Jump to:    Buddhist Meditation 101 ~ Core Practices of Buddhist Meditation ~ Introduction to meditation

~ Silent Meditation ~ Enlightenment day ~ First Dharma Day ~ Tara Tuesdays

~ Lama Chöpa ~ Tibetan Calendar dates ~  Tantra Groups


Buddhist Meditation 101.

This course is not offered in the Summer Programme

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. 

Wisdom Through Insight:

 a chance to practice and be instructed in Vipasyana (heightened insight/ critical awareness/ investigative attention) a key part of the Buddhist Path to becoming a better human being.

Mondays 10 May to 26 July 7.30 – 9pm.

Suggested donation £5 for each evening session. 

Meditation Practice Day

Saturday 19 June 10am – 5pm.

£25 for the Meditation Practice Day (includes lunch).  Please register in advance for the day

Autumn programme

a chance to practice and be instructed in Shamatha (the ability to apply sustained attention to a single object), the foundation of all significant spiritual growth in Buddhism

Mondays 11 September to 13 December 7.30 -9pm

Suggested donation £5 for each evening session.

Meditation Practice Day

Saturday 28 August 10am - 5pm
Saturday 9 October 10am - 5pm

£25 for the Mediation Practice 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.
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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 3rd May and Monday 6 September

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!




MeditatingSilent 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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Enlightenment Day - celebrating Buddha's enlightenment.

27th May

8am - 6pm
Free entrance

One of the four main holy days in Tibetan Buddhism the full moon day of the fourth Tibetan month is used to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing from this world of Shakyamuni Buddha in Lumbini, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar respectively.  Come join with us to celebrate this day and to practice together at the Temple.

Schedule for the day
8.00 Motivation and mahayana 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 of schedule for the day

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First Dharma Day - celebrating the first teaching of the Buddha.

15 July

8am - 6pm
Free entrance

One of the four main holy days in Tibetan Buddhism this day is used to commemorate the first public teaching that the Shakyamuni Buddha gave in the Deer Park at Sarnath.  This is where he first taught the Four Noble Truths in the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma sutra.  Come join with us to celebrate this day and to practice together at the Temple.

Schedule for the day
8.00 Motivation and mahayana precepts
9.15 Shakyauni Buddha puja
10.30 Chenrezig puja
11.30 Lunch
 

Tara Tuesdays.

Tuesdays 4, 11, 18, 25 May,  1, 8, 15, 22, 29 June, 6, 13, 20, 27 July


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.

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Lama Chöpa with Tsok Puja .

• all levels •  

6 July 7.30 – 9.15pm (celebrating the official birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama), 20 July 6 – 6.45pm (shorter puja)

3 and 17 September 6pm (shorter puja)
3 and 17 October 6pm (longer puja)
1 and 16 November 6pm (shorter puja)
15 December (shorter puja)

13 and 27 February 2011 6pm (longer puja)

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.

Lama Tsongkhapa memorial day
Lama Choepa Tsok Puja with Jamchen Choje memorial day

Tuesday 30 November

7.30pm
Free

Lama Tsongkhapa demonstrated the tantric technique of utilising the subtle mental states that arise as we go through the natural process of death, bardo and rebirth to attain dharmakaya (ie become fully enlightened) and then emanate very subtle and less subtle Buddha bodies for the benefit of others.  This in particular is what we remember when we offer lights on the night of the twenty fifth day of the Tibetan month as well as Tsongkhapa's extraordinary life and works. This celebration is known as the Ganden Ngam cho, the Gandenpa's offering puja on the twenty fifth day. 

This year since the 25th day is missing in the Tibetan calendar for this month, Tsongkhapa's memorial day falls back to the 24th day of the Tibetan month.  This is also the day when we recall the great kindness of Tsongkhapa's student Jamchen Choje who founded the monastery of Sera from which most of the Tibetan  teachers in the FPMT come.  This evening is known as the Ganden Sera shib cho, the Gandenpa's offering puja on the twenty fourth day.

So this year is a double celebration!  Please join with us for a Lama Choepa puja to celebrate the life and works of the founder of our tradition and the great achievements of those who have come after him.  Offerings of food and flowers for thepuja and altar are very welcome.


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Kalachakra Practice Group.

Kalachakra• initiates only •  

Saturdays 15 May, 5 June, 3 July

  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 16 May, 6 June, 4 July


10:00am -13:00
 
There will be a recitation of the long sadhana and discussion. All benefit is dedicated to the long life and success of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Please also see www.guhyasamaja.com to download a copy of the sadhana

 

Vajrayogini Practice Group.

• initiates only •  

Sundays 16 May, 6 June, 4 July

15:00 – 18:00hr
 
The group is for the practice and study of the Vajrayogini sadhana in order to deepen our practice. People should bring their own copy of the FPMT sadhana (in Vol 1 of the Vajrayogini Practices Books).  Please contact kecharagroup@googlemail.com for additional information about the group’s activities. 




Jamyang Buddhist Centre,
The Old Courthouse, 43 Renfrew Road, London SE11 4NA
tel: +44 (0) 20 7820 8787 fax: +44 (0) 20 7820 8605 email: admin@jamyang.co.uk