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Buddhist Meditation 101 ~ Core Practices of Buddhist Meditation ~ Introduction to meditation
~ Silent Meditation ~ Great Prayer Day ~ Tara Tuesdays
~ Lama Chöpa ~ Tibetan Calendar dates ~ Tantra Groups
Buddhist Meditation 101
Thursdays 11, 18, March, 1, 8, 15 April 11am -12.30pm and again from 7.30pm - 9.pm
Suggested donation £25 or £5 per session
Buddhist Meditation 101 is an introductory course on basic Buddhist meditation techniques for complete beginners. It teaches basic Buddhist meditations that can be used by anyone to create more peace and happiness in daily life.
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Core practices of Buddhist Meditation-
The wholesome emotions (Brahma viharas) of loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity
15 February - 29 March and 12 - 26 April
Mondays 7.30 and MeditationPractice Day Saturday 10 April from 10am - 5pm
Suggested donation £5 and £30 for the Mediatationpractice day (includes lunch).
Please register in advance for the day
If you are a student, click here to get the documents for the class
This
is a weekly class that runs through the year. For newcomers it provides
a comprehensive introduction to the core practices of Buddhist
meditation, and for those with previous experience it provides an
opportunity to deepen meditation practice.
The course focuses on three core themes of Buddhist meditation:
- Shamatha (steady, clear and calm concentration)
- Brahma Viharas (loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity)
- Vipashyana (developing wisdom through insight)
The
classes work as a structured and progressive course for those who wish
to commit to the whole year. Alternatively, you would be welcome to
drop in to any class when it suits you.
The first
theme deals with shamatha, the foundation practice of developing
meditative concentration, or ‘calm abiding’. Through this practice you
will learn how to skilfully deal with different habitual mind-states,
such as restlessness, agitation, distractedness, dullness, and
compulsive rumination, and learn how to rest the awareness on a chosen
object of attention with stability and clarity. The class will
introduce relevant theory as found in the Indo-Tibetan tradition, but
the emphasis will be, as in each theme in this course, on the actual
meditation practice. Practical matters around setting up a daily
practice, including time and place for meditation, meditation postures
and lifestyle considerations are also discussed.
The second
theme presents traditional methods of accessing, broadening and
developing wholesome emotions. The classes will primarily be working to
develop the four immeasurables, - love, compassion, empathetic joy and
equanimity, by following traditional meditations found in the early
Buddhist teachings. Known as the bramha viharas, or ‘divine
abidings’ this practice reveals and counters the mental factors that
cause animosity, greed and indifference in the way we relate to
ourselves and others, thereby further aiding the awareness to settle in
deeply wholesome, healing mental states leading to profound balance and
well being.
The final theme is vipashyana, the
cultivation of insight into the ultimate nature of reality. The
previous practices of shamatha and the brahma
viharas help to bring a steadiness, warmth and equanimity of heart
and mind, which is now turned towards the practice of looking deeply
within your immediate experience to inquire into its true nature. The
core Buddhist practice of mindfulness will be introduced and
developed in reference to the early Buddhist discourse,
the Satipatthana Sutta (‘the four foundations of
mindfulness’). Through this practice and supporting theory you will be
introduced to ways of meeting the experience of body and mind with
greater clarity and understanding so as to learn how the conditions for
suffering arise, and how to release yourself of these processes.
Practical instruction will be given on how to skillfully handle
challenges to meditation such as proliferation of thought, pain, and
overwhelming emotion, as well as how to develop the introspective
tools, such as mindfulness, introspection, equanimity, and analysis,
all for cultivating the wisdom insight into the Buddhist teaching of
selflessness that roots out ignorance and brings an end to suffering.
Introduction to Meditation-
FREE ENTRANCE
Monday 1 February
7.30pm - 9.00pm
Are
you curious about meditation? Come along to this free evening to learn one of
the most effective methods to calm your mind and relax your body. No previous
experience is required. Just bring along some comfortable clothes because we
will be sitting on cushions (but chairs are available).
Meditation can help you:
*relax
*gain concentration
*develop positive feelings like compassion, love and wisdom
You don't have to be of a particular faith to practice meditation. Everyone is
welcome!
 Silent Meditation Group
Thursdays 6.15pm - 7.15pm, voluntary donation
(Check calendar for dates)
London is a busy city and you sometimes need a quiet space to
calm your mind and cultivate awareness. This meditation space at Jamyang is ideal for
this purpose. This group will give you an opportunity to deepen your
meditation practice and experience the benefits of doing it regularly in a
group. The sessions are very simple, with no instruction and lots of time
to practice in silence.
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Great Prayer Day - celebrating Buddha's energy
27 - 28 February
8am - 6pm
Free entrance
One of the four main holy days in Tibetan Buddhism the full moon day of the first Tibetan month is used to commemorate the miraculous deeds of the Buddha Shakyamuni near the city of Sravasti in North India and his display of magical powers that went on for days.
In the Geluk tradition this day is the final day of prayers and teachings that run from the eighth to the fifteenth of the month – the great prayer festival first introduced in Lhasa in the fifteenth century by the founder of our tradition Je Rinpoche Lama Tsongkhapa.
Schedule for Saturday
8.00 Motivation and majayana precepts
9.15 Shakyauni Buddha puja
10.30 Vajrasattva puja
11.30 Lunch
12.30 Personal practice
2.15 Chenrezig Puja
3.15 Tea break
4.00 Silent Mediation
5.00 Tara Puja with prayers and dedications
6.00 End
Schedule for Sunday
10.00 Motivation
10.15 Shakyauni Buddha puja
11.15 Tea break
11.45 Vajrasattva puja
12.45 Lunch
1.15 Personal practice
2.00 Chenrezig Puja
3.00 Tea break
3.30 Tara Puja with prayers and dedications
4.30 End
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Tara Tuesdays
Tuesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 February 2,9, 16, 23, 30 March 06, 13, 20, 27 April
Green Tara Puja 11.00am – 12.00pm
Four mandala offerings to Khadiravani Tara Puja 4.00pm to 6.00pm
A chance to practice together in community focusing on the liberating energy of all the enlightened ones that grants fearlessness, embodied in the mother goddess Tara in her aspects as Green Tara and as Khadiravani Tara. The Taras bestow protection, liberating energy, resources and wisdom.
Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended that we regularly do the four mandala offering ritual. He and others have stressed that, in this Centre at this time, we should emphasise Tara practice; for the benefit of the people connected to our Centre and our work.
If you are free in the morning why not try out the morning puja (ceremony)
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Lama Chöpa with Tsok Puja
• all levels •
8 February, 25 March, 23 April
7.30pm – 9.00pm
A ritual celebration of the kindness of our teachers and of the teachers in the lineages lying behind them. The focus is on Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Geluk, Shakyamuni the founder of Buddhism, and Vajradhara the tantric aspect of the Buddha. A short tsok puja is included for those with the highest yoga tantra commitment. Please feel free to bring flowers, food or drink to offer at the altar.
Tsok Puja
Highest Yoga tantra initiates only
24 February, 10 March, 8 April
6.00pm – 6.45pm
For those with the highest yoga tantra commitment we will hold tsok puja with a short guru puja before teachings. back to top
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Important Tibetan Calendar Days in 2010 for information
9 January - Tsok puja (dakini) Tibetan 25th day
15 January – New moon
23 January – Tibetan 8 th day
25 January – Tsok puja (daka) Tibetan 10 th day
30 January – Full moon
8 February – Tsok puja (dakini) Tibetan 25 th day
13 February – New moon
14 February – Losar. Tibetan New Year
22 February – Tibetan 8 th day
24 February – Tsok puja (daka) Tibetan 10 th day
28 February – Great Prayer Day. Day of miracles
10 March – Tsok puja (dakini) Tibetan 25 th day, Tibetan uprising day
15 March – New moon
23 March – Tibetan 8th day
25 March – Tsok puja (daka) Tibetan 10 th day
30 March – Full moon
8 April – Tsok puja (dakini) Tibetan 25 th day
14 April – New moon
22 April - Tibetan 8 th day
23 April – Tsok puja (daka) Tibetan 9 th day (no 10th this month)
28 April – Full moon
8 May – Tsok puja (dakini) Tibetan 25 th day
13 May - New moon (start of 4 th Tibetan month, Saga Dawa)
20 May – Conception of the Buddha Shakyamuni
21 May – Tibetan 8 th day
23 May – Tsok puja (daka) Tibetan 10 th day
27 May – Birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of the Buddha Shakyamuni
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Kalachakra
Practice Group
 • initiates only •
Saturdays 24 October & 28 November
14:00 to 17:00
The
Kalachakra group is for the practice and study of the Kalachakra
sadhana in order to deepen our practice.
For information contact Marianne on: Marianne_Hartley@hotmail.com
Guhyasamaja
Practice Group
• initiates only •
Sundays 7 March, 11 April
10:00am -13:00
There will be a
recitation of the long sadhana and discussion. Please also see www.guhyasamaja.com
to download a copy of the sadhana.
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