The Bodhisattva’s Balancing Act: Altruism in an Empty World
Anne MacDonald, Dept. of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies, University of Vienna
Indian Mahāyāna works stress the importance of an altruistic attitude for progress on the Buddhist path, deeming the attainment of Buddhahood to be impossible without it. The same works emphasize the necessity of understanding the emptiness (śūnyatā) of phenomena for liberation from the endless cycle of birth and death. But what exactly is the relationship between compassion and the view of emptiness, and how do the texts envision the Buddhist practitioner’s involvement with them? The lecture will attempt to clarify misunderstandings concerning the meaning of emptiness and to illuminate the delicate course to be taken by the meditator aiming to achieve the state of a Buddha.
Anne MacDonald is a professor of Buddhist studies at the University of Vienna, Austria. She received a BA in anthropology from McMaster University, an MA in religious studies from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in indology from the University of Vienna. Dr. MacDonald specializes in the study of Madhyamaka Buddhism, and is currently working on recently discovered Sanskrit manuscripts of major works of the seventh-century Indian Buddhist philosopher Candrakīrti.
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: David Strong Building, Room C116
Sponsor: Centre for Studies in Religion and Society
Friday, September 11, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Death and Dying
The Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre presents
Death And Dying As Spiritual Practice.
Join us as we take a plunge into the realms that await us in the dying process, learning how to transform obstacle into opportunity. Explore the final death bardo, where we spend forty-nine days after dying and are hurled by the winds of karma into our next life. In this course we will examine death, the intermediate state and re-birth in Tibetan Buddhism. By becoming familiar with the bardo and preparing for it now, we can discover what to expect in the process, when to expect it and what to do about it. We also learn about practices to help those who are dying or have recently died.
Discover the many opportunities this bardo presents for spiritual development.
Anne Bruce.
Anne Bruce (PhD) has been studying meditative traditions since 1984. A member of the Shambhala community since 1985, Anne also teaches nursing at the University of Victoria where her research and scholarship address palliative and end of life care.
Wednesdays: October 7th, 14th, 21st., 28th. 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
Saturday Intensive: October 31st. 9:30 – 4:00pm.
*(Sitting practice begins at 7:00pm)
Shambhala Community Study Programs cost $45-$75.
(Sliding scale depending on your financial means)
For registration and suggested reading please contact:
David Clarke: rangdral@yahoo.com
Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre
#1-2033 Belmont Avenue, Victoria BC, V8R 3Z7. 383-9108
www.shambhala.org/centers/victoria
Death And Dying As Spiritual Practice.
Join us as we take a plunge into the realms that await us in the dying process, learning how to transform obstacle into opportunity. Explore the final death bardo, where we spend forty-nine days after dying and are hurled by the winds of karma into our next life. In this course we will examine death, the intermediate state and re-birth in Tibetan Buddhism. By becoming familiar with the bardo and preparing for it now, we can discover what to expect in the process, when to expect it and what to do about it. We also learn about practices to help those who are dying or have recently died.
Discover the many opportunities this bardo presents for spiritual development.
Anne Bruce.
Anne Bruce (PhD) has been studying meditative traditions since 1984. A member of the Shambhala community since 1985, Anne also teaches nursing at the University of Victoria where her research and scholarship address palliative and end of life care.
Wednesdays: October 7th, 14th, 21st., 28th. 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
Saturday Intensive: October 31st. 9:30 – 4:00pm.
*(Sitting practice begins at 7:00pm)
Shambhala Community Study Programs cost $45-$75.
(Sliding scale depending on your financial means)
For registration and suggested reading please contact:
David Clarke: rangdral@yahoo.com
Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre
#1-2033 Belmont Avenue, Victoria BC, V8R 3Z7. 383-9108
www.shambhala.org/centers/victoria
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Shambhala Training Level I
Shambhala Training Level I: The Art of Being Human
with Layth Matthews
September 18 / 7:00 PM - September 19 / 6:00 PM
Price: $75.00
Through the practice of meditation, we glimpse unconditional goodness as the ground of our existence. Opening to ourselves with gentleness and appreciation, we begin to see our potential as genuine and compassionate human beings.
To Register contact Mark Hazell at markhazell45@gmail.com
Meditation in Everyday Life
Meditation in Everyday Life
with Layth Matthews
September 24 / 7:00 PM - October 29 / 9:00 PM
Price: $75.00
According to the Shambhala teachings, the reason to practice meditation is to help create enlightened society. In this six week course we will look at how to bring our practice into our daily lives, the obstacles to doing this, working with emotions and strong feelings, and recognizing basic goodness in ourselves and others.
The main teacher for both of these programs is Layth Matthews. Layth has been a student and teacher in the Shambhala community for many years.
To Register contact Mark Hazell at markhazell45@gmail.com
The fee for both this course and Level I is $75.00. If you choose to do both programs, which is highly encouraged – the Meditation in Everyday Life course is designed to deepen one’s understanding of the material presented in The Art of Being Human – the fee is $120.
Meditation In Everyday Life is open to anyone who has received meditation instruction in the Shambhala tradition.
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