Triratna Leeds is a registered charity no. 1132691                                                 top         October 
2013
   
In This Issue...
Forthcoming courses
Jumble with STYLE
Akshobya: Imperturbable!
Mandy, the Princess, & the Pea
David reflects on Sangha
Milan: litter-picking, worm-rescuing extraordinaire
Poet's Corner
Retreats at Dhanakosa
 
 
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Art of Reflection cover
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'Someone told me that they once asked our teacher, Sangharakshita, how they might become wise, and he apparently answered: "Reflect on everything that happens to you". If we add to that "everything you do", that just about covers everything, doesn't it?'

 

Ratnaguna,
The Art of Reflection
 

 

"What do you think, Rahula: what is a mirror for?"

 

"For reflection, Sir."

 

"In the same way, Rahula, bodily actions, verbal actions, & mental actions are to be done with repeated reflections."

 

AMBALATTHIKA - RAHULAVADA SUTTA

Instructions to Rahula at Mango Stone,

Majjhima Nikaya 61 

Editorial 

Matt writes: And so the weather has finally turned! There's a chill in the darkening air, the wind has whipped up and is steadily stripping the trees of their summer foliage, leaving them bare and exposed.

 

The chilly air and shortening days have had a notable effect on the sangha.  This month's newsletter contains articles by Jenny, Mandy, Milan and David, and all appear to be in a reflective mood. 

 

October's newsletter thus takes it's inspiration Lantern Tree from Akshobya - the Buddha of mirror-like wisdom, who Jenny describes below. You can also read reflections from our other contributors on Comfort (Mandy), Sangha (David) and Social Action (Milan). Plunging the depths of the newsletter further you'll find poetry, which will perhaps inspire reflections of your own.

 

If so, please feel free to share them - articles, photographs, drawings, poems or anything else you wish to publish are eagerly sought for future editions of the newsletter. Simply send them to mattmccarthy5@gmail.com

 

Forthcoming Courses

Introduction to Buddhism 

Tuesday 19 November

7.00 - 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 course aims to bring the Dharma alive in our everyday lives.

 

Cost for the course: £35/20 concs.

Book Here

 

 

Day Retreat - Exploring Buddhist Practice

Saturday 14 December

10.00am - 4.00pm

 

Open to Everyone!

A day exploring meditation, ritual, chanting, discussion and friendship, and looking at how the Buddha's teachings continue to resonate with our lives in the 21st century, helping us transform our lives for the better.

 

For beginners this is an opportunity to see what Buddhist practice is all about;

 

For our community this is an opportunity to practice and explore how and why we practice.

 

Suggested donation: £30/£20/£10. Please bring vegetarian lunch to share

Book Here

 

 

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Coming Up 

Jumble Sale with STYLE!

  

A Jumble Sale with STYLE I hear you all cry! What can that mean? David Turner explains...

  

One of the Buddhist Centre's big fundraising events is the annual Jumble Sale in Chapel Allerton. Last year we raised £1200 - good money, a record and well worth the effort!

 

Next year, the Jumble Sale will be organised with increased levels of intelligence, creativity and efficiency to ensure to ensure that we squeeze every last bit of value out of the goods we collect and the effort we put in.

 

Specifics: 

Stock - We want as much jumble from you as you have got BUT this time we will pre-sort it, assess it, value it and choose what is coming to Chapel Allerton and what will be sold on E-Bay. Clothes which have that precious quality of STYLE will be given a higher value price ticket. Clothes that are unlikely to sell will be bagged up and weighed in for cash per kg. Thus we will reduce the sheer volume of stock taken to Chapel Allerton but still get money for most items that have been donated.

 

Publicity - Leaflets this year will give more information about Leeds Triratna Buddhist Centre and will also carry BOX ADVERTS for any business or service that wants to represent itself. I hope that sufficient box adverts will pay for a professional print run and may support some individuals or maybe pay the Royal Mail to go and deliver extra quantity. In the last three years we have hand delivered about 2000 leaflets ourselves.  What if we could get 5000 delivered, or 10,000? In addition we are going to ensure that local newspapers and media are carrying details of the Jumble Sale.

  

What we need from you - the lovely sangha...

  

Jumble - Just because we are jumbling with STYLE does not mean we don't want every stick and stitch of jumble in the tradition way. We will extract the STYLE. Please start collecting jumble, put it into a cardboard box and seal it up.  Bring it to the Centre or get in touch with David who will arrange collection at some point.

 

Storage/Sorting Space - We have some limited storage space with Andrew Nightingale but in an ideal world does anyone have a dry space nearer to Chapel Allerton (than Andrew's place in Horsforth) where we can delve into donations and determine desirability? 

 

Volunteers - Most important of all please help us with your presence and labour.  We will need help sorting jumble before 15 March and very much on the big day when there is a lot to be done in a compressed amount of time and the more folk there are to do it the merrier it really is. 

 

Do get in touch with David to discuss any of this.

Love, David 

david@wonderworld.co.uk

 

Akshobhya the Imperturbable

Another in our series exploring the five 'archetypal' (e.g. mythical) Buddhas in the Mandala of the Five Jinas. Each of these Buddhas reflects a quality of the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni, in the realms of our imagination and, perhaps also, as an aspect of our own consciousness. Many Buddhists find it helpful to identify with the qualities of one or more of them. They are: Ratnasambhava in the south, Amitabha in the west, Amoghasiddi in the north, Akshobhya in the east and Vairocana in the centre.


This month: 

Akshobhya the Imperturbable

by Jenny  


Akshobhya, whose body radiates deep blue light and is unbounded by any form, is seated on a vast blue lotus throne, supported by four huge elephants. His clear seeing eyes look compassionately on the world. His left hand rests open on his lap and, standing perfectly upright on it, is a golden vajra - an emblem of sovereignty, the diamond thunderbolt which cuts through all ignorance. His right hand touches the earth, in a gesture which recalls the moment just prior to Sakyamuni's Enlightenment when he called upon the Earth Goddess to witness his right to sit on the vajrasana - the diamond seat - the spot where, traditionally, all Buddhas gain Enlightenment.

Akshobhya possesses Mirror-Like Wisdom, and so he is associated with the water element which reflects everything faithfully like a mirror. A red rose or a bloody dagger, each is shown exactly as it is, without bias or judgement. With the Wisdom of Akshobhya, neither object attracts or repels. For the Enlightened mind there is no 'good' or 'bad', wanted or not-wanted, loved or hated. There is no duality at all. Just the direct experience of Reality, exactly as it is (or, perhaps more accurately, is not).

When we finally let go of our delusion that we are at the centre of the universe, that opposites exist, that everything (including ourselves) is somehow solid and fixed, we 'turn about in the deepest seat of consciousness' and reach the Pure Land of Akshobhya where the essential nature of everything is seen to be sunyata or empty. It's not that the universe doesn't exist, rather it is an acceptance that there are no 'things' (including ourselves) to exist. There is only change arising upon conditions. Change which is itself changing in every instant, never beginning and never ceasing, impossible to pin down. And far from being in any way disturbing, this truth celebrates the possibility of infinite development and progress - for the universe, for ourselves and for all sentient beings.

Each of the five archetypal Buddhas is associated with Wisdom but it is Akshobhya who embodies Wisdom in general and, if we meditate upon him and his qualities, his golden vajra can smash through all our mistaken concepts and ideas about Reality. If we really touch the earth, with pure, direct experience, as Akshobhya does. If we can truly experience the world, uncluttered by concepts of what we think we are going to find, then we too can gain the Mirror-Like Wisdom of the Buddha of the East.

Homage to Akshobhya
You see what is seen,
Homage to Akshobhya,
Vajra of what is, 
Reflecting everything,
Signless you sit, two candles
Radiating immense love and strength.

Hear what is heard,
Feel what is felt,
In the vastness of unimpeded space.

Homage to Akshobhya,
Dwelling calmly
In the empty nature of everything,
Blissful, peaceful,
Completely without attachment.

Homage to Akshobhya,
Fearless one,
Dwelling on the dynamic edge of experience,
Dwelling in the heart of love.

(excerpt from Dhiramati's Akshobhya Puja)

  

Reflecting on Comfort 

 

Mandy writes: I'm just back from a few days alone in a spa hotel. I stay there several times a year and while I can't dignify my visits with the term solitary retreats (they are too luxurious for that) they are a good chance for reflection and solitude. I try not to chat to anyone much and rarely do more than swim in the pool, eat and lounge about in the sauna. The surroundings are lovely, so there is always a pleasant view or nice furnishings to gawp at.
 
But funnily enough I found the whole thing questionable this time around.  In a mere three nights - perhaps because the luxury element was so heightened - I began to see how much my need to feel as comfortable as possible at all times limits and conditions my life.

It expresses itself in many ways, not just in my spa breaks. Take an average trip to the supermarket. Should I buy this or that cheese? The Everyday one is cheaper, but maybe it won't taste good. I'd better have the one labelled Finest. Oh, this checkout queue is so slow! I'm going to the self checkout - now I can get moving! Here's a box where you can donate dog and cat food for an animal shelter. I wish I'd seen that BEFORE I came in. I'm not going all the way round again!  

You get the picture. These thoughts are normal and I don't mean to beat myself up about them. But a light ticking off is perhaps in order. While I was in the spa, I realised that I've been giving in to them more lately. It's probably connected to getting older. I feel more delicate as I age and my partner and I have more money (mortgage paid off etc) so can afford more treats.

But it can be a slippery slope. In my lovely room at the spa, I found myself thinking, 'it's a bit dark in here' and 'the view isn't as nice as the rooms at the front' and 'they haven't left me enough tea bags'. It was all a bit 'Princess and the Pea,' the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale where a girl is tested to find out whether she is a princess. She is - even with twenty mattresses on her bed, she's kept awake all night by a pea placed under the bottom one.

My spa breaks have been treats. As has my gym membership, a related luxury. In fact there was a message when I got back inviting me to renew at the gym.
 
But it costs £500 a year and suddenly I can think of other things to do with £500, including giving some of it away. So this morning I went for my swim at our local council baths, a place my comfort seeking self has refused to visit for the past few years, dismissing it as 'grotty.' And it is a bit grotty (though everything's relative. How wonderful to have a swimming baths you can walk to). The showers dribbled, plasters expired quietly on the changing room floors and the vending machine said 'please do not buy chocolate from this machine'. Presumably it was okay to buy crisps? No-one knew. But no warm cafe stood with open arms offering soya lattes and little Italian pastries.  

But you know what? I could take it. And thinking about my supermarket trip tomorrow, I may buy some Everyday cheddar, stand in the long queue at the checkout, forget the dog food then go all the way round again to get some to donate to the animal shelter. Maybe I'll do it without having a nervous breakdown, too. 

 

Reflecting on Sangha


David Turner reflects on Buddhafield North and spiritual community in Leeds...

2013 was the tenth year of activity in our community camping sangha Buddhafield North. Annual gatherings under the sky, inspired and instigated by Lokhabandhu, brought into being by the commitment and investment of Tejapushpa and carried forward by a dedicated group of friends every year since. Last year Buddhafield North 2012 was the year in which the Open Family Retreat blossomed like a lotus from the swamp, the mud bath, the saturated bog. The field gurgled up with springs - yet we flew high on sheer viriya - working together in the face of the elements. What a contrast to 2013 - this golden year of relaxed enjoyment.  All the work of the retreat was accomplished with the sun in company, our measured skill and the generous stepping forward of every retreatant leaving acres of time and space for leisure, friendship, practice and fun. Another beautiful experience.  You are all invited again for whatever happens next year - 2014.


"Amongst the many blessings and pleasures at Buddhafield North is the time we have for long conversations" 

 

Amongst the many blessings and pleasures at Buddhafield North is the time we have for long conversations. I would like to report in on one such. Some of you will know Neil Ward from York, a professional artist/illustrator whose work you may like to see via http://www.njaward.com/index.html.

Neil and I discussed sangha.  Living in York, a little far from the Triratna social circles of Leeds, Neil finds sangha by attending church - a Christian church. Neil does so as a Buddhist and, remarkably, the Christians in that church accept this.  They are interested in him and they are interested in his Buddhism. They see him in church, they note his partial participation in the rituals and liturgies and they understand where he is in relation to them. They are just happy for him to be there. 

 

I am sure that our sangha also welcomes people of other faiths without feeling any urgent need to challenge their belief systems.  But speaking to Neil I could see that those Christians in York were going further and deeper in their engagement with him.  They were very specifically, personally, inviting Neil into their lives, taking valuable time and giving real energy to find out who he is, how he is and gently but meaningfully providing him with support. Equally they were opening themselves up for Neil to offer himself to them.  Neil reflected with gratitude and pleasure at the experience of sangha he had with his Christian friends in York.


Hearing from Neil reminded me strongly of seeing Christian sangha in action around my elderly parents in Stockport where I come from. The way people know each other intimately, in times of happiness but most strikingly at times of difficulty - hospital appointments, illness, relationship upheaval, death. They talk about their congregation being 'one body in Christ'. When my father died of a sudden heart attack church members were at our house within minutes, supporting my mother and doing what needed to be done around the scene of death including cleaning up the soiled bedding and carpet where he had collapsed. By the time family got there the kettle was on.  

 

"Are we like that? Are we sangha like that? Are we one body like that? Are we that close?" 

Are we like that? Are we sangha like that? Are we one body like that? Are we that close? For a week in the Buddhafield we are - most certainly. Everyone working together to support each other in all aspects of our lives. I get the feeling  every year at Buddhafield North that, regardless of the weather, this is how I want to live. This is how I want my experience of my Buddhist sangha in Leeds to be when I get home and back to work.

A Christian church congregation usually has some advantages over us in terms of living out the ideal of sangha. They tend to be local. Physical proximity promotes contact between sangha members.  My mother is always having people wandering in for tea and vice versa. And not just with her best mates. Rather with lists of people who have transected the church congregation and whom they think need some contact. They are in a habit of active friendliness toward each other and turn that friendliness outward toward the world. They have more time too. Many of her congregation have retired and use the life of the church to fill themselves with positive activity. On the other hand we are spread out from York to Hebden Bridge to Harrogate to Horbury. We tend to be younger and gifted with busy lives, responsibilities, families, expectations and so on.  And it should be said that some of us do have close circles of friends within the Leeds sangha and that is great. However I feel we all need to be thinking about, and doing something about, developing this aspect of our sangha, with the example being set by Neil's friends in York as an example.


Inevitably the conditions we create at Buddhafield North, that heavenly realm, are temporary. A week's holiday from normal life working paying the bills etc.  Back in the everyday world, life is bound to be less satisfactory. But I think I need to try harder. I need to accept my shyness, my instinct for reserve and all my bumblingly poor social skills and still try to get more involved with other sangha members in Leeds. For me offering practical help is a good start because I am better at loading someone's fridge in the back of my van than I am at close, personal dialogue, in the initial stages of contact with another person at least.  Right now I get away with my family at home as the hub of my life, without really being part of a bigger, sangha community. But the older I get the more I will need the support of my friends. So do you need a hand from me with anything?  

 


 

*The beautiful photos here are from the Buddhafield North Facebook page

 and were taken by Graham Snowdon. 

 

Reflecting on Social Action

 

Litter-picking & The Dharma:
Enhancing Life and Rescuing the Intestines of the Earth

by Milan Ghosh

I lost a 15-page article on this subject, it took weeks to write, now its litter, mere rubbish, gone, gone, gone. How tiresome, so here we go again, writing it all again. Here is a shortened reincarnation of that rubbish article (GROAN!)...

I litter pick because ''I don't like litter'' 
People ask me why I litter-pick, mostly there are friendly eyes watching, mostly friendly questions, or tone of voice, but a few fools ask 'why?' sarcastically. And even call me names such as 'Weirdo', 'He's mad', etc - it's their loss. Those who are content have no wish to harm. But one can't teach a fool. I am only a wise fool, picking up litter daily on my way wherever I go - in town, in Holbeck, near Elland Road where I live, wherever I go, Chapeltown, Harehills...

Why don't I like litter? 
Well it's an eyesore, unnecessarily contagious, so I try to reverse this negative contagion, making the negative downward stream flow backwards uphill to the positive open heart. And, yes, there really is no such thing as a small act of kindness in what can be a cruel world. I think of the world now more like Samsara-Nirvana, full of skilful people as well as the 'negative'. The wider context cultivates a certain type of emptiness in which negative consequences are reduced and then eradicated. Ignorance and unwholesome actions are no more. I can meditate on this when litter-picking.

Because it's decadent Green Tara
most of us could do better and just practice patient love for the world, others and ourselves included, because litter degrades us. Surely we can be patient, forbear time and trouble until we get to a litter bin or home before we drop it where it belongs.

Because its about recycling

Because it generates friendship, affection and community 
picking up litter creates new friends from strangers. People sometimes give money, which I used to refuse, but it was blind to refuse such goodwill - simple metta.

Because it's just the right thing to do 
It's an eyesore, it pollutes water, kills wildlife; I even pick up bottle tops and splintered plastic forks on the road because if I didn't it would add to the billions of sea creatures killed by swallowing plastic fragments.

The Hierarchy of Litter-Picking
Firstly, there's the dangerous items that must be met with ahimsa - looking after all living things. The master harms no living thing.

Electrical waste 
Contains flame retardants, theo-bromates, which contaminate groundwater and the food chain and will damage nerves and brains.

Glass
is bagged up and double bagged, from 'witches knickers', plaggy bags caught in trees, or on the ground, but not tied up, so as to prevent it bursting and littering again, and also to make easy depositing into local bottle banks. Energy economy and balanced effort are manifested.

Dog poo
is now often so dry and hollow by rapid dehydration in a warmer climate that I simply kick it into the gutter. Kids and adults can fall on it harming themselves, spreading worms and other diseases. I wash my trainers with some bleach in the machine every two days, and go Indian: only place them on the doormat, nowhere else. If people are repulsed by my shit-kicking, then I take the opportunity to educate them, with the above practices. It's been easy to get more frequent street cleaning in our increasingly dense city, and dog warden patrols. Simply ask your local councillor; go to www.leeds.gov.uk. It's a top issue along with street safety.

Organic waste 
Some food is salvageable, sealed in cans. Other organic waste decaying papers and food; I concentrate it in one pile each time I pass; take off the paths, concrete areas, into gardens, worms and other creatures too. Incidentally I rescue worms during the rain wherever I am passing off the paths and onto grass areas in parks. Man has created this obstruction for them and when it dries they die, so I rescue them.

Plastic:
bottle tops, fragments, bags

Metal cans
are ripped open and sharp so I bag them up first, then deal only with the non-damaged ones. I used to save them for a friend but he gave so little back, a taker not a giver, so I thought we all have bad experiences but to always take is foolish. So I stopped giving, to prompt his thinking he might be doing wrong, and using people. I refused to argue but gave him my thoughts above; I was greeted with childish resentment, pride and self righteousness, so I left him to it. Ignore fools, associate with the wise, and I would add ignore and renounce the fool in yourself!

Illegal substances 
Finally there's cannabis found dumped often with identifying materials such as clothes and personal papers, serial and batch numbers of goods such as PCs. This has come out of the rare residents including myself, who are courageous enough to keep reporting on gangs in Holbeck - in a panic they dump low-grade cannabis in bin-yards and by the allotment. Give up drugs yourself, help others do so, have a lucid happy mind, and a more peaceful community.

It is a complete myth that if a drug dealer is shopped to the police another immediately springs up. Buddhists who have said this are defeatists and do not report the dealers themselves to Crimestoppers (0800 55511). Dob in a Dealer to the police, do not observe the effect, do not speak from a ground of action. It would be at least twice as bad round here for drugs and all their effects, and it has been five times worse at least with their conduit gang who use the two motorway slip roads into South Leeds as an entry route. So I do not now take offence at such ignorant defeatism - I carry on content to make a difference.

For me my own life is not so important, and I am no longer suicidal - enhance everyone's life, life is worthy.

Reflections on Litter-Picking 
So for little me the practice of fearlessness, courage and vajra is down to earth, inspired by a certain variety of Asian Buddhist such as Thich Nhat Hanh, and the good people of Chapeltown LS7 where I was bred. Initially it bred many good tings such as reggae and open-heartedness, but also violence, prostitution and money madness.

Path of the Bodhisattva
For me the dharma is not primarily intellectual, that is what I call a conceptual straitjacket, aka prapaunchya. I do aspire to read more, but I wish no longer for ordination, only to create a local community free of drugs, crime and black-market greed, as well as lost souls. To provide what's needed and wanted: community peace without too much thinking. Not to boast; however to let off steam in the difficult but easier task of litter-picking.

As I go winding and bending, picking up litter merrily, but not drunk, light as a feather, totally committed, cleansing the earth on my way, I feel free to call to friends and acquaintances, tease, joke and pull their minds from anxiety, that's normal, to wit, where its it, and 'it' is so calm immediately heard/seen, not believed, presence, loving, kind, here, now, not existential confusion: working in the near and HOW?'

Oh what a joy living is, whereas once it was miserable and violent; now with litter-picking, and rescuing the soft-bodied undulating, writhing worms, it is deeply satisfying, soothing, beautifully silent, beyond neurotic belief. I rescue worms from the pavement when they escape waterlogged tunnels underground in heavy rains, picking them up gently so as not to hurt them and placing them on soil or grass. 

I never thought I'd know the joy of living and loving, my sincere thanks to all the wonderful people at Leeds Buddhist Centre for helping me along the path, including everyone of YOU. 

   

Poet's Corner

 

The Depths

by Matt  

 

Dead thing, 

hanging heavy in the water,

like slime suspended in slime.

 

Fond memories

float around on the surface,

looking for you

where you cannot be found.

 

I'll remember you like this.

I'll toss you in the mind sometime.

You can writhe around in my consciousness

until we both realise -

the only refuge in the depths

is the depths themselves.

 

 

Other News

 

Gift Aid - update your address

 

Please can all Gift Aid donors update their address details. This is really important as up-to-date address details are required in order to claim back tax on donations. You can update your details by emailing the centre or by filling in a form and posting it in the box on the coffee table. 

 

 

If you do not currently, but would like to make a regular donation to the Centre, please complete and return this form.

 

Thanks folks!

 

 

 

 

Volunteer cooks wanted!  

Do you feel confident cooking for between 20 and 30 people? Can you come to Dhanakosa for a week to cook for groups on retreat? Then we'd love to hear from you!

We are looking for people who want to establish an ongoing relationship with Dhanakosa, committing to volunteering as a cook ideally at least once per year. Of course there is always support and an induction/training session from our team but essentialy we need volunteers who are able to cook on their own in the kitchen.

By volunteering as a cook with us, you would have the chance to live and work with a practising Buddhist community, enjoying the natural beauty of the glen and supporting others on retreat. If you are interested, please get in touch with Monika, our kitchen manager at monikapodgorska.mp@gmail.com 

 

 

Men's Winter Retreat

20 - 27 December
led by smritiratna  

 
When your heart is in the right place, the rest is easy. Loving kindness, or metta
is the gateway into compassion, appreciative joy and insightful serenity. We will thoroughly explore the four meditations of the sublime abodes or Brahma Viharas.  

 

Open to men who have been on retreat before or have been attending a local centre. Meditation retreats are conducted mostly in silence with between 5 and 7 hours of meditation each day. 

 

£75 booking fee to secure your place 
(call 01877 384 213 or email for more information)
 
 
Introduction to Meditation and Buddhism Weekend
10 -12 january
led by smritiratna

This retreat provides an excellent introduction to both meditation and Buddhism. You can learn to meditate or take your meditation further with the help of an experienced teacher. This can help you develop clarity, confidence, energy and positive emotion. As well as giving you an introduction to meditation, this retreat aims to give you a grounding in the basic principles of Buddhism; an ideal environment in which to take a fresh look at yourself and your life.

No previous experience required

£30 booking fee to secure your place
(call 01877 384 213 or email for more information) 

 

Weekly Programme at Leeds Buddhist Centre

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 relies on your generosity to keep going - please donate what you can when you attend events ***

 

 

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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