Saturday, January 31, 2009

Medicine Buddha-Five Wisdom Energies


Hi Folks!

we are about to embark on a wonderful and very interesting exploration of
the Five Wisdom Energies/Maitri and the Medicine Buddha (Menla), with the
guidance of Jim Sacamano... Jim has written an introductory note which I
attach below...

if you're interested, please come along - we'll be doing this in our
sessions February 2 and 16, March 2 and 16, and April 6 and possibly 20...
We might even consider an irregular session March 30, but we'll talk about
that along the way (we usually only meet 1st and 3rd Mondays...)

If you've any questions, please email me back or call me at 250-595-0070 - I
don't guarantee answers, but I can try...

in the spirit

Walter Quan
for the Medicine Buddha Study Group

here's Jim:

***

FIVE WISDOMS MENLA

Dear Friends on the Healing Path,

With the blessings and great kindness of Walter and Linda, I have managed to
provoke another crisis in our collective sanity by asking you to join us in
a study of Menla through the five wisdom eyes of the Maitri postures and
practices. This may be short notice for some of you, but anyone who has
done a Medicine Buddha course is welcome to attend any or all of this
venture.

In case there is anyone not familiar with Maitri, this teaching and practice
is one of the brilliant mind treasures of my root teacher and benefactor,
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Maitri relates to and actually shows us in a very
personal way the natural display of primordial wisdom as we humans can
experience it in ordinary life. This is done through the five colors and
five body postures. These in turn relate to the five elements, seasons,
directions and everything in life. These are also part of Menla practice as
demonstrated by the walls of Menla’s palace and the HUM in his heart.

I believe that by revisiting these postures in the context of Menla practice
we may be better able to find the hidden obstacles in our own path and
hidden powers as Menla healers. There is no charge for this class which
will run on the regular alternate Monday night Menla practice times for 5 or
6 sessions.

Whether or not you can attend, I wish you all the best in this new,
challenging and very “interesting” year and all those ahead. Whatever
practice you do, we all need you to do it more than ever.

Yours,

Jim Sacamano

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Victoria Vipassana Community Sit - February 1st

Join us for a 45 minute sit followed by a talk by Margo McLoughlin on Stories of Women at the time of the Buddha.

Everyone welcome. By donation. Information: Linda (250) 380-6383 or http://www.victoriavipassana.org/weekly_groups.htm

Details: February 1st 7:00 - 9:00 pm Helga Beer Yoga Studio, 202 - 1600 Bay Street (Shakespeare St. entrance)

Margo translates the Jataka (the stories of the Buddha’s former births) from Pali. She performs her own adaptations, bringing to life the world of Ancient India with evocative images and the use of original Pali words and phrases. http://jatakatales.googlepages.com/

Friday, January 23, 2009

Lojong Course



The Shambhala School of Buddhist Studies presents

Lojong

With George Howell and Silas Rosenblatt.

Tuesday evenings 7 pm to 8:30 pm
March 3, 10, 17, 24 , 31 plus a full
day intensive on Sunday March 29th.

“Training the mind is known as lojong in Tibetan: In the mahayana tradition we experience a sense of gentleness toward ourselves, and a sense of friendliness to others begins to arise. That friendliness or compassion is known as nyingje, which literally means “noble heart. ”We are willing to commit ourselves to working with all sentient beings. But before we launch into that project we need a lot of training.” Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

The fifty-nine slogans that are attributed to the Indian Buddhist teacher Atisha are sometimes referred to as the “dharma for leprosy” as tribute to their efficacy in curing the incurable. They provide a method of training our minds through both formal meditation practice and using the events of everyday life as a means of awakening.

George Howell, a student of Chogyam Trunpa Rinpoche and the Sakyong, is a teacher and practioner of Shambhala Buddhism. Silas Rosenblatt is a meditation instructor and a student of the Sakyong Mipham Jampal Trinley Dradul Rinpoche.

Shambhala Community Study Programs cost $65 - $45

To register or enquire for study materials please contact:
David Clarke - rangdral@yahoo.com

(Recommended reading: Always maintain a Joyful Mind - Pema chodron, Training the Mind - Chogyam Trungpa, The Great Path of Awakening - Jamgon Kongtrul)


Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre
#1-2033 Belmont Avenue, Victoria BC, V8R 3Z7. 383-9108
www.shambhala.org/centers/victoria

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Ikebana-the path of Flower Arranging


Ikebana – the Path of Flower Arranging

With Lee White

Sunday February 8th, 2009

9 a.m. to 12 noon

Cost $20.00 includes flowers & plant materials.

Pre-registration is essential as space is limited – please contact Linda at lgould@shaw.ca and you will be given more information about what to bring to the class.

In 1982, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche formed a new school of ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) inspired by his own training and vision. Kalapa Ikebana, as this school is called, promotes the study and practice of flower arranging, often working closely with masters of other schools of ikebana.

Lee White is one of the founding members of the Victoria Shambhala Centre. She has studied and practiced ikebana for many years, and is also an accomplished calligrapher.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Beginning Buddhist Meditation

Experience your Mind in the space created through Shamatha (Calm Abiding) Meditation Practice, a Buddhist gateway practice to understanding yourself and your world.
A three hour Introduction to Meditation is being offered at the Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre, #1 - 2033 Belmont Ave. in Fernwood, on Saturday, February 7 from 9:00 to noon.
Come and meet yourself on the spot. No previous meditation experience is required.
For information or to register contact John at mmadventures@shaw.ca or by calling 250-598-6433
Registration suggested as participation is limited to 35. Cost $10.00
John Cowan

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Introduction to Zen Meditation - Victoria Zen Centre




January 24th-March 14th, 2009 (Saturdays from 9:00-11:30am)




February 16th-April 6th, 2009 (Mondays from 7:00-9:30pm)






If you are interested in learning how to meditate, this is the course for you. For people that are seeking to reduce stress, clarify a busy mind, improve focus and awareness, boost immune function, improve sleeping patterns, or gain insight into the mental, physical, and emotional habits that are preventing you from living life fully, this course offers a gradual combination of study and practice, individual and group interaction, and personal guidance that will provide a strong foundation to experience the profound change that Zen meditation practice offers. The fee for this eight week course is $495* and includes:

  • Eight weekly Sessions for a total of twenty hours of class time.
  • A free meditation cushion for each participant to keep.
  • Chanting practice CDs.
  • Weekly course materials and Practice Manual.
  • Small class size (max.8).
  • Teachings and group discussions on eight core aspects of Zen Practice.
  • One-to-one meetings with Eshu.
  • One free practice consultation with Eshu upon completion.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Buddhist Art at the Victoria Art Gallery.

Thursday February 12th: 1PM
Lecture: The Architecture of East Asian Buddhist Monasteries with Dr Jordan Paper.

Thursday February 26th: 1PM
Lecture:Thai Buddhist Art: The contemporary Temple Rong Khun with Genevieve Gamache

Thursday March 12th: 1PM
Lecture: Shinto tombs and shrines with Dr. Judith Patt.

4 Noble Truths & The Eightfold Path

Tuesday January 6th. 8 – 9 pm

Martin White will present a talk from the foundational Buddhist teachings from the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.

The Four Noble Truths (suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path).

Cost: donation



Tuesday January 20th. 8 – 9 pm

Martin White will present a talk from the foundational Buddhist teachings from the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.

The Eighfold Path, which includes the three trainings of shila, Samadhi and prajna.

Cost: donation


Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre
#1 - 2033 Belmont Ave., Victoria, BC V8R 3Z7
Tel. (250) 383.9108 Email: victoria.shambhala@gmail.com