. You are stars!
John and Jenny
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DATES for your DIARY
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PUJA CEREMONY
Kathy and Jenny will be leading a puja on Friday 20th April from 7.00pm at the Buddhist Centre. Everyone is welcome. If you have never experienced a puja before this might be the perfect time to give it a go (or just come along and watch!)
Book Launch
Thursday 26th April
Kamalashila has completely rewritten his book: 'Buddhist Meditation: Tranquillity, Imagination and Insight' and will be visiting Leeds to give us a talk and to launch the book. Everyone is welcome. We will be starting promptly at 7.00 pm
Creative Writing Day for Wesak
Saturday 5th May
For full details see below
Joint Wesak Celebration
Sunday 20th May
at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Leeds
Join our group at Jamyang Buddhist Centre to celebrate Buddha Day with Buddhists from other traditions in the area.
Details later but please make a note in your diary.
Mitra Ceremonies: Leeds & Sheffield
 Thursday April 12th at Leeds
We will be celebrating Billy Frugal becoming a Mitra. Please come along, join in the celebrations and wish Billy well on this important evening.
Tuesday 1st May at Sheffield
Phil Bluckert who was with us for many months in Leeds last year is celebrating his Mitra ceremony in Sheffield. It would be really lovely if some of our sangha travelled to Sheffield to be with him for this significant event. Details here
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Tejananda Weekend
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Dayaka writes: On 3rd and 4th March Tejananda, a meditation teacher from Vajraloka in North Wales, led a weekend retreat at the centre on the theme of Absorption and Insight. As expected, the weekend was fully booked up, hugely enjoyable and provided useful insights into finding new ways to approach the Triratna meditation practices.
Tejananda wanted it known that he had also had a great weekend and would be happy to come back next year!
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Fancy holding a mini Jumble Sale?
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Seacroft Gala, which is held on Sat 7th July, are offering us a table for just £5 to sell bric-a-brac etc. This seems like an unmissable opportunity to raise funds for the centre by selling donated items. Unfortunately I'll be away on the day but If someone else can do it I'll be pleased to help organise things, get help for you and provide the big orange gazebo to go over the table in case of rain or heatwave.
Please let me know if you'd like to do this.
jenny@jennyroberts.net
Mobile 07896 130 018
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Creative Writing Day
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Saturday 5th May 2012
A Day of Creative Writing
to celebrate Wesak (the Buddha's Birthday)
Whether you're a newcomer to creative writing and/or Buddhism, or more experienced, you'll be very welcome at our creative writing day, which will run from 10.00 am to 16.00 pm at Leeds Buddhist Centre.
You'll be led through a series of writing exercises, and given the chance to share some of what you've written (but only if you want to!). We'll also spend some time in meditation. The day, led by Uddyotani and Mandy, will offer a glimpse beneath the everyday and a chance to connect with ourselves, and with other members of the Sangha in a different way.
The day will run on a dana basis: i.e. there is no fixed fee but a donation to the Centre would be much appreciated.
TO BOOK
Please email the Centre enquiries@leedsbuddhistcentre.org
Telephone: 01132 445 256
or add your name to the list on the noticeboard
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Meditation Courses In April & May
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Living with Awareness
Tuesday 17th April - 7.00 - 9.15pm for 4 weeks,
plus a day retreat on Sat 12th May 10.00 - 4.00pm
In this course we explore a practice called the Mindfulness of Breathing, a simple and direct way of developing awareness and calm. By coming back to the sensations of the breath we are able to cultivate calm, clarity, and a relaxed concentration and presence. The course includes Just Sitting meditation, an unstructured practice which complements formal meditation.
Cost for the course: £50/£25 concs, including the day retreat
Living with Kindness
Tuesday 15th May - 7.00 - 9.15pm for 4 weeks,
plus a day retreat on Sat 9th June 10.00 - 4.00pm
 In this course, we explore the Metta Bhavana, a practice which allows us to cultivate emotional warmth, kindness and friendliness towards ourselves and others. This enhances awareness of our responses to others and allows us to interact in an increasingly positive way with the world around us. The course includes Just Sitting meditation, an unstructured practice which complements formal meditation.
Cost for the course: £50/£25 concs, including the day retreat
TO BOOK
Or write: Leeds Buddhist Centre, 4th Floor, Leeds Bridge House, LS10 1JN
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GfR Weekend in the Dales
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Friendship, Insight and a Blu-Tac Buddha
Zara writes: On the weekend of 24th February, Jenny, Debbie, Gill, Carol, Talia and I joined together for a beautiful retreat, just outside Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales. We rented a rural cottage, and with rupa's, flowers, cushions, candles and incense, as well as many special personal touches, we transformed the living area into our shrine room (covering the TV with a blanket also helped!).
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The six of us
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The purpose of the weekend was an exploration and celebration of our going for refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. What this particular group of women share is that each of us, over time has realised we want to deepen our practice in the Order and have all asked for ordination. We are not the only people at Leeds Buddhist Centre on this journey and there is another, more long standing women's group and a men's group. We expect it won't be long before new groups form too, with others going forward.
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The view from our window!
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The theme of the weekend was Sangharakshita's Ten Pillars of Buddhism, with particular focus on the latter five precepts concerning speech and mind. We took turns to lead reflection on each precept, setting the intention for a deeply open-hearted and honest discussion about how they play out in our daily lives. These discussions were often moving and heartfelt as we connected more deeply with ourselves and one another. The weekend was also devotional with ritual and mantra and plenty of playful bonding with wonderful chatter and laughter. All of this softly held by regular intervals of meditation and silence.
The journey to ordination is personal and gradual, taking any number of years. It is hoped that over time there develops a deeper permeation of Buddhist ethics, meditation and wisdom into one's life. The Going for Refuge groups at Leeds Buddhist Centre meet regularly to reflect on their lives and practice. A segment of sangha, the
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Blu-Tack Buddha
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people in your group are a foundation of friendship and support, seeing through with you the beauty and struggle of a spiritual path, as well as helping you to practice the challenges of social interaction with wisdom and kindness.
The weekend felt deep and powerful, yet also full of friendship and light heartedness, symbolised by Jenny's Blu-Tac Buddha which brought many a smile to our faces!
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Buddhafield North
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This year Buddhafield North are celebrating running camping retreats for ten years! They are now held on a beautiful farm a few miles north of Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
Here are the details of two up and coming weekend retreats that are both suitable for people with meditation experience. Further details will be sent on booking.
 You are most welcome to help set up and/or take down. If you are able to help pleaselet a member of the team know or mention when booking.
The cost for the weekend retreats? ~ £80 (fully waged), £65 (low waged) and £50 (unwaged). We provide food and a structured retreat programme. All you need to bring is your own camping equipment.
Booking is essential. For further information and to book contact www.buddhafieldnorth.org.uk or contact Dayaka on 01924 270365/ dharmachari.dayaka@gmail.com
Buddhafield North Men's retreat
Enlightened Courage
6pm 18th - 3pm 20th May 2012
Led by Arthaketu and Vidyacitta
Consider all phenomena as a dream
Reflect upon the kindness of all beings
With experience you can even practise when distracted
Do not wait in ambush
This time, do what is important
Be zealous in your training
Don't take what you do too seriously
Do not expect to be rewarded
On this weekend we will be exploring extracts from the 7 point mind training by Atisha
the focus of which is cultivating Bodhicitta 'The Mind/heart that is set on Enlightenment for the sake of all beings'
It consists of the practice of Tonglen whereby you receive the sufferings and give the benefits so maybe you can see why the title 'Enlightened Courage'. It also has within each of the seven points various slogans like the ones here that help in this process.
So on the weekend there will be meditation, nice food, camping under the stars, a talk
and discussion of the text and time to be with and make new friends
Buddhafield North Women's weekend retreat
BODIES OF EARTH
6pm 25th - 5pm 27th May 2012
led by Padmadarshini, Vidyabhadri and Taravandana
 Through a intimate mindfulness of our own body and our wider body, the earth, we can realise the Buddhist insight of impermanence more deeply.
Our theme this year for our Buddhafield north women's' weekend is BODIES OF EARTH. The dharma teaches that everything is change; everything in impermanent and that seeing this - really knowing this - brings the freedom of heart we long for.
Exploring ourselves as elemental bodies - of earth, water, air, fire, space and consciousness is a way of seeing that we are a process of continual change and that the way we habitually ' fix' ourselves and others in fact imprisons and isolates us from life.
Our weekend will be practice based with meditation, ritual, and some space for talk / discussion and time to enjoy the landscape and sit around the campfire.
Please note that the BFN Open Retreat runs from 26th to 31st August. Last year it one booking off being fully booked up so early booking for 2012 is advisable. Everybody is welcome on this retreat, regardless of experience and details will follow...
For further information see the website www.buddhafieldnorth.org.uk or contact Dayaka: dharmachari.dayaka@gmail.com or 01924 270365
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International Retreat at Taraloka - latest details
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The retreat will be held at Taraloka and will run from the evening of Friday 1st to just after lunch on Tuesday 5th June 2012.
 There will be talks from three well-known speakers:
Dhammadinna will talk about Shakyamuni as the "richly endowed" - the generous, abundant, golden, noble aspect of the Buddha.
The topic of Ratnaguna's talk is intriguing - he will be trying to imagine the voice and the sound of the Buddha.
Kamalashila will be "re-imagining the mandala" - linking the imagery and symbolism of the five-Buddha mandala back to the historical Buddha and the practices he taught.
There will also be study/discussion groups, including one by Vishvapani, author of Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One.
Other workshop leaders will include Akasati (art and ritual), Satyalila (writing) and Mahasukha (singing and chanting). Meditation teaching will be by Kamalashila, Vajradaka, Sona and Vidyamala. There will also be a new children's area, with improved facilities and activities for children and teenagers.
Booking is now open.
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| Family Friendly Afternoons 2012 | |
 Sunday 22nd April
Sunday 3rd June
Sunday 9th September
Sunday 2nd December
A chance to bring children to the centre and hang out with the wider sangha. These afternoons tend to be very informal and social. All welcome - drop in when you can. Please bring a snack to share and toys for your children.
For more information please contact phillippajplock@yahoo.co.uk
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Weekly Programme at Leeds Buddhist Centre
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Monday teatime - Start the Week (drop-in meditation class) - Join us on any Monday at 5.15pm to explore meditation with support and guidance. Intended for thiose new to meditation but more experienced meditators also very welcome.
5.15pm to 6.15pm (doors open 5.00pm)
Suggested donation £4/£2
Wednesday Lunchtime - Mid-Week Breathing Space (drop-in meditation class)
Join us on any Wednesday lunchtime at 12.45 for a 'taster' of four different kinds of meditation practice (one each week and repeating). You can join on any Wednesday, each is taught independently of the others.
Relaxing body scan * Working with the breath * Developing kindness to yourself and others * Walking meditation
12.45 to 1.30 (doors open from 12.30pm)
Suggested donation £3/£2
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. From 7.00pm until 9.30pm. (Meditation begins at 7.10pm prompt)
Suggested Donation £6/£3 (unwaged)
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)
***The Leeds Buddhist Centre receives no outside funding and relies entirely on its users for sufficient income to keep going - please donate what you can when you attend events ***
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Diary of Events
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Friday 30th to Sunday 1st April - Lineham Farm Sangha Retreat
Thursday 7th April at 7.00pm - We will be celebrating Billy Frugal becoming a Mitra. Please come along, join in the celebrations and wish Billy well on this important evening.
Tuesday 17th April - Living with Awareness Meditation Course - 7.00 - 9.15pm for 4 weeks, followed by a day retreat on Saturday 12th May 10.00 - 4.00pm.
In this course we explore a practice called the Mindfulness of Breathing, a simple and direct way of developing awareness and calm. By coming back to the sensations of the breath we are able to cultivate calm, clarity, and a relaxed concentration and presence. The course includes Just Sitting meditation, an unstructured practice which complements formal meditation.
Cost:£50/£25 concs, including the day retreat
Friday 20th April - Puja Ceremony - from 7.00pm - Led by Kathy and Jenny. Everyone is welcome. If you have never experienced a puja before this might be the perfect time to give it a go (or just come along and watch!)
Sunday 22nd April - Family Friendly Afternoon at Leeds Buddhist Centre - 2.30pm to 5.00pm - A chance to bring children to the centre and hang out with the wider sangha. All welcome - drop in when you can. Please bring a snack to share and toys for your children. More info phillippajplock@yahoo.co.uk
Thursday 26th April - Book Launch - Kamalashila has completely rewritten his book: 'Buddhist Meditation: Tranquillity, Imagination and Insight' and will be visiting Leeds to give us a talk and to launch the book. Everyone is welcome. We will be starting promptly at 7.00 pm
Saturday 5th May - A Day of Creative Writing to celebrate Wesak (the Buddha's Birthday) - For more details see article above
Sunday 20th May - Joint Wesak Celebration at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Leeds
Join our group at Jamyang Buddhist Centre to celebrate Buddha Day with Buddhists from other traditions in the area. More details to follow.
Saturday 12th May - Living with Awareness Day Retreat. Spend the day exploring the Mindfulness of Breathing. Open to sangha members and anyone who has attended the Living with Awareness meditation course at some time. No need to book - just turn up on the day. 10.00am to 4.00pm. Pay what you deem appropriate.
Please bring vegetarian lunch to share.
Tuesday 15th May - Living with Kindness Meditation Course - 7.00- 9.15pm for 4 weeks, followed by a day retreat on Saturday 9th June 10.00 - 4.00pm
In this course, we explore the Metta Bhavana, a practice which allows us to cultivate emotional warmth, kindness and friendliness towards ourselves and others. This enhances awareness of our responses to others and allows us to interact in an increasingly positive way with the world around us. The course includes Just Sitting meditation, an unstructured practice which complements formal meditation.
Cost: £50/£25 concs, including the day retreat
Friday 18th to Sunday 20th May - Buddhafield North Men's Weekend - Enlightened Courage - Led by Arthaketu. Exploring aspects from the seven-point mind training,
Suitable for those with some meditation experience.£80 (waged) £65 (low wage)
£50 (unwaged). For details go to: www.buddhafieldnorth.org.uk or contact Dayaka: dharmachari.dayaka@gmail.com or ring 01924 270365
Friday 25th to Sunday 27th May - Buddhafield North Women's Weekend - Bodies of Earth - led by Padmadarshini, Vidyabhadri and Taravandana. Through an intimate mindfulness of our own body and our wider body, the Earth, we can realise the Buddhist insight of impermanence more deeply. Suitable for those with some meditation experience. For details go to: www.buddhafieldnorth.org.uk or contact Dayaka: dharmachari.dayaka@gmail.com or ring 01924 270365
Sunday 3rd June - Family Friendly Afternoon at Leeds Buddhist Centre - 2.30pm to 5.00pm - A chance to bring children to the centre and hang out with the wider sangha. All welcome - drop in when you can. Please bring a snack to share and toys for your children. More info phillippajplock@yahoo.co.uk
26th to 31st August - Buddhafield North Open Retreat - My Religion is Kindness
How would it be to place kindness at the heart of our lives, for it to be part of everything we do? What can we do to make this happen? On this camping retreat we'll be living as a community for a week with our usual mixture of meditation, talks, ritual, kids' activities, bushcraft, yoga and more
For details go to: www.buddhafieldnorth.org.uk or contact Dayaka: dharmachari.dayaka@gmail.com or ring 01924 270365
Friday 1st to Tuesday 5th June 2012 - The International Sangha Retreat at Taraloka - see article above for details
Saturday 9th June - Living with Kindness Day Retreat - Spend the day exploring the Metta Bhavana. Open to sangha members and anyone who has attended the Living with Kindness meditation course at some time. No need to book - just turn up on the day. 10.00am to 4.00pm. Pay what you deem appropriate.
Please bring vegetarian lunch to share.
Saturday 26th to Friday 31st August 2012 - Buddhafield North Open Retreat
Sunday 9th September - Family Friendly Afternoon at Leeds Buddhist Centre - 2.30pm to 5.00pm - A chance to bring children to the centre and hang out with the wider sangha. All welcome - drop in when you can. Please bring a snack to share and toys for your children. More info phillippajplock@yahoo.co.uk
Saturday 15th September - Teens Retreat Day - Details to follow
Sunday 2nd December - Family Friendly Afternoon at Leeds Buddhist Centre - 2.30pm to 5.00pm - A chance to bring children to the centre and hang out with the wider sangha. All welcome - drop in when you can. Please bring a snack to share and toys for your children. More info phillippajplock@yahoo.co.uk
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Please note that the views expressed in this newsletter are the opinions of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Leeds Buddhist Centre, theTriratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) or The Triratna Buddhist Order
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