Introduction to Meditation
An introduction to meditation posture and to the mindfulness of breathing and metta bhavana meditations.
10:00 – 13:00 Saturday 25th January
Quaker Meeting House, 98-100 Crown Street
Cost – donation
Winter/spring 2014 ‘Buddhism from the Beginning’
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.
February
Wed 05th How To Approach Buddhism (Meditation: body awareness)
Wed 12th The Noble Quest (Meditation: body awareness)
Wed 19th The Buddha’s Enlightenment (Meditation: body awareness)
Wed 26th The Four Noble Truths (Meditation: mindfulness of breathing)
March
Wed 05th Right View, Right Intention (Meditation: mindfulness of breathing)
Wed 12th Right Speech (Meditation: mindfulness of breathing)
Wed 19th Right Action (Meditation: metta bhavana)
*Wed 26th Right Livelihood, Right Effort (Meditation: metta bhavana)
April
Wed 02nd Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration (Meditation: metta bhavana)
*Wed 09th The Historical Development of Buddhism (Meditation: karuna bhavana)
Wed 16th Buddhism and Society (Meditation: just sitting)
*Wed 23rd The Five Hindrances
*Wed 30th The ‘Meditation Roadmap’
May
Wed 07th Discussion
*Wed 14th Wesak / Buddha Day festival
* Not suitable for those with no experience of meditation
Programme for January 2014
Wed 08th New Year’s Resolutions
Wed 15th The science of metta bhavana
Wed 22nd Talk by Nigel
Wed 29th Burns and Buddhism
New study group book – Vision and Transformation
The study group is going back to basics with a book we have done before: Vision and Transformation by Sangharakshita. It’s an introduction to the Buddha’s Eightfold Path, one limb of the path per chapter and an excellent practical introduction to the teachings. There is a free pdf for those with e-readers at http://www.sangharakshita.org/_books/Noble_Eightfold_Path.pdf Otherwise, we have a number of spare copies in the library.
The study group meets fortnightly(ish) on Sunday mornings in members homes. If you would like to join, please contact us.
Introduction to Meditation class
Meditation posture, mindfulness of breathing and ‘metta bhavana’ meditations
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 98-100 Crown Street
Date: Saturday 31st of August, 10:00 to 13:00
Cost: by donation
Programme for Summer/Autumn 2013
AUGUST
7th – Nigel – Questions are the Answer
14th – Nigel – The Precepts
21st – Alan – The Art of Listening
28th – Erin – title to be confirmed
SEPTEMBER
4th – Alison – The Presence of the Buddha
11th – Julian – The Maha-Rahulovada Sutta
18th – Nava – Inclusive Buddhism
25th – Thilini – reading
OCTOBER
2nd – Nigel – Strength Training
9th – Alison – Mantras
16th – Double meditation
23rd – Alan – Ritual in Buddhism
30th – Autumn puja
Summer break
We’ll be taking a break from Wednesday evening meetings over the month of July. We’ll be back in August with a new programme. An Introduction to Meditation day is planned for the 31st of August – subject to confirming that the room is free. Have a good summer 🙂
Programme April-May 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
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
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
