Programme April-May 2013
April 14, 2013
For the next 8 weeks or so, the group will be working with the new meditation guide by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ‘With Each and Every Breath’. We have a pile of free copies for people to use and it can also be downloaded as an e-book at dhammatalks.org. It isn’t essential to have read the book as the evenings will be led, but it’s the best way to get the most out of it.
Study group book: The Jewel in the Lotus
January 20, 2013
The next study group book will be ‘The Jewel in the Lotus’ by Stephen Batchelor. It’s a bit different from our usual study group books in that it’s more about the history of Buddhism than the practice. It is out of print but there are plenty of copies available second hand.
The study group is held once a fortnight in members’ houses and is open to anyone who has read the week’s text. There is a separate mailing list for the study group wo if you would like to join it please email us.
Programme January to April 2013
December 23, 2012
These talks build on each other, adding up to a rounded introduction to Buddhism, with the emphasis on practical application. However each talk is also meant to stand on its own and to be useful even if you can’t attend all of them.
JANUARY
Wed 9th How To Approach Buddhism
Meditation: body awareness
Wed 16th The Noble Quest
Meditation: body awareness
Wed 23rd The Buddha’s Enlightenment
Meditation: body awareness
Wed 30th The Four Noble Truths
Meditation: mindfulness of breathing
FEBRUARY
Wed 6th View and Intention
Meditation: mindfulness of breathing
Wed 13th Speech
Meditation: mindfulness of breathing
Wed 20th Action
Meditation: metta bhavana
Wed 27th Livelihood and Effort
Meditation: metta bhavana
MARCH
Wed 6th Mindfulness and Concentration
Meditation: metta bhavana
Wed 13th The Historical Development of Buddhism
Meditation: karuna bhavana
Wed 20th Buddhism and Society
Meditation: just sitting
Wed 27th The Five Hindrances
APRIL
Wed 3RD The ‘Meditation Roadmap’
Wed 10th Discussion
Introduction to Meditation class
October 2, 2012
Meditation posture, mindfulness of breathing and ‘metta bhavana’ meditations
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 98-100 Crown Street
Date: 17th of November, 10:00 to 13:00
Cost: by donation
Programme September to December 2012
August 29, 2012
05 Sep Khemaka – Feelings
12 Ian – How I Came To Buddhism
19 Meditation and reading by Thilini
26 Julian – Death of a Cat
03 Oct Alan – Self and Non Self
10 Nigel – Metta Bhavana
17 Khemaka – Elements
24 Double meditation
31 Mhairi – subject to be confirmed
07 Nov Nigel – The Breath
14 James – Practicing the Four Contemplations
21 Dan – Buddhist Global Relief
28 Sangha Day Festival
05 Dec Julian – Being Peaceful, Peacefully
12 Alan – Deceit and Self Deception
19 Double meditation
26 Closed
Thai Buddhist temple in Aberdeen
August 28, 2012
The Thai Buddhist community in Aberdeen is working towards building a temple and have started a programme of events. You can read their new website here.
Wednesday group restarts
August 19, 2012
The Wednesday evening meeting is back from its summer break, starting again on the 22nd of August. The first two meetings will be:
22/8/12 – Introduction to meditation – Alan
29/8/12 – Working in meditation – Nigel
The September-December programme isn’t quite ready yet, but will be kicking off with a talk by Khemaka on the 5th.
Study Group book – Tales of Freedom
July 8, 2012
The study group’s new text is ‘Tales of Freedom’ by Vessantara, which discusses the teachings through stories from the Buddhist tradition. It seems to be out of print at present but there are lots of second hand copies available online.
The first meeting to discuss the first chapter will be on Sunday the 29th of July. Anyone can come, so long as they have read the text.
Summer Break
July 2, 2012
The Wednesday evening meeting will be taking a break for the duration of the school summer holidays. Ian’s (re-)rescheduled talk, ‘Buddhism and Helicopters’ on Wednesday the 4th will be the last meeting in July. We’ll be back on the 22nd of August and will have a beginners’ class some time around then.
Programme: April to June 2012
April 24, 2012
Download: ABG programme 2012 Apr-Jun
Theme: Different Approaches To Buddhism
25 Apr Theravada and Mahayana on the Wheel of Life
Sometimes it is easier to understand something through a visual image. This talk by Alan uses the image of the Wheel of Life to illustrate the differences between the Theravada and Mahayana approaches to Buddhism.
02 May Teachers and Spiritual Friends
On the idea of ‘vertical’ and ‘horizontal’ relationships on the path of development.
09 May Buddha Day Celebration
Saturday the 5th of May is Wesak or Buddha Day, the traditional anniversary of the Buddha’s enlightenment. Julian will lead a double meditation.
16 May The Triratna Buddhist Community
The Aberdeen Buddhist Group is currently affiliated to the Triratna Buddhist Community, also known as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. Alan will talk about the history, organisation and teachings of the TBC.
23 May The Thai Forest Sangha
The Thai Forest Sangha is a movement within Theravada Buddhism that seeks to get back to the original practices of the Buddhist sangha. It is now established in the West with teachers like Thanissaro Bhikkhu at the Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego County, California. Nigel will talk about the approach to Buddhism taken by this tradition.
30 May Discussion on the Future of the Aberdeen Buddhist Group
It has been some time since the group has discussed how it is organised and what its affiliations are, to the extent that the situation has become rather vague. This discussion will help to clarify things and give everyone a chance to contribute to decisions about our future.
06 Jun Compassion
A talk by Mhairi about this core Buddhist quality.
13 Jun Buddhism and Helicopters
Ian will talk about an example of applying Buddhism to daily life – applying it to a job that you hate.
20 Jun Double Meditation
27 Jun The Four Contemplations
A talk by James.
