Australian Meditation Conference – Saturday July 31, 2010
May 1, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Meditation Events is proud to announce the 2010 Australian Meditation Conference, to be held at RMIT’s Storey Hall on Saturday July 31.
Presenters include David Michie, author of Hurry up and Meditate, Pauline McKinnon, Laurence Mills and Australian Buddhist monk, Clarke Scott, who has trained under His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The Conference brings together some of Australia’s leading meditation teachers, meditation researchers and performing artists in the field of contemplative/intuitive music.
The event provides practitioner-oriented education for wellness professionals. Our commitment is to bring together leaders in the field of meditation, presenting the latest information and approaches.
Storey Hall is in the heart of the city and offers a fully integrated venue, combining a great auditorium, exhibition space and an area for networking, refreshments and a vegetarian lunch.
This event promises to be a wonderful opportunity for anyone with a personal or professional interest in meditation to explore this marvellous practice in its many diverse forms.
Meditation Events in London
February 21, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Learn to meditate in half a day – Sat 20 Feb
A half-day course on the basics of meditation
Meditation leads to peace of mind, harmonious relationships and a meaningful life. This popular half-day course is the perfect introduction to meditation, providing the basic techniques that will enable you to experience these benefits for yourself. The course includes guided meditations and practical advice on how meditation helps us to be happy and free from problems in daily life.
Date & time
Sat 20 Feb
10am – 1pm: Teachings & meditations
1pm – 1.45pm: Lunch
Venue
Heruka Centre,
13 Woodstock Road, Golders Green,
London, NW11 8ES
see map or get directions
Fee
£20 (includes two-course vegetarian lunch)
Buddha Shakyamuni
Understanding life and death – Sat 6 Mar
How to attain everlasting happiness
with Resident Teacher John McBretney
All life’s sufferings arise because we don’t realise we will die. Due to ignorance of death we are strongly attached to all the attractive things of this life alone which causes endless worries, disappointment, frustration and fear. Understanding death according to Buddha’s supremely skilful teachings frees us naturally from suffering and leads us to spiritual paths, the source of all good qualities and happiness in this life and beyond.
Date & time
Sat 6 Mar, 10am – 4pm
Venue
Heruka Centre,
13 Woodstock Road, Golders Green,
London, NW11 8ES
see map or get directions
Fee
£30 (includes two-course vegetarian lunch)
Southern Dharma Celebration – 19 to 21 Mar
The empowerment of Buddha Maitreya
The Southern Dharma Celebration 2010 is a special opportunity to receive the empowerment of Buddha Maitreya. Kadam Bridget Heyes will grant the empowerment and will also give teachings on loving kindness through which we can maintain a happy and peaceful mind all the time and enjoy an increasingly meaningful and fulfilling life.
Dates
Fri 19 – Sun 21 Mar
Kadam Bridget Heyes
Learn to meditate in half a day – Sat 27 Mar
A half-day course on the basics of meditation
Meditation leads to peace of mind, harmonious relationships and a meaningful life. This popular half-day course is the perfect introduction to meditation, providing the basic techniques that will enable you to experience these benefits for yourself. The course includes guided meditations and practical advice on how meditation helps us to be happy and free from problems in daily life.
Date & time
Sat 27 Mar
10am – 1pm: Teachings & meditations
1pm – 1.45pm: Lunch
Venue
Heruka Centre,
13 Woodstock Road, Golders Green,
London, NW11 8ES
see map or get directions
Fee
£20 (includes two-course vegetarian lunch)
Buddha Shakyamuni
Relaxing break in Holland – 23 to 25 Apr
An enjoyable weekend of meditation and relaxation
with Resident Teacher John McBretney
Retreat is a special time to leave our ordinary activities behind, relax, unwind and focus on meditation. Located in the beautiful Dutch countryside of South Limburg, close to the lovely city of Maastricht, Hotel Kadampa Holland is the perfect place for an enjoyable and meaningful weekend within easy reach of London.
Retreat dates
The retreat begins at 8pm on Friday 23 April with an introductory talk and finishes at 1pm on Sunday 25 April with lunch at 1pm.
Retreat venue
Hotel Kadampa Holland
Graafstraat 39
6305 BD Schin op Geul
The Netherlands
See online map
Retreat fees
* Single room £150
* Twin room £125
* Shared room £95
Fees are per person and include accommodation, teachings and all meals (vegetarian) but do not include travel to or from the venue.
KMC Holland – weekend meditation retreat venue
KMC Holland, Maastricht
Medicine Buddha empowerment – Sat 8 May
Health and happiness for ourselves and others
with Resident Teacher John McBretney
The source of all mental and physical pain is the negativity within our own minds. At this empowerment we will make a special connection with Medicine Buddha, a wise and compassionate Buddha doctor, who works to free us from this negativity. By relying upon him we can be released from our suffering permanently and experience the lasting peace and happiness of enlightenment. Everyone is welcome.
Date & time
Sat 8 May, 10.30am – 4.30pm
Venue
Unitarian Church,
311/2 Hoop Lane, Golders Green, London NW11 8BS
(on the corner of Elmcroft Avenue and Hoop Lane)
see map or get directions
Fee
£30 (includes two-course vegetarian lunch)
Medicine Buddha
Learn to meditate in half a day – Sat 22 May
A half-day course on the basics of meditation
Meditation leads to peace of mind, harmonious relationships and a meaningful life. This popular half-day course is the perfect introduction to meditation, providing the basic techniques that will enable you to experience these benefits for yourself. The course includes guided meditations and practical advice on how meditation helps us to be happy and free from problems in daily life.
Date & time
Sat 22 May
10am – 1pm: Teachings & meditations
1pm – 1.45pm: Lunch
Venue
Heruka Centre,
13 Woodstock Road, Golders Green,
London, NW11 8ES
see map or get directions
Fee
£20 (includes two-course vegetarian lunch)
Buddha Shakyamuni
Weekend retreat in Spain – 11 to 13 Jun
A meaningful holiday at Hotel Kadampa, Málaga
with Resident Teacher John McBretney
A great opportunity to get away from it all and focus on meditation in the beautiful Hotel Kadampa Spain in Málaga. Guided by John McBretney, the Resident Teacher of Heruka Centre, the retreat is a great way to gain some experience of meditation and learn about Kadampa Buddhism.
Retreat dates
The retreat begins at 8pm on Friday 11 June with an introductory talk and finishes at 1pm on Sunday 13 June with lunch at 1pm.
Retreat venue
Hotel Kadampa Spain
Fuente del Perro s/n
29120 Alhaurín el Grande
Málaga, Spain
See online map
Retreat fees
* Single room £150
* Twin room £125
* Shared room £95
Fees are per person and include accommodation, teachings and all meals (vegetarian) but do not include travel to or from the venue.
KMC Spain – weekend meditation retreat venue
KMC Spain, Málaga
Learn to meditate in half a day – Sat 19 Jun
A half-day course on the basics of meditation
Meditation leads to peace of mind, harmonious relationships and a meaningful life. This popular half-day course is the perfect introduction to meditation, providing the basic techniques that will enable you to experience these benefits for yourself. The course includes guided meditations and practical advice on how meditation helps us to be happy and free from problems in daily life.
Date & time
Sat 19 Jun
10am – 1pm: Teachings & meditations
1pm – 1.45pm: Lunch
Venue
Heruka Centre,
13 Woodstock Road, Golders Green,
London, NW11 8ES
see map or get directions
Fee
£20 (includes two-course vegetarian lunch)
Buddha Shakyamuni
The basics of Buddhism – Sat 17 Jul
An introduction to inner peace and meditation
Although our understanding and control of the external world is unprecedented, our understanding and control of the internal world of our own minds is very weak. As a result of this imbalance our lives are unsatisfactory and full of problems and worries. By learning essential truths originally taught by Buddha, we can develop an essential spiritual dimension to our lives through which we will gradually free our minds from all suffering and attain the pure and lasting happiness that material success alone cannot provide.
Date & time
Sat 17 Jul, 10am – 4pm
Venue
Heruka Centre,
13 Woodstock Road, Golders Green,
London, NW11 8ES
see map or get directions
Fee
£30 (includes two-course vegetarian lunch)
The Interdependence Project Meditation and Buddhist-Inspired Class/Gathering(every Monday, 7-9 pm), New York City’s East Village
May 22, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The Interdependence Project
scvdh8dz4q – Meditation and Buddhist-Inspired Class/Gathering w/ Ethan Nichtern (Acclaimed Author of One City: A Declaration of Interdependence), Jessica Rasp, I.D. Project Facilitators and Frequent Guest Lecturers
Everyone Welcome Regardless of Experience
Meditation Instruction is part of each class
Beginners Welcome
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST HERE to receive EMAIL UPDATES on events, gatherings, weekly arts groups, activism and responsible consumption events, podcast, daily blog and SENTIENT CITY online magazine news.
Located in New York City’s East Village, The Interdependence Project is a grassroots project for folks interested in working with their minds on the meditation cushion, and stepping out into the local community. The ID Project offers weekly meditation and Buddhism gatherings (Mon/Wed/Sat/Sun), as well as day-long retreats. But it doesn’t stop there: come on by for an art show, join our Integral Activism program or learn what it means to be a “responsible consumer.” We also have monthly Writing, Theater, Visual Arts ,and Needlecrafts/Knitting Groups on Sundays to explore those creative pursuits as artists also interested in meditation. Also check out the great articles on the One City Daily Blog.
Open Class & Meditation Gathering
Mondays @ Lila Dharma & Yoga Center
7 – 9 pm
302 Bowery @ Houston, Buzzer #2
6 train to Bleecker, F/V, B/D to Broadway/Lafayette. R/W to Prince
$10/ students & unemployed pay what you can
http://www.theIDproject.com for much more info, including more classes in NYC, art and activism events, downloadable podcasts, ONLINE MAGAZINE, and discussion board
Visit ITunes to subscribe to free podcast: “INTERDEPENDENCE PROJECT”
Email: info@theidproject.com with any questions about classes, gatherings, or other events.
Meditation Events in Florida
May 1, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Transforming Attachments Day Course in Atlantic Beach
Antidotes to the inner poison that keeps us dissatisfied
with Resident Teacher Carol Lutker
Sunday, May 3rd, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
How to recognize and transform craving or attachment into a mind of love and contentment. Taming the wild consumer within, and finding the true source of satisfaction. Everyone welcome!
Cost
$35 ($25 students/limited income) $25 discount for monthly sponsors. includes lunch.
Maitreya Kadampa Buddhist Center, 85 Sailfish Dr, Atlantic Beach FL 32233
To register, please call 904.222.8531 or email info@MeditationInJacksonville.org.
Awakening the Buddha Within in Fort Lauderdale
Discovering Happiness Through Compassion
with Kadam Nick Gillespie
Sunday, May 3rd, 9:30am – 2:00pm
In this course, Kadam Nick Gillespie will teach special meditations on universal compassion, the supremely positive mind that can help us transform our habitual self-cherishing mind into one that genuinely cherishes others. Eventually we reach the point where we can transform any situation, however unpleasant, into a positive experience and an opportunity to make progress in our spiritual development. In this way we discover our Buddha nature, our limitless potential for positivity and happiness.
Cost
$35 ($20 students/limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch! Center Sponsors receive a $25 discount off the regular course price.
Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 140 W Prospect Rod, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. Please visit our website to pre-register: http://www.meditationinfortlauderdale.org/day-courses
Happiness From a Different Source Day Course in Orlando
Inspired Solutions for Difficult Times
with Resident Teacher Ricc Bishop
Sunday, May 3rd, 9:30am to 2:00pm
Finally, Something we can rely on.
When times get tough and anxious we need something that we can really rely upon. In Buddha’s teachings on the nature of suffering, the impermanence of all phenomema, and the mind’s ability to experience complete freedom and bliss, we find perfect instructions on transforming adversity into strength and happiness. These teachings have beeen used for thousands of years by people of different countries and different faiths to find true mental freedom and inner peace. All are welcome.
Cost
Requested donation is $35 ($20 students and limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch. Center Sponsors receive a $25 discount off the regular course price. Note: No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Vajrapani Buddhist Center 55 W Colonial Drive, Orlando (407) 245-7574
You don’t have to pay until the day of the event but please RSVP now so that we can plan the delicious Lunch! RSVP at this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wHKiWuXHEIH9tvBCC_2fiVaw_3d_3d
Transforming Attachment Day Course in Atlantic Beach (Jacksonville)
How to recognize and transform that painful “sticky”feeling
with Resident Teacher Carol Lutker
Sunday, May 3rd, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
We are all faced with many cravings or attachments: to things, people, situations, our views, reputation, body – all telling us we need something in order to be happy. In this course we will examine Buddha’s teachings on the origins of these uncomfortable feelings and explore how to find the lasting happiness we all seek.
Everyone is welcome – no previous experience necessary.
Cost
$35 ($25 students/limited income) includes lunch.
Maitreya Kadampa Buddhist Center, 85 Sailfish Dr, Atlantic Beach FL 32233
To Register, please call 904.222.8531 or email info@MeditationInJacksonville.org
Seeing Kindness Day Course with Gen-la Dekyong in Sarasota
A Day Course at KMC Florida in Sarasota
with National Spiritual Director Gen-la Dekyong
Sunday, May 10th, 10:00am – 4:30pm
“Wherever we look we find only the kindness of others.” – Ven. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
We all want to be kind and loving people, but find it hard to see others in positive ways, especially our close family and friends. We often struggle with discouragement and dissatisfaction, seeing our self and our life as a representation of others inattentiveness and neglect.
In order to conquer these feelings we need to unlock our heart. Seeing the kindness of others is the best way to do this and begin to develop our loving nature. In Buddha’s teachings on love he explains profound and practical methods to change our view. By using our wisdom eyes to see our mother as kind, we lay the foundation for a deep, genuine and lasting love for everyone we meet.
For those who wish there will be a Ceremony to take or renew the Bodhisattva Vows with Gen-la Dekyong after the day course.
For more information visit www.MeditationInSarasota.org
KMC Florida, 2016 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234. Please call (941) 373-1600 to pre-register, or email info@MeditationInSarasota.org
International Spring Festival 2009 in Ulverston, UK
The Empowerment and Commentary to the Practice of Buddha Maitreya
with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Friday, May 22nd to Monday, May 25th
Maitreya is the manifestation of the realization of the loving-kindness of all the Buddhas.
His function is to guide us along the stages of the path to enlightenment, Lamrim.
By relying upon Buddha Maitreya with faith we will receive his special care, and he will bestow upon us the realizations of Kadam Lamrim through which we can solve our own and others’ problems and fulfil our own and others’ wishes.
Venerable Geshe Kelsang will grant the empowerment of Buddha Maitreya on Saturday May 23. Receiving this empowerment directly connects us with Buddha Maitreya, giving us the inspiration and confidence to progress successfully on the path to enlightenment.
On the following two days, Venerable Geshe Kelsang will give a commentary to the practice of Buddha Maitreya showing how we can continue to receive this special inspiration in our daily life.
Please see the Festival Website for more information.
Joyful Land Post Festival Retreat in Sarasota
The Practice of Buddha Maitreya
with guest teacher, Kadam Nick Gillespie
Friday, June 5th to Saturday, June 6th
In this retreat we will try to get personal experience of the practice of Buddha Maitreya, based on Geshe Kelsang’s UK Spring Festival teachings.
Everyone is welcome to join in this retreat!
Kadampa Meditation Center, 2016 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234. To pre-register please call (941) 373-1600 or email info@MeditationInSarasota.org
Shelter From the Storm in Orlando
Refuge Ceremony and Teachings on Inner Peace
with Resident Teacher Ricc Bishop
Sunday, June 7th, 9:30am to 2:00pm
When we find Refuge we discover a life that is free from fear. By going for refuge in Buddha as the Spiritual Guide, in his Dharma which has the power to free our mind from all distress, and in Sangha the spiritual community – we become an inner being and finally discover true mental freedom. For some, Refuge Day is an opportunity to receive profound blessings and a chance to begin exploring the richness of this very special spiritual tradition. For others, Refuge Day is a turning point in their lives where they embrace Buddha’s teachings and start traveling the spiritual path as a Buddhist. Also, for those who have attended this day before, it is a chance to receive these blessings once again, and to renew their commitment to the path they have chosen.
Cost
Requested Donation is $35 ($20 students/limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch! Center Sponsors receive a $25 discount off the requested donation. Note that no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Center
55 W Colonial Drive Orlando 32801
Click here to RSVP
A Peaceful Passing: Blessing Empowerment of Avalokiteshvara in Safety Harbor
Empowerment and Teachings at Parbawatiya Buddhist Center
with Resident Teacher Kelsang Chokyan
Friday, June 12th to Saturday, June 13th
We understand that throughout this world millions of humans and billions of animals die every day from so many different causes. When we lose a loved one, it can be a difficult and confusing time. Buddha taught a very special practice, called Transference of Consciousness, which gives us the ability to guide the deceased into a higher state of happiness. One of the kindest actions we can perform is to help others in their time of death. When we benefit others out of compassion in this way, our own heart is healed and we experience a profound inner peace.
In the empowerment ceremony, we will receive the powerful blessings of the Buddha of compassion, Avalokiteshvara, which will awaken our compassionate heart and give us great ability to benefit others. In this way, we can make our life very meaningful. Everyone is welcome to join us in this special event, regardless of previous experience.
Schedule
Friday June 12th
7:00pm Teaching 1
Saturday June 13th
9:30am Registration
10:00am Empowerment Ceremony
12:00pm Lunch
2:00pm Teaching 2
3:30pm Refreshments
4:00pm Powa Ceremony
Visit www.MeditationInTampaBay.org for more information.
Held Tight by the Heart of Buddha: Fearless and Free in Fort Myers
A Buddhist Refuge Course
with Resident Teacher JoAnn Lawrence
Saturday, June 20th, 9:00am – 2:00pm
By going for refuge in Buddha as the Spiritual Guide, in his Dharma teachings, sole medicine for the mind, and in Sangha the spiritual community – we become an inner being and finally discover true mental freedom. For some, Refuge Day is an opportunity to receive profound blessings and a chance to begin exploring the richness of this very special spiritual tradition. For others, Refuge Day is a turning point in their lives where they embrace Buddha’s teachings and start traveling the spiritual path as a Buddhist. Also, for those who have attended this day before, it is a chance to receive these blessings once again, and to renew their Refuge vows.
Cost
Requested Donation is $35 ($25 Center sponsors, students/limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch! Note that no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Email info@meditationinfortmyers.org for more information.
Shelter from the Storm in Sarasota
Refuge Course with Mahayana Refuge Ceremony
with Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Demo
Sunday, June 21st, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Buddha taught that all living beings have the fundamental wish to be happy and avoid suffering. Yet, often the things we turn to have no power to fulfill these wishes.
In this workshop we’ll learn how to fulfill these wishes by taking refuge in the Three Jewels – Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
This course is followed by a Refuge Retreat:
June 22 – 27 for anyone who wishes to attend.
Cost
$30
Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 2016 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234 Please call (941) 373-1600 to pre-register, or email info@MeditationInSarasota.org
International Summer Festival 2009 in Ulverston, UK
with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Friday, July 24th to Saturday, August 8th
The Summer Festival is a special spiritual holiday when we receive extensive teachings from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
During the first six days of this, the eighteenth, Summer Festival, Venerable Geshe Kelsang will grant the blessing empowerment of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, and give teachings on Lamrim, the stages of the path to enlightenment.
Venerable Geshe Kelsang will grant the Dorje Shugden empowerment on Saturday July 25th and then give two days of Lamrim teachings. This will be followed by a two-day meditation retreat based on these teachings.
This empowerment and teachings are open to everyone. Thursday July 30th is a free day giving an opportunity to explore the local Lake District countryside, or simply relax. Coach trips are arranged for verseas visitors, which include a short walk, a picnic lunch and a boat trip.
Over the next three days, Venerable Geshe Kelsang will grant the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments of Heruka Body Mandala and Vajrayogini. These will be followed by a two-day Tantric commentary and a three-day retreat.
To attend these teachings and retreat it is necessary to have first received the empowerments of Heruka and Vajrayogini.
Please see the Festival Website for more information.
Vajrapani Empowerment with Gen Kelsang Demo in Sarasota
Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Vajrapani
with Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Demo
Saturday, September 26th to Sunday, September 27th
Vajrapani is a manifestation of the spiritual power of all the Buddhas. He is a powerful ally who can help us gain the power to train our mind both in and out of meditation.
In this special weekend event we’ll have the opportunity to receive the special blessing empowerment of this Buddha and then train in the practice of Buddha Vajrapani in a half day retreat.
Cost
Empowerment $65
Empowerment & Retreat $85
Kadampa Meditation Center, 2016 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234. To pre-register please call (941) 373-1600 or email info@MeditationInSarasota.org
A More Balanced Life in Sarasota
Freedom from the Eight Worldly Concerns
with Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Demo
Sunday, October 25th, 9:30am-2:00pm
It’s easy to develop an exaggerated concern for the comforts of this life such as possessions, respect, pleasure, a good reputation and praise. This causes us to feel overexcited when we have them and dejected or discouraged when we lose them. In this course we will learn how we can develop a stable and balanced approach to these things.
Cost
$30
Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 2016 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234 Please call (941) 373-1600 to pre-register, or email info@MeditationInSarasota.org
Pisces Radiant Life Meditation
February 28, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Full Moon Global Meditation Tuesday, March 10, 2009 7:38 pm PDT / 02:38 UT on March 11
Alignment Continues Through Thursday, March 26, 2009
In preparation for this global meditation SouledOut.org invites you to consider and contemplate a Divine Truth of Deity: the Fact of Immortality and Eternal Persistence. This alignment and meditation are an opportunity to become aware of the cosmic energies that are influencing us now and of the possibilities they offer humanity for spiritual evolution. If you are unable to meditate at the exact time of the full moon, choose a time within 12 hours before or after the full moon to be part of this global meditation. We encourage alignment with these evolutionary energies from new moon to new moon, February 25 through March 26, 2009.
Master Sha Events 2009
February 28, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
As an unconditional universal servant, Master Sha cherishes every opportunity to serve people. There are many opportunities to connect with his divine teachings and experience healing and life transformation with him in person.
*events that Master Sha welcomes every person to attend as an honored guest (usually free and held on weekends or in the evening)
*one- and two-day workshops for those who wish to learn more about his powerful healing modalities and teachings
*six-day Soul Healing and Enlightenment Retreats
Every encounter with Master Sha gives you a taste of his commitment, compassion, humor and complete dedication to the Divine. It is well worth your effort to travel to an event to experience him in person. We cordially invite you to do so. The benefits you will receive are life-changing.
Please view the list below and the calendar of events, which includes ongoing programs.
March 6-8, 2009, The Power of Soul Weekend, Sun Valley/ Ketchum, Idaho
We welcome you and your loved ones to join Master Sha during his first visit to Idaho, March 6-8, 2009. His visit follows the wonderful response to Soul Masters, a documentary featuring the work of Master Sha and Master Guo, shown at the 2008 Sun Valley Film Festival.
March 15, 2009: The Power of Soul Workshop with Master Sha, Toronto, Ontario
Join Master Zhi Gang Sha, inspired teacher, spiritual leader and servant of humanity and the Divine, for an exceptional workshop. Experience Master Sha’s deep love, compassion and joy as he teaches you amazingly-simple Soul Healing techniques from his new book, The Power of Soul: The Way to Heal, Rejuvenate, Transform, and Enlighten All Life.
March 20-22, 2009: Soul Wisdom and Soul Healing Workshop with Master Sha at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Heal the soul first, and transformation of every aspect of life will follow. This is the foundation of Zhi Gang Sha’s life-transforming message. In this powerful and highly interactive workshop, you will learn simple Soul Healing techniques described in his New York Times best-selling book, Soul Wisdom: Practical Soul Treasures to Transform Your Life. Join Master Sha in Stockbridge.
April 7-9, 2009: Soul Healing Teacher and Healer Retreat in Toronto, Ontario
April 10-13, 2009: Soul Healing and Enlightenment Retreat in Toronto, Ontario
April 14-16, 2009: Divine Rejuvenation and Longevity Retreat in Toronto, Ontario
April 24-26, 2009: New Living Expo in San Francisco, California
The New Living Expo remains the must-attend, integrative event for exploring possibilities and learning the latest breakthroughs in science and alternative medicine. This show offers vast networking opportunities to “meet and greet” while enjoying the new discoveries for restoring the body, heightening the mind, and awakening the spirit. Join Master Sha in San Francisco
May 20-24, 2009: Soul Healing and Enlightenment Retreat in Frankfurt, Germany
At this profound and sacred retreat, you will receive divine blessings constantly to open your spiritual channels and purify your soul, heart, mind and body. You will learn simple, joyful and powerful ways to heal, bless and transform yourself and others. You will learn soul secrets, wisdom, knowledge and practices, and experience soul healing to clear your blockages and transform every aspect of your life. Heal the soul first; then healing of the mind and body will follow. Enlighten the soul first; then enlightenment of the mind and body will follow. – Master Zhi Gang Sha Join Master Sha in Frankfurt, Germany
Vipassana Santa Cruz Events
February 24, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The Jewel of Awakening — Annual Sangha Five-Day Retreat
Mindfulness meditation is a simple technique offered by the Buddha for awakening the mind and heart. This retreat will be a time of silence, with periods of sitting and walking practice, opportunities to talk about your own practice, and formal presentations. It will be suitable for both beginners and experienced meditators.
Please refer to the retreat brochure for information about the teachers, the costs, and other details.
When: May 20 – 25, 2009
Teachers: Mary Grace Orr, Bob Stahl, and Carla Brennan with Marcy Reynolds leading qigong.
Location: Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, CA.
Registration: to register, you must download and complete two forms:
Note that we are accepting registration only from those who are currently practicing with Vipassana Santa Cruz or with Bob Stahl, or those who have previously attended a VSC retreat. After March 31, we will open the registration to others who are interested.
Living examples of illness, aging and death, were 3 of the 4 “heavenly messengers” sent to the Buddha to awaken him to reality of the human condition. He saw that everyone is subject to impermanence in the form of sickness, old age and dying. The fourth messenger showed that there is a path to freedom and an end to suffering. Our culture says that you must be young and healthy to be happy; Buddhism tells us that happiness and freedom come from within, not from external circumstances.
When we are feeling fit and well we can easily forget this truth. When we experience illness or disability, then the limitations, vulnerability, and imperfection of existence and the brevity of our human life are obvious. We can take advantage of this to develop understanding and compassion and to reveal the deep teachings of the dharma.
In this monthly, ongoing, drop-in group, we look at these messengers in our own lives. You are welcomed to attend whether you have an illness, disability or chronic pain or are dealing with the usual array of physical or emotional challenges of human life.
We begin the session with a 30-minute meditation (you are welcome to lie down or move to accommodate pain). Through our mindfulness practice we learn to connect with and accept ourselves as we are, to be present with our experience without reactivity and to be able to spaciously “hold” all our joys and sorrows.
The rest of the session includes teachings, discussion and sharing. We will explore both how the teachings help us work skillfully with our difficulties and how our difficulties can teach us wisdom and compassion. Some of the topics discussed included: developing greater acceptance, kindness, compassion for oneself, facing fear, working with anger and resistance.
Often in daily life we feel we must hide our chronic challenges so that we do not burden (or bore) others. In this group, we can share the truth of our experience and find others who understand our situation.
When: First Monday of the month (noon – 1:45PM)
Teachers: Bob Stahl, Carla Brennan and others.
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.
We are lucky to have many Buddhist centers and teachers in Santa Cruz in addition to our own at Vipassana Santa Cruz. We are inviting various of these teachers to come and speak at VSC during late 2008 and 2009. Each evening will be facilitated by a Vipassana Santa Cruz teacher and will feature a presentation by a guest teacher. Each guest will talk about their lineage and their own form of practice; each will lead a short period of guided meditation. This will be a wonderful opportunity to explore the many influences that are currently shaping American Buddhist practice.
Teacher Bios:
Friday, March 6: Jon Landaw. Jon has been a student of Buddhism for nearly 40 years, He has worked as a translator and editor for important Tibetan texts, as well as being an author himself. His works include “Prince Siddhartha”, a biography of Buddha for children, “Buddhism for Dummies”, and “Images of Enlightenment”. As an instructor of Buddhist meditation, he has taught in numerous Dharma centers throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere. He currently lives in Capitola, with his wife and three children, and leads the Discovering Buddhism courses at Land of Medicine Buddha.
When: Friday, March 6 (7:00 – 9:00 PM)
Teachers: Jon Landaw, facilitated by Mary Grace Orr – March 6
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.
Consciousness can be described as having both feminine and masculine qualities. To be fully human and fully awake we need to have both these aspects in balance. Our culture, over the centuries, has devalued both women and the feminine archetype associated with them.
Because of this devaluing of the feminine, many women have lost touch with these parts of themselves or have felt unseen and unacknowledged for who they really are. It is important for women to reclaim the energy of the awakened feminine archetype to feel whole and empowered.
Although Buddhism often carries some of the biases of the patriarchal cultures where it is found, there is also a rich history of powerful feminine divine beings such as Prajnaparamita, Tara and Kuan Yin.
During this daylong we will go beyond the stereotypes and explore the feminine aspects of our consciousness and honor those qualities within us. There will be meditations, discussions and experiential exercises.
Wear comfortable clothing, bring a lunch and bring an image of the divine feminine to place on the altar.
When: Saturday, March 7 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Teachers: Carla Brennan
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.
“The hard truth is that spiritual realization is relatively easy compared with the much greater difficulty of actualizing it, integrating it fully into the fabric of one’s embodiment and one’s daily life.” – John Welwood
This group will explore the process of integrating our insights and wisdom into daily life; we will also investigate what blocks this integration. We will use a chapter with the same title from John Welwood’s book, “Toward a Psychology of Awakening”. John Welwood is psychologist, psychotherapist and longtime meditator and has been on the forefront of combining Eastern and Western psychologies. During this class, we will investigate:
The chapter is about 33 pages long; it will be made available as a downloadable PDF file or you can buy the book (it is Chapter 14).
When: Fridays 9:15 – 11:45am: February 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20
Teacher: Carla Brennan
Registration: Registration required. Contact Carla at: carlabren@gmail.com. Please only register if you can make most of the classes. Carla will be in Southeast Asia until Feb. 1, so she may not return emails immediately.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.
This day will weave together alternating strands of silent and guided meditation, and gentle qigong movements with just enough group discussion to help ground the experiences. It will be a day of self-discovery as we deepen our practice of mindfulness of the body, opening to embracing whatever we find there. All abilities and practice levels are welcome. This may be an especially good workshop for those wanting to try day-long practice, but have concerns about not being able to sit for long periods.
When: Sunday, March 29 (9:30am – 4:30pm)
Teacher: Marcy Reynolds
Registration: No registration required
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.
Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself, others by first do no harm or take no more than you need. What if the mightiest word is love?
Love beyond marital, filial, national, love that casts a widening pool of light love with no need to pre-empt grievance?
Elizabeth Alexander, from the inaugural poem.
We will explore the powerful practice of metta, (loving kindness,universal friendliness ) through chanting, sitting, walking, stories, and discussion.. We will rediscover our innate capacity: “abundant, exalted, immeasurable” to live with a heart free of “hatred and ill will”.
When: Saturday, April 4 (9:30am – 4:00pm)
Teacher: Jill Hyman
Registration: No registration required
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.
The meditation on the four primary elements supports one to penetrate beyond the normal level of conceptual labels and categories. One begins to connect directly with the elements of solidity, liquidity, motion, and temperature within the body and discover their intrinsically impermanent and insubstantial natures.
When: Saturday, April 18 (9:30 – 4:30)
Teacher: Bob Stahl.
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.
We are happy to announce a very special and rare opportunity to practice the Thirty-Two Parts of the Body meditation that is being offered by Vipassana Santa Cruz. In the Buddhist tradition, this mediation practice takes 33 weeks to complete.
The methodical practice of the Thirty-two Parts of the Body Meditation can help one penetrate and understand the true nature of the body. To see impermanence and comprehend that the body is made from the four primary elements of earth (solidity), air (motion), fire (temperature), and water (liquidity). This methodical practice of the Thirty-two Parts of the Body Meditation can build immense levels of concentration, potentialities for healing, and experience the taste of deep freedom and peace.
Through systematic investigation the body is deconstructed into its constituent parts. Our attachment to and identification with the body as being permanent loosens as the meditator develops deep insight into its nature and the nature of all experience.
What is said about the benefits of practicing the 32 Parts of the Body Meditation?
When: Free Intro. Class Monday Oct. 6. After that, every Monday evening, Oct. 13 – June 8, 2009 (7:00 – 8:30PM) NOTE: No class on Dec. 29
Teacher: Bob Stahl.
Prerequisites for taking this Class: This practice is for serious students of mindfulness meditation that are able to keep the multi-month commitment to practice. It is recommended to come as many of the weekly classes as possible.
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: According to the Buddhist tradition, the teachings of the Dhamma are priceless; therefore one is welcome to make an offering that is suitable for their means. No one will be turned away.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.
