Sydney
Practice Centre
7 McDonald Street
Balmain NSW 2041
Contact
Tanya Gebbie
tanyageb@bigpond.net.au
Telephone: +61 2 (0)402 258 230
Regular study & practice
Shamatha
(followed by a DVD of
Rinpoches recent teachings)
Date: TBA
Place: 7 McDonald Street, Balmain
Time: 4 - 6 pm - starting with a brief instruction on Shamatha, followed by sitting practice & 30 minutes of Rinpoche's recorded teachings.
Contact: Bridget on 9818 2650 or bridgetgebbie@bigpond.com
Feast & Celebration Days
Place: 37 Susan St, Annandale
Time:
6.30
Set up for a 7pm start
BYO: Cushions and Tsog offering.
Contact: Tanya 0402 258 230
or tanyageb@bigpond.net.au
Special Events in 2012
Blue Mountains: Vipashyana retreat
September 6-11
The practice of Buddhist meditation allows us to uncover and
experience our natural heritage of wisdom though cultivating vipashyana
or insight. Meditation allows us to dismantle the grip of our projections, and
awaken to a clearer and wider perspective on our reality. Retreat is an
invaluable moment of dedicating space and time to clarify and re-affirm our
commitment to the vision and path of meditation.
All-Day Reading of "Bardo Thodol"
September 14
A day of reading the classic Tibetan text Bardo Thödröl -
Liberation through Hearing in the Intermediate State. This work is read
aloud for deceased practitioners of meditation as a reminder of their previous
training and practice. The present reading session informs and clarifies our
practice, as well as enables us to familiarise ourselves with this text when
helping others who may be dying or already deceased. The term 'bardo' refers to
the space or gap that occurs when one situation changes into another. For the
practitioner of meditation, such gaps provide opportunities for shedding
patterns and habits and recognising our unconditional ground of wisdom, and
specifically the time of dying is seen as a crucial moment for liberation
through the recognition of this nature. We will use the translation by Gyurme
Dorje (Penguin, 2005).
Venues & contact details will be posted closer to each event
Workshops & Seminars in 2012
CHOOSING THE CAUSES OF HAPPINESS AND FREEDOM Cycle One
Workshop - Introduction
Saturday April 21, 10am-5pm
We can
discover happiness and freedom beyond our ordinary limitations by working
constructively with, and mastering, our present attitudes and actions. This
mastery is neither exclusive to some people "who just have it", nor
is it due to supernatural powers. Rather, according to the Buddha, it comes
from becoming aware of, and working with, our existing internal and external
conditions. Buddhist knowledge and meditation provides the insight and freedom
to work with these conditions. This introductory workshop will offer a
theoretical overview in the morning and the practical foundations of meditation
in the afternoon.
PRACTICE OF THE BUDDHASADHANA Cycle Two
Workshop - Buddhist Studies
Sunday April 22, 10am-5pm
The
Tibetan sage Mipam Rinpoche (1846-1912) wrote a beautiful sadhana that
commemorates the Buddha, and Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991) wrote
an explanation on it that includes teachings on the stages of shamatha-
or mindfulness meditation. In addition to providing general and specific
instruction on the practice of mindfulness and insight meditation, as well as
specific instruction on this particular practice, the workshop will also allow
for group practice of the Buddha Sadhana, with time for questions and
discussion.
SHRINE AND FEAST PRACTICE Cycle Three
Workshop - Practice Assembly
Monday April 23, 7pm-9pm
First
will be a practical introduction to the practice of keeping a shrine,
describing the elements of body, speech, and mind, as well as the details
associated with shrine practice. Next, a practical overview of the purpose and
relevance of feast, or tsok practice, and how it is done - specifically
according to Mipam Rinpoche‟s Seven Line Sadhana.
JOINING MEANS AND WISDOM THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF SADHANA Cycle Three
Workshop - Practice Assembly
Thursday September 13, 6pm-8pm
While
all Buddhist meditation provides the conditions for the cultivation of prajna
or wisdom, Vajrayana sadhana also integrates all our experiences as upaya
or skilful means. In this way our entire existence is brought on to the
path. All the details of the practice of sadhana serves three purposes: to purify
our confused projections, perfect the qualities we naturally
possess, and mature us on the path. This evening will offer some
reminders of your sadhana instructions.
THE SKILL OF COMPASSION Cycle One Workshop
- Introduction
Saturday, September 15, 10am-5pm
The
compassionate caring for our world is the natural manifestation of our innate
wisdom and liberation. The path of compassion cultivates such openness through
both during meditation sessions and in our ordinary life. We can liberate our
heart and take hold of a natural inheritance of wisdom and compassion, making
the path of awakening complete.
SAMANTABHADRA'S VISION Cycle Two Workshop
- Buddhist Studies
Sunday, September 16, 10am-5pm
The
Aspiration of Samtabhadra is a profound and provocative Tibetan prayer from the Great
Perfection teachings. It provides both the Big Picture as well as being a
profound meditation instruction. It shows how all of our painful or pleasant
experiences can be seen as either delusional projections or as awakened wisdom
display. It clearly explains the conditions that bring about the delusion of samsara,
the way to penetrate such delusion, and how we can formulate the enlightened
wish to pro-actively work for others.
Venues & contact details will be posted closer to each event