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“All suffering, all fear,
and all unfulfilled wishes are the result of negative karma, and
all negative karma arises from self-cherishing.”
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
The
New Meditation
Handbook
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Lama Chöpa
(Offering to the Spiritual Guide) Puja Change
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From April onwards Lama
Chöpa will no longer be combined with Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja.
Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja will be done at 2.30 pm on days with Lama
Chöpa in the evening.
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All other Tsog Pujas take
place at the normal times, see the
monthly calendar for exact
details.
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Introductory Websites
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About
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is one of
the fundamental beliefs of Buddhists
Death and
Dying
Advice about dealing with
death and dying.
How to
Meditate
Meditation instructions
that are perfectly accessible to beginners
About
Dharma
Dharma means “protection”,
and refers to the teachings of Buddha.
Information
about Buddhism and meditation for kids, teachers and
parents.
Other Local Centres
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Atisha
Buddhist Centre Meditation Venues
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Due to a widening circle
of interest in meditation throughout the North East, we are
offering Buddhist teachings in the following locations.
Find a
General Programme meditation class in a town near
you:
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Northern
Dharma Celebration
27th - 30th April
During this special event,
the first Northern Dharma Celebration, we will receive the blessing
empowerment of Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden and teachings on
faith and relying upon a Spiritual Guide.
Developing unwavering
faith and learning to rely sincerely upon a Spiritual Guide are
essential foundations for any spiritual attainment. Through making
a special connection with the enlightened being Dorje Shugden and
receiving his blessings we will be able to improve our faith and
reliance so that our spiritual path becomes clear and unobstructed
and we thereby progress swiftly and joyfully.
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Dear
Friend of Atisha Centre
,
Welcome to the latest
edition of the Atisha Centre
eDharma Newsletter.
We send one every month.
Give us your thoughts and ideas for future newsletters, and if you
like this edition please forward it to a friend by using the link
at the bottom of this Email.
Each month
we'll update you on the forthcoming news, events, courses etc.
being organised by Atisha Centre and the New Kadampa
Tradition.
We hope to see
you soon,
Your Friends at Atisha
Centre
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a two
day commentary to the Heart Sutra
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Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th April 2007
10.00
am - 5.00 pm each day
Course
Fee £40.00
The Heart Sutra is one of the most popular
and
well-known of Mahayana Buddhist scriptures. Belonging to the family
of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra’s, it contains the very essence
or ‘heart’ of Buddha’s teachings on emptiness - the ultimate nature
of reality. Through studying, contemplating and meditating upon
this sutra we can gain a perfect understanding of the real nature
of reality; we can overcome the obstacles preventing our full
awakening.
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Friday
13th April at 7.30 pm
DVD of the life story of
Buddha Shakyamuni
+ buffet.
All Welcome!
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Nyungna
Saturday
14th & Sunday 15th April
Precepts 6.30 am
Session times:- 7.00am; 10.30am; 4.00pm
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A Nyungna retreat is
especially designed to purify negative karma and accumulate merit
and wisdom. It is a two day practice focusing on keeping vows for a
two day period (complete fasting from food and drink on the second
day), prostrations and the recitation of the Sadhana of 1000 armed
Avalokiteshvara Buddha of Compassion. Normal precepts apply on the
first day (eating one meal).
All sessions are free of
charge -
donations are very
welcome.
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Guru
Yoga &
Mandala Offerings Retreat
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Monday 16th - Sunday 22nd
April
Session
times:- 7.00am; 10.30am; 4.00pm; 7.30pm
Guru Yoga
is a special
method for receiving the blessings of our Spiritual Guide. Our
Spiritual Guide is any Spiritual Teacher who sincerely leads us
into spiritual paths by giving correct instructions. All schools of
Buddhism agree that the practice of Guru Yoga, or relying upon a
Spiritual Guide, is the root of the spiritual path and the
foundation of all spiritual attainments.
The word ‘Mandala’ in this
context means ‘universe’. When we offer a Mandala to the holy
beings we are offering everything - the whole universe with all
it’s objects and all the beings who inhabit it. We mentally
transform the whole universe into a Pure Land and imagine that all
it’s inhabitants are pure beings and that all it’s objects are
precious substances. We then imagine that we are offering this pure
universe in our hands.
These two practices are
very powerful methods for receiving blessings from all enlightened
beings and for accumulating a great stock of merit or positive
mental energy. They will be done in conjunction with the prayers
Offering
to the Spiritual Guide.
All sessions are free of
charge -
donations are very
welcome.
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Atisha Centre is a registered charity with
trustees:
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Debbs
Kefford
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Kath
Round
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Chris
Helliwell
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They have a
checking role to make sure the Centre is running smoothly and they
also vote on key executive decision's.
Also we have local members who vote new trustees in
(or re-elect old ones) and who actively cherish the
Centre.
The maximum number of local members we are allowed
is 21 and we currently have 10. Therefore, we have 11 spaces
available. In November 2007 we intend to invite new members into
the membership group. The trustees/directors have to select new
members to be elected in by current members at the
AGM.
To be
a member you have to have certain qualifications. The minimum
requirement really is to attend general meetings (probably no more
than two a year), regularly attend classes at the Centre for at
least a year, do 5 hours voluntary work a month for the Centre and
to see yourself as a Kadampa Buddhist
Practitioner.
If you
see yourself in November 2007 as having these qualifications and
would like to apply for membership please contact me in writing
before November 07 and we will process your
application.
We do
hope there will be lots of interest and that Atisha Centre fills
its membership group so we have a really strong group of Kadampa
practitioners to strengthen the Centre and benefit our local area
as best we can.
If you
have any queries don’t hesitate to contact me at the
Centre
Mike
Whitaker
Administrative Director
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