As part of a series of 3 evenings in the run-up to our residential Sangha Retreat at Castleton over the Easter weekend, we will be exploring one of the great figures of the Buddhist tradition - the Tibetan Yogi and singer of songs, Milarepa.

Picking up on a theme from one of Sangharakshita’s seminars on the Songs of Milarepa, Saccanama will explore the notion of a gestalt or archetypal pattern that can inform our unfolding spiritual life.

The dictionary definition of gestalt is ‘something that is made of many parts and yet is somehow more than or different from the combination of its parts’ but Sangharakshita sees it, poetically speaking, as a transcendental pattern that can be lived out in time and space.

‘The gestalt represents the reflection of the dharmakāya (ultimate reality) in the individual’ - Sangharakshita.

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.

How can we find stillness?

In the middle of our lives, where so often we feel pulled about by inner and outer events … where demands seem to come from all sides continuously … where feelings, impressions, ideas, even ideals keep us charged and running … Where is stillness to be found?

Is it just essential to pull down the shutters at times, totally withdraw, keep everything out - or are there other possibilities? Are movement and stillness opposites? 

In this workshop we will have phases of movement, and phases of meditation, following on from one another. Easy physical improvisational exercises will help us to become more present and mindful, and at the same time open us up to more light and joy. This will then enrich our attention within and outside of meditation to be saturated with deeper interest and the spirit of discovery. 

The workshop is called ‘Dancing the Unknown’ because we discover that every movement we make leads us to somewhere we do not know!

Jayachitta has been interested in the intrinsic connection between joy, freedom and meditation for many years - on and off the cushion. She particularly enjoys deepening this research with other meditators, and keeps on learning and discovering more aspects of this work.

This workshop is open to all, whether you have previous experience in meditation, or dance, or improvisation or not. It invites all levels of ability.

This is a two-day workshop Saturday and Sunday 30/31st March 10.30 - 4.30 both days.

Suggested Donation £65

Please bring vegetarian/vegan food to share for lunch.

For more details, have a look at Jayachitta’s website http://dancingtheunknown.wixsite.com/improvisation 

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 chance for the whole Sangha to come together, hear about how the Centre is doing, how it runs, and how you might get more involved with the spiritual community around the Centre.

We will start early (at 6.15 p.m.) with what used to affectionately be known as ‘spud night’ - i.e. the Centre will provide baked potatoes for all and everybody else brings other vegan food to share.

Then at 7.30 p.m. there will be some presentations about the Centre and some rejoicings. And information about upcoming events and plans.

Then there will be cake and Saccanama will be making soya chai for everyone.

And we will conclude the evening with a Sevenfold Puja led by the President of the Nottingham Buddhist Centre, Ratnaghosha, who will be visiting us for the occasion.

We would like as many people as possible to come for this important event.

As part of a series of 3 evenings in the run-up to our residential Sangha Retreat at Castleton over the Easter weekend, we will be exploring one of the great figures of the Buddhist tradition - the Tibetan Yogi and singer of songs, Milarepa.

Tonight, Khemasiri will lead an evening on exploring and deepening our meditation practice, drawing inspiration from Milarepa and the Triratna tradition. 

She writes - ‘The practice of meditation played a significant role in Milarepa’s life and in his progress on the spiritual path. He was a highly advanced and dedicated meditator. 

Some of us see ourselves as natural meditators, some of us don’t see ourselves as such. What does having a dedicated meditation practise mean? What part does meditation play in our life and practice? Is meditation important for Insight?’

This Sangha night we’ll explore some of these questions.

This is our annual residential retreat at Castleton in the Peak District. We will be joined by people from the Leicester Sangha and the retreat will be led by Khemasiri, Alobhin, Aryavacin and Saccanama.

We will be exploring the teachings of the great Tibetan Yogi Milarepa. Aryavacin writes - 

‘Milarepa lived in eleventh century Tibet, and after a dark, unskillful youth, went on to live a radical Dharma life as a hermit in the Tibetan mountains, following an inspirational path of meditation and solitude dedicated to Enlightenment. Join us on this long weekend retreat, at the heart of the Peak District, dwelling in the wisdom from some of Milarepa's songs, enjoying his distinctive style of teaching and some humorous episodes from his life.’

Cost £120 which includes 3 nights accommodation and all meals etc. If this is too much for you, please contact us to talk about a concession and we will do what we can to accommodate you.

Śrivajrī shares photos of her recent 5 week train trip around Kyushu, Japan.

Visiting sacred sites few western tourists get to visit, including the world heritage sites in Kyushu where various Stone Buddhas have been carved in the rocks...such wonderful mysterious places full of atmosphere. 

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.

Buddha Day is our annual celebration of the Buddha’s Enlightenment which traditionally took place on the full moon night of Wesak, corresponding to the month of May in the UK.

It is the hence the most important date in the Buddhist year and we will be celebrating it with a day of meditation, devotion, talks etc at the Buddhist Centre

For those who wish to join us, we will then be camping that evening up at Bestwood Park with an evening puja and early morning dawn chorus walk.

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 on empathy, the theme of Shantigarbha's recent book, I'll Meet You There: a practical guide to empathy, mindfulness and communication published by Windhorse Publications. Read the first chapter and order the paperback and e-book here.

Shantigarbha shows how we connect with each other in the space that opens up when we let go of our ideas of good and bad, right and wrong. To empathize with others, we need to learn how to empathize with ourselves, so that when we reach out, we do so from the inside out. Empathy is the missing piece in developing compassion. Empathy personalises compassion and gives it traction in the world. 

 - guided empathy reflections from Shantigarbha's book 
 - empathy stories from the life of the Buddha 
 - practical exercises to help you develop your listening skills. 

Open to all 'levels'.

Shantigarbha is a certified Nonviolent Communication trainer and a senior Order member. For more about his work, visit:www.SeedofPeace.org

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

We will be celebrating Dharma Day, marking the Buddha’s first teaching of the Dharma, with a day retreat at the Buddhist Centre. More details nearer the time.

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

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