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Today was a revisit (selected by Laura and Katrin – thanks!)
On Tuesday, in preparation for the this weekend’s events, we followed a meditation on the 8 stages of Death:
What Happens When You Die? – Scott Snibbe
Have a lovely week!
On Monday, we followed Day 140 of the Lamrim Year (Refuge chapter).
■ The Buddha has the wisdom and skill to guide every kind of being out of suffering
■ The story of Angulimala demonstrates the skill and psychic powers of the Buddha
■ The Buddha understands exactly when and how to help each person on the pathOn Tuesday, we followed Day 139 of the Lamrim Year.
■ To rely on the Buddha, we must investigate and see his incredible qualities
■ In Magadha the Buddha tamed a crazy wild elephant let loose by King Ajatashatru
■ The Buddha is a trustworthy guide who is completely free from all fear and sufferingHave a lovely week!
Hello.
I’ve been away for a couple of weeks, but the sessions have been continuing – I am not sure what they covered but I know they started on the Refuge section of the Lamrim Year.
On Tuesday, last week, we followed Day 137 of the Lamrim Year:
■ We must carefully check the strength of the two causes of refuge in our mindstream
■ We need to understand both suffering and the qualities of the objects of refuge
■ To practice Mahayana Buddhism we also need a third cause of refuge: compassionThis morning, we had a bit of a natter, so only had time to follow a short meditation:
4b. Meditation: Close Placement on Phenomena – Ven. Yonten.
Regardless of the title, it was a general meditation on compassion at the end of a retreat on the 4 Close Placements. It is in a playlist of the teachings and other meditations from that retreat though, some of which we have followed before.On Monday, we followed Day 76 of the Lamrim Year:
■ Great care must be taken not to lose our hard- won freedoms and richnesses
■ We should compare our problems to the greater sufferings of the lower realms
■ Every experience in daily life is a reminder to practice Dharma without delayOn Tuesday, we followed a Lamrim meditation from the “How to Train a Happy Mind” podcast:
20 Minute “Path to a Happy Mind” Guided Meditation – Scott Snibbe.
This morning, we followed Day 74 of the Lamrim Year:
■ The five personal richnesses are the qualities that enhance our lives
■ It’s unbelievably rare and amazing to have all these richnesses at the same time
■ The more precious we feel our rebirth to be, the greater the happiness in our mindI’m away tomorrow, but there will still be a session, probably on the 4 Close Placements.
Today, we followed:
2c. Meditation: Close Placement on Feeling: Analyzing Causation and Selflessness – Ven. Yönten
This morning, we meditated on Day 72 of the Lamrim Year:
■ If we were mentally incapacitated we would have no freedom to practice Dharma
■ Karma can ripen at any time and take away our ability to understand and communicate
■ We have the choice to study Dharma and use our mind as a tool for happinessAnd this morning, more close placement (this one is quite short – about 15 mins):
2a. Meditation: Close Placement on Feeling: Placement Meditation and then observing impermanence – Ven. Yönten
This morning, we followed:
3c.Meditation: Close Placement on Mind – Ven. Yönten
Last week, we did more from Lamrim Year.
Day 70:
■ If we were born in an age with no buddha we would never encounter the Dharma
■ There are dark periods when the teachings of the Buddha do not exist
■ We need to meditate again and again on our rare, unique and precious human rebirthDay 71:
■ If we were born as a barbarian we would have no opportunity to hear the Dharma
■ Lacking any concept of karma or faith in refuge, barbarians are trapped in suffering
■ We must appreciate this opportunity and practice Dharma continuously from now onToday we went for the 4th Close Placement (Phenomena), from this series, listening to the 3 min introduction and then following the meditation.
There is also an 8 minute follow-up, if anyone wants some extra!
4 Close Placements for Beginners – Ven. Yönten
This morning, we followed:
Express Meditation Ven.Losang Dondrub: Contemplation of the Dharma Jewel
Last week, on Monday, the group repeated the Animals meditation (Day 68) of the Lamrim Year:
■ Animals are dumb and foolish, trapped by ignorance in a life without choice
■ We need to realize that by this time tomorrow we could be a lobster, fish or worm
■ Reflecting on the suffering of animals enables us to appreciate our own freedomThen on Tuesday, we moved onto the God realm (Day 69):
■ It is very difficult for the gods to see the nature of suffering and practice Dharma
■ We can see for ourselves how material possessions bring attachment and distraction
■ Contemplating the suffering of the gods helps us appreciate this precious human life
