Weekend Buddhist Dharma Retreats & Workshops
Please e-mail us to receive regular updates on forthcoming events.Beginners to meditation are welcome at all day retreats. Instruction and explanation are always given. Retreat and workshop times are 10am - 5pm, unless otherwise stated. Arrival time is 9.30 - 10am (or 30 mins prior to the start if the scheduled times are different).For all bookable events where no other suggestion is
made, the suggested minimum donation is £20 per day. This is intended to cover the teacher’s essential expenses and some of the centre’s costs. It does not include ‘dana’ for the teacher, which may be offered at the end of the retreat. Some teachers may charge a fee, which is payable separately from the donation to the Bodhi Garden.To guarantee your place on a retreat it is wise to book in advance.To book onto retreats, courses and workshops at the Bodhi Garden, please send a cheque payable to EBMT (English Buddhist Monastery Trust) to:EBMTThe Bodhi Garden:7a Ship Street GardensBrighton BN1 1AJPlease enclose an email address or S.A.E for confirmation of your place* Please do not use the PayPal facility to pay for day retreats - this is for online donations only. Please do not send cheques directly to the Bodhi Garden. Send them to the address above. Thank you.n.b. If you can’t afford the minimum donation, then why not offer the Bodhi Garden some other form of support, or help out on the day? For further information please contact Laura on 07531 556616.
At a glance (detailed programme below)
- Sunday 5th September (10am - 5pm): Rob Burbea
- Sunday 12th September (6 – 7.30pm): Green Tara Puja
- Sunday 26th September (10am - 5pm): Leigh Brassington
- Sunday 26th September (6 – 7.30pm): Chenrizig Prayers and Practice
- Sunday 2nd October (10am - 5pm): Christopher Titmus
- Sunday 10th October (10am - 5pm): Green Tara Inspirational Day
- Saturday 23rd/Sunday 24th October: Geshe Lama Ahbay Rinpoche
- Sunday 24th October (6 – 7.30pm): Chenrizig Prayers and Practice
- Sunday 7th November (6 – 7.30pm): Green Tara Puja
- Sunday 21st November (6 – 7.30pm): Chenrizig Prayers and Practice
- Sunday 28th November (10am - 5pm): Yanai Postelnik
- Sunday 5th December (6 – 7.30pm): Green Tara Puja
- Sunday 12th December (10am - 3pm): Short Day of Practice
- Sunday 19th December (6 – 7.30pm): Chenrizig Prayers and Practice
September
Ending the Inner Critic
With Rob Burbea
Sunday 5th September 10.00am-5pm
Patterns of self-critical thoughts and beliefs can painfully undermine our freedom and limit our capacity for creativity and love. This day retreat will explore a variety of approaches to understanding and liberating ourselves from energies of self-judgement.
Rob Burbea has practiced and studied Buddhism since 1985. Teaching since 2004, he is currently the Gaia House Resident Teacher and a member of its Teacher Council. He is a co-founder of Sanghaseva, an organization exploring the dharma through international service work.
Please bring vegetarian food for a shared lunch.
Green Tara Puja
Sunday 12th September (from 6pm)
Green Tara (Jetsun Drolma) is the ‘Essence of Wisdom’ and thus ‘Mother of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas’. The qualities of her body, speech and mind are infinite. Tara practice helps us to move towards liberation and our own Tara potential. These pujas are open to all. Please bring your Green Tara texts. Some will be available for sale. Each puja is led by Patrica Karma Dolkar and Gem from the Brighton Green Tara Group.
No booking required: For further info on the Evening Pujas, please phone Patricia on 01273 739187
The Jhanas
With Leigh Brassington
Sunday 26th September 10.00am-5pm
The Jhanas are states of meditative absorption which the Buddha described as “right concentration”.
The day will offer detailed discussion of the Jhanas together with their relationship to insight practice. There will be periods of instructions and periods of sitting and walking mediation with ample time for questions and answers. Note that a single day is far too short a time to actually learn the Jhanas in practice, but is time enough to learn about the Jhanas and whether one would want to pursue formal study of them in a longer retreat.
Please bring vegetarian food for a shared lunch
Chenrizig Prayers and Practices
Sunday 26th September (from 6pm)
Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara) practices and prayers, plus Green Tara praises.These practice sessions are run by the Brighton Green Tara Group, which is attached to the Sangha of Samye Ling Monastery (Scotland) and Samye Dzong (London).
All levels of meditators are welcome and the practices are explained.
No booking required: For further info on the Evening Pujas, please phone Patricia on 01273 739187
October
Listening to our feelings
With Christopher Titmuss
Saturday 2nd October 10 am-5pm
We refer a lot to listening to our feelings. We find it necessary to take notice of what our feelings are saying about ourselves, another or a situation. Can we rely upon our feelings? What happens if our feelings keep changing? The Buddha referred to purity of heart and purity of intention. Is this a very different priority from listening to our feelings? The Buddha referred to worldly feelings and spiritual feelings, pleasant and painful and in between the two. The workshop will consist of teachings on the theme, sharing in small groups and inquiry into the benefits and limits of feelings.
Green Tara Inspirational Day
Sunday 10th October 10am–4.30pm
Green Tara Inspirational day with Green Tara Puja from 3pm
Green Tara is the great female wisdom deity of Tibetan Buddhism and mother of all the Buddhas. During this day retreat we will explore the sacred energy and meaning of Green Tara through visualisations, drawing, poetry, readings and discussions, sacred song and dance, prayer and meditation.
Info: Patricia Karma Dolkar on 01273 739187
Geshe Lama Ahbay Rinpoche
bodhi Programme SEP-DEC 10.indd
Saturday 23rd October:
The three principal aspects of the Path by Je Tsong Khapa.
Sunday 24th October:
The Eight Verses on the Training of Mind by Geshe Langri Thangpa.
Over this weekend Rinpoche will be giving teachings, a blessing ceremony and private interviews. Times and more details about this weekend will be published on our website, in e-mails and on posters nearer the time.
At the age of twelve Geshe Lama Ahbay Rinpoche was officially recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.as the reincarnation of the hermit Lama Lobsang Tenzin.
Chenrizig Prayers and Practices
With invited guest Lama Ahbay Rinpoche
Sunday 24th October (from 6pm)
Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara) practices and prayers, plus Green Tara praises.These practice sessions are run by the Brighton Green Tara Group, which is attached to the Sangha of Samye Ling Monastery (Scotland) and Samye Dzong (London).
All levels of meditators are welcome and the practices are explained.
No booking required: For further info on the Evening Pujas, please phone Patricia on 01273 739187
November
James Low - Saturday 6th November & Sunday 7th November
We have unfortunately been unable to find a venue in Brighton for this weekend - James Low will be coming to E Sussex this weekend - please contact Huw Williams: dharmawheel@hotmail.com for details and bookings.
Green Tara Puja
Sunday 7th November (from 6pm)
Green Tara (Jetsun Drolma) is the ‘Essence of Wisdom’ and thus ‘Mother of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas’. The qualities of her body, speech and mind are infinite. Tara practice helps us to move towards liberation and our own Tara potential. These pujas are open to all. Please bring your Green Tara texts. Some will be available for sale. Each puja is led by Patrica Karma Dolkar and Gem from the Brighton Green Tara Group.
No booking required: For further info on the Evening Pujas, please phone Patricia on 01273 739187
Chenrizig Prayers and Practices
Sunday 21st November (from 6pm)
Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara) practices and prayers, plus Green Tara praises.These practice sessions are run by the Brighton Green Tara Group, which is attached to the Sangha of Samye Ling Monastery (Scotland) and Samye Dzong (London).
All levels of meditators are welcome and the practices are explained.
No booking required: For further info on the Evening Pujas, please phone Patricia on 01273 739187
A day of Loving Kindness/Metta Meditation
With Yanai Postelnik
Sunday 28th November 10am-5pm
This day will be an opportunity to connect with and deepen our natural capacity for open-hearted friendliness, through extending kindness and love to ourselves, others and all beings.
Yanai Postelnik has practiced and studied Buddhist meditation and teachings for 20 years and has been teaching internationally since 1992. He is much inspired by the Thai forest tradition and regularly leads courses in the natural world. Yanai lives with his wife Catherine McGee in Devon, England. He is a member of the Gaia House Teacher Council, and also serves Gaia House as the Dharma Director.
Please bring vegetarian food for a shared lunch
December
Green Tara Puja
Sunday 5th December (from 6pm)
Green Tara (Jetsun Drolma) is the ‘Essence of Wisdom’ and thus ‘Mother of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas’. The qualities of her body, speech and mind are infinite. Tara practice helps us to move towards liberation and our own Tara potential. These pujas are open to all. Please bring your Green Tara texts. Some will be available for sale. Each puja is led by Patrica Karma Dolkar and Gem from the Brighton Green Tara Group.
No booking required: For further info on the Evening Pujas, please phone Patricia on 01273 739187
A short Day of Practice & Exploration
Sunday 12th December 10 am-3 pm
“All the harm, fear and suffering in the world are caused by attachment to the self:
Why should I hold on to this great demon?” Shantideva
A day of practice facilitated by Rosie Roberts with periods of sitting, movement/walking meditation with a space for exploration of the topic “Why do I hold on to self?”
Please bring vegetarian lunch to share.
No booking is required – dana given on the day will go towards the support of the Bodhi
Chenrizig Prayers and Practices
Sunday 19th December (from 6pm)
Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara) practices and prayers, plus Green Tara praises.These practice sessions are run by the Brighton Green Tara Group, which is attached to the Sangha of Samye Ling Monastery (Scotland) and Samye Dzong (London).
All levels of meditators are welcome and the practices are explained.
No booking required: For further info on the Evening Pujas, please phone Patricia on 01273 739187
Coming in 2011
- Sat/Sun 22/23 January: Ken Jones
- Saturday 26th March: Jake Dartington
- Sunday 17th April: Ajahn Candasiri
- Sat/Sun 7/8th May: HE Dorje Dhenpa Rinpoche
- Sunday 29th May: Bhikkhu Bodhidhamma