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Our body and mind are
separate entities, and so even though the body disintegrates at
death, the continuum of the mind remains
unbroken.
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Feast of Delight
19th
October 2007 at 7.30 pm
A guided
meditation followed by a delicious 3 course vegetarian meal in our
World Peace Cafe. Enjoy a relaxed
atmosphere with like minded spiritual friends.
(Full payment in advance
is required)
Please phone
01325 365265 to
reserve a place
Other
Local Centres
Compassion
Centre, Newcastle
Uma
Centre, Carlisle
Madhyamaka
Centre, Pocklington
Studying Buddhism
The Foundation Programme
provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding and experience
of Buddhism through a systematic study of six texts.
There are three reasons why we need to study and practise the
teachings of Buddha:
1) To develop our
wisdom
2) To cultivate a good
heart
3) To maintain a peaceful state
of mind
Foundation Programme at Atisha Buddhist Centre is a unique way to
study Buddhism
- gaining deep, personal insights into the teachings whilst having
fun and making friends at the same time!
We currently have two Foundation Programmes to choose from;
Saturdays
9.30am - 2pm
Or
Mondays and Thursdays
7.30 -9.30pm
Enrollment is required - try a FREE two week taster.
Speak to the EPC for more details:
Contact 01325 365265 or
Email epc@atishameditation.co.uk
Directors
Corner
Has anyone noticed the
double glazing in the Centre and the new exterior paintwork? We
have even got autumn flowers and hanging baskets round the
front.
Refurbishment is
continuing in the Centre in the coming months. By the end of
October we hope to have our planning permission accepted by the
council for the extension. Plans are already underway for the
interior design of the new dining room and kitchen and you never
know we may even start building before Christmas. Keep your eyes
posted for opportunities to help out with this exciting
project.
In the meantime we still
have quite a bit of physical work to do around the
Centre.
Below is a list of work that needs
doing.
decorating (white glossing
all the doors and skirting boards in the hall, cafe &
upstairs.Also, bedrooms 3 & 4 need
redecorating),
Cleaning
cement foundation under front fence (does anyone have a jet hose
cleaner and/or some acid cleaner?), help erecting a new front
fence, cementing a new path to the front door (we have been quoted
£300 for this but can anyone do it for cheaper), painting garage
door and other garage paintwork, fixing broken floorboards in the
Centre and finally painting our notice board a brighter
colour.
Thank you to all those who
have already helped out - you are all very kind! Just contact
me at the Centre if you would like to help out with any of the
above.
Best wishes.
Mike
Darlington Market
Book Stall
A HUGE thank you
to every one who donated books for the market stall; and to
everyone who gave their support on the day. We
raised £148 and increased awareness of Atisha
Centre abundantly.
With much love and
thanks
Chödor
Don't
miss out ...
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Meditation Classes have started back in a new
format
We have three
new classes; one at Atisha Centre on Friday mornings, one in
Darlington town centre on Wednesday evenings, and one in Norton on
Wednesday evenings.
All of our General Programme classes now run in a new format. They
are now only an hour and a half in length. They start with a guided
meditation to relax, followed by a 20-25 minute talk. A guided
meditation based on the nights topic is followed by a short period
for discussion and questions.
The classes now run every week instead of in terms so it's easier
to know when classes are on.
We hope that people will enjoy these changes, and encourage you all
to come and experience them.
Click
on the specific class details for more information.
Middlesbrough -
Mondays
Bishop Auckland - Tuesdays
Richmond
-
Tuesdays
New Class
Darlington - Wednesdays
(Friends Meeting House,
Skinnergate)
New Class
Norton -
Wednesdays
(Friends Meeting House, The Green)
Saltburn -
Wednesdays
Durham - Thursdays
New
Class
Atisha Centre -
Fridays
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Great Treasury of Merit
A one day course
at Atisha Centre on
Sunday 21st October 2007
Merit is the potential inner
power to increase our good qualities and produce good fortune and
happiness. In particular without merit we will find it
impossible to gain spiritual realizations. We should
therefore understand that now is the time to accumulate merit, not
to waste it. If we want to find inner peace and benefit
others,accumulating merit should be our main practice and should
guide all that we do. On this day course we will look at
methods to produce and protect our merit.
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Guru Yoga
& Mandala
Offerings
Retreat
Monday 22nd - Sunday 28th
October
Sessions
at:-
7.00am; 10.30am; 4.00pm;
7.30pm
You don't need an empowerment to do this
retreat and you can come to
however many sessions that you like - even if it's just
one!
There are handouts explaining what to do during sessions and if you
arrive early someone can answer any questions that you
have.
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.
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Medicine Buddha
Empowerment
at Atisha Centre with
Kelsang ChÖdor on
Friday 9th - Sunday 11th November
Friday 9th
November
7.00 - 8.30pmIntroductory Teaching
Saturday 10th
11.00am - 12.30pm Empowerment
2.00 - 3.30pm Teaching
5.30 - 6.30pm Wishfulfilling Jewel with
Tsog
Sunday 11th
10.00 - 11.30am Teaching
2.00 - 4.00pm Offering to the Spiritual Guide Puja
7.00 - 8.00pm Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja
You don't need any previous
experience at all
Medicine Buddha is a Buddha Doctor whose
function is to release living beings from outer and inner
sickness. By relying upon the practice of Medicine Buddha
sincerely, living beings can be cured of heavy physical and mental
sickness, and find release from the internal pain of the
delusions. Everyone is welcome to this weekend course where
we will be making a strong connection with Medicine Buddha in order
to receive his special blessings and empowerment. The weekend
will include a special blessing ceremony on the Saturday followed
by a commentary to the practice of the Medicine Buddha
Sadhana
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Work A
Day For World Peace
Friday 2nd November
2007
We can make a difference
....
by donating our wages
we earn on 2nd November 2007 to the
International
Temple Project (ITP) of
the New
The ITP is committed to
establishing Kadampa Buddhist Temples in every major city of
the world.
Inspired by Geshe Kelsang
Gyatso's profound and compassionate vision
of providing a place of peace and
refuge for all living beings, this very special project is
dedicated to building for world peace.
If you would like to
participate in 'Work a Day for World Peace' please pick up a form
at the centre or GP class. |
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