The third of a series of evenings exploring how we can deepen our practice of creating and contributing to Sangha.

Amitasuri writes -
’Sangharakshita maintains that in practising Buddhism we need other people to learn from. Buddhism, he argues, is best ‘caught’ not taught. He believes that our relationships with teachers and fellow practitioners must be characterised by honesty and clear communication. He also stresses the value of friendships with peers, in particular having at least one friend (not a lover) with whom we can be intimate and completely open.

This evening I will explore with our Sangha to what extent we believe we need “at least one friend with whom we can be completely open”, or indeed spiritual friendship at all, to practice the Spiritual Life.

And what do we need to do, practically, to have, or to be, a Spiritual friend?’

We’re Nottingham Buddhist Centre’s young Buddhist group. We get together monthly to meditate and practice the dharma together. That means meditation, tea, and talking about life’s biggest questions from a Buddhist perspective, and sometimes vegan cake. We try to approach things like ethics and meditation in ways that are practical but rooted in deep principles.

Gareth, Sadie, Pippa, Jess

The fourth of a series of evenings exploring how we can deepen our practice of creating and contributing to Sangha.

Bodhinaya writes - ‘I’ll be reflecting on my experience of spiritual friendship with gratitude to those who have helped so far on my journey as a Buddhist.’

As part of our Dharma Day celebrations, we will have two talks exploring the fundamental teachings of the Dharma.

Tonight, Saccanama will explore what is purportedly the very first teaching of the Buddha after his Enlightenment - what is usually called the ‘First Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma’ (in the Dhammaccakapavatana Sutta).

Communicating with his five former ascetic friends and followers, the Buddha, fresh from his Awakening experience, tells them of the Middle Way between sensual indulgence and ascetic self-denial and goes on to teach them the Four Noble Truths.

We will look at the relevance of these teachings to us in our very different circumstances from the Buddha. There will also be the opportunity for questions and discussion at the end.

You can read a translation of the original Sutta here.

Puja, or Buddhist devotional practice, can be a transformative experience as it helps to connect us with our shared ideal as Buddhists practicing together. Set up your weekend with some devotional practice, meditation and just sitting. 

Led by Bodhinaya

Interested in finding out more about meditation and Buddhism? Would you like to look around our centre, have a go at meditation, do some yoga or simply just grab a cup of tea and have a chat? 

Come along on one of our Open Doors Saturdays when Nottingham Buddhist Centre opens from 10.30am-1.30pm. This is an opportunity to see and explore the Centre, meet people, and spend time in the shrine room. On each morning, we offer a number of activities -

Bodhi Yoga with Kshantika 11.00-12.00

Bodhi Yoga, a simple yoga-based body work practice to deepen our body, mind, heart connection to support our meditation and Buddhist practice on and off the cushion.

Meditation Drop in 12.00-13.00

A class open to all, whether you are new to meditation or already have a meditation practice. If you are new to meditation there will be an opportunity to learn one of the two meditation practices we teach: the Mindfulness of Breathing or the Metta Bhavana (Development of Loving Kindness). 

Feel free to drop in for any activity. No need to book.

A day to mark the anniversary of the Buddha’s first communication of his awakening experience.

We will spend the morning reflecting on our own connection with the Dharma and in what ways it has affected us. And we will also explore how we would like to see the Dharma addressing the many issues that comfront our world at this present time.

After lunch, Karunavaca, Satyamegha and Harry Martin will give their thoughts on the question - ‘How can the Dharma address the problems in the world around us?’

And we will conclude the day with a puja and the Mitra ceremony of Ian Roberts.

Programme

10.00 Arrive

!0.15 Morning of reflection and meditation on the Dharma led by Saccanama. Please come for the whole morning.

1.00 Lunch - please bring vegan food to share.

2.15 Three talks by Karunavaca, Satyamegha and Harry Martin.

3.30 Dharma Day Puja and Mitra ceremony for Ian Roberts.

5.00 Finsh

Buddhafield Festival is a joyful gathering of around 4,000 people, celebrating community and connection with the land. Song, dance, arts and crafts, yoga, live music, meditation, and play blend together without drink or drugs to create a loving and life-affirming space. There will be Buddhist teaching, workshops and ritual, under sun and stars. The Festival is family-friendly and open to everyone, however you practice.

Lots of us from the Nottingham Sangha will be going and camping together. Please let us know if you want to be part of this.

https://www.buddhafield.com/buddhafield-festival-2019

As part of our Dharma Day celebrations, we will have two talks exploring the fundamental teachings of the Dharma.

Tonight, Saccanama will explore what is purportedly the second teaching of the Buddha after his Enlightenment - the teaching on no fixed self from the Anatta Lakkhana Sutta.

Having brought his five ascetic friends to the point of stream entry (irreversible spiritual progress) by teaching them the Middle Way and the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha now reveals to them his Insight into anatta or no fixed self, whereby they all attain to Nibbana.

But what is this mysterious teaching of no fixed self? And how is it relevant to us?

You can read a translation of the original Sutta here.

Triratna is not just an English Buddhist movement but has centres in all 6 continents of the world. Here in Nottingham, largely due to Aryavacin’s presence, we have a strong connection with our brothers and sisters in the Dharma in Venezuela.

And to celebrate the second anniversary of our twinning with the Mérida Buddhist Centre in Venezuela, Yashodeva will be sharing his experience of visiting there earlier this year. He spent 4 weeks practising and living with the Sangha in Merida amidst the challenges that the socio-economic and political crisis going on in the country impose upon them.

We’re Nottingham Buddhist Centre’s young Buddhist group. We get together monthly to meditate and practice the dharma together. That means meditation, tea, and talking about life’s biggest questions from a Buddhist perspective, and sometimes vegan cake. We try to approach things like ethics and meditation in ways that are practical but rooted in deep principles.

Gareth, Sadie, Pippa, Jess

Back in April, we said goodbye to Siobhan Ford as she prepared for her 3-month ordination retreat at Akashavana in the Spanish mountains. She gave a very moving talk from her about her journey to ordination and we ritually marked her leaving in a puja.

This evening, we welcome her back to Nottingham as Padmasakhi - ‘the Lotus Friend’.

Khemasiri will be leading an evening of ritual and celebration as we welcome Padmasakhi back to the Nottingham Buddhist Centre.

Interested in finding out more about meditation and Buddhism? Would you like to look around our centre, have a go at meditation, do some yoga or simply just grab a cup of tea and have a chat? 

Come along on one of our Open Doors Saturdays when Nottingham Buddhist Centre opens from 10.30am-1.30pm. This is an opportunity to see and explore the Centre, meet people, and spend time in the shrine room. On each morning, we offer a number of activities -

Bodhi Yoga with Kshantika 11.00-12.00

Bodhi Yoga, a simple yoga-based body work practice to deepen our body, mind, heart connection to support our meditation and Buddhist practice on and off the cushion.

Meditation Drop in 12.00-13.00

A class open to all, whether you are new to meditation or already have a meditation practice. If you are new to meditation there will be an opportunity to learn one of the two meditation practices we teach: the Mindfulness of Breathing or the Metta Bhavana (Development of Loving Kindness). 

Feel free to drop in for any activity. No need to book.

Puja, or Buddhist devotional practice, can be a transformative experience as it helps to connect us with our shared ideal as Buddhists practicing together. Set up your weekend with some devotional practice, meditation and just sitting. 

Led by Bodhinaya

Many of us from Nottingham will be going to the -

Triratna International Gathering 2019: Alchemy of the Dharma

Adhisthana, 22-26 August 2019

Alchemy is the magical art of turning base materials into gold, a potent metaphor for what we are trying to do in our Dharma lives. How do we transform the ‘base material’ of ourselves, our spiritual community, and the wider society into ‘gold’, into ‘personal’ riches, shared riches and the sustaining riches of loving wisdom?

This biennial event at Adhisthana, UK, brings together large numbers of the Triratna Buddhist Community from around Europe for a feast of inspiration, stimulation and fun - all are welcome, including children.

Booking is now open: https://adhisthana.org/retreat/?ev=339

More details will be posted here as things firm up but there will certainly be:

• excellent Dharma talks exploring the theme

• music, artistic endeavours, philosophical explorations

• study, discussion, hanging out, meditation, puja 

• Buddhafield’s structures for a variety of events

• weather! hopefully pleasant as a mostly camping event, but every day is a fine day!

To give you more of an impression, here is a link to a video from the International Gathering 2014: https://vimeo.com/111102046

Puja, or Buddhist devotional practice, can be a transformative experience as it helps to connect us with our shared ideal as Buddhists practicing together. Set up your weekend with some devotional practice, meditation and just sitting. 

Led by Bodhinaya

Padmasambhava is one of the great mythical/historical figures in the Buddhist tradition and is famous for transforming the demons of Tibet so that they supported the practice of the Dharma in that country.

Parami will lead a weekend exploring the figure of Padmasambhava and particularly his role in transforming our demons, both inner and outer.

This retreat will be held at the Nottingham Buddhist Centre on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September - please attend for both days.

Arrive from 10.00 a.m. both days for a 10.15 start. Finish will be at approximately 5.00 each day.

Please bring vegan food to share for lunch.

Suggested donation of £50 but please come and give what you can.

To reserve a place on this event click here. Whilst we don’t ask for a donation to reserve your place, we do ask that you take your booking seriously and plan to come for the whole weekend.

Puja, or Buddhist devotional practice, can be a transformative experience as it helps to connect us with our shared ideal as Buddhists practicing together. Set up your weekend with some devotional practice, meditation and just sitting. 

Led by Bodhinaya

Interested in finding out more about meditation and Buddhism? Would you like to look around our centre, have a go at meditation, do some yoga or simply just grab a cup of tea and have a chat? 

Come along on one of our Open Doors Saturdays when Nottingham Buddhist Centre opens from 10.30am-1.30pm. This is an opportunity to see and explore the Centre, meet people, and spend time in the shrine room. On each morning, we offer a number of activities -

Bodhi Yoga with Kshantika 11.00-12.00

Bodhi Yoga, a simple yoga-based body work practice to deepen our body, mind, heart connection to support our meditation and Buddhist practice on and off the cushion.

Meditation Drop in 12.00-13.00

A class open to all, whether you are new to meditation or already have a meditation practice. If you are new to meditation there will be an opportunity to learn one of the two meditation practices we teach: the Mindfulness of Breathing or the Metta Bhavana (Development of Loving Kindness). 

Feel free to drop in for any activity. No need to book.

Interested in finding out more about meditation and Buddhism? Would you like to look around our centre, have a go at meditation, do some yoga or simply just grab a cup of tea and have a chat? 

Come along on one of our Open Doors Saturdays when Nottingham Buddhist Centre opens from 10.30am-1.30pm. This is an opportunity to see and explore the Centre, meet people, and spend time in the shrine room. On each morning, we offer a number of activities -

Bodhi Yoga with Kshantika 11.00-12.00

Bodhi Yoga, a simple yoga-based body work practice to deepen our body, mind, heart connection to support our meditation and Buddhist practice on and off the cushion.

Meditation Drop in 12.00-13.00

A class open to all, whether you are new to meditation or already have a meditation practice. If you are new to meditation there will be an opportunity to learn one of the two meditation practices we teach: the Mindfulness of Breathing or the Metta Bhavana (Development of Loving Kindness). 

Feel free to drop in for any activity. No need to book.