Upcoming event

Good day to All!

Contents

1. Book Discussion

2. Friday Meditations

Upcoming
Tomorrow (11 Feb) we will discussing "Prayer and Worship" and "No one is a Buddhist by Birth but by Practice" based on a 6 page reading from a book titled

"Paritta Chanting and Sutta Discussion" compiled by Ven. K. Rathanasara.

1. Book Discussion (11 Feb Tues)

Time: 7-8.30pm

Venue: Beit Quad's Meeting Room 3

And here is a picture of the book we will be reading!

Hope to see you there! (:

2. Friday meditation session

Day: Every Friday except on academic breaks
Time: 1.10 - 1.50pm
Venue: Prayer Room, Chaplaincy, Beit Quad*

*To find the Chaplaincy, just walk through the main entrance of the Beit Quad and head to the right hand side of the courtyard. Enter the double-doors, walk down the stairs, and you'll find the door to the Chaplaincy directly ahead of you. 
Any problems and you can phone Ben on 07894 956216.

Buddhist Fact of the week #7 - Robes or civara

What's the most timeless fashion ever? The buddhist robe! They are still worn 2500 years in the same fashion :D

I'm sure all of you have seen Buddhist monks wearing robes of the same designs, or with slight variations yet different colours.


The Sanskrit and Pali word for monastic robes is civara.
Wearing civara is the first of a monk's four traditional requirements (nisraya). Monks are instructed never to enter a village without wearing all three parts of their robe:

• an inner robe, from the waist to the knee
• an upper robe, around the torso and shoulders
• an outer robe used as an overgarment

Material for new robes is traditionally donated by laypersons in the kathina ceremony, which occurs across Southeast Asia after the rainy season. This is one of the few monastic ceremonies that involves the laity, and it helps them to gain merit.

There are a number of ways the monks wear their robes, depending on their sect and country. The most universal one is that which is worn for the alms-round, when the robe is covering both the shoulders.

Within the monastery or residence or when having an audience with a more senior monk, a simpler style is adopted, as a gesture of respect and to facilitate work. The right side of the robe is pushed under the armpit and over the robe on the left leaving the right shoulder bare.

The Buddhist monastic robe is so versatile that it can be used, besides what is already mentioned, as a blanket, a seat-spread, a groundsheet, a head-cover, a windbreaker, etc. It is easy to clean and repair. It is perhaps the oldest style of dress still in fashion after 2,500 years.

Source: http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/things/monks_robes_hats.htm

A Trip to Amaravati Buddhist Monastery!

Saturday, 26 January 2013 10:00 until 19:00


Address: St Margarets Great Gaddesden Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP1 3BZ England, UK

***
Book your tickets (yourselves) now!
we will meet at London Euston at 12:15 that day.
Outbound from Euston at 12:34
Inbound to London at 18:15
(approx. 20GBP if you have a railcard)

Email your attendance to xyg11@imperial.ac.uk if you have not responded to our facebook group!

***

http://www.amaravati.org/home

How to get there:

• by Rail The nearest railway station is Berkhamsted, 4 miles (6 km) from Amaravati. It is advised to take a taxi in front of the railway station to Amaravati, which is approximately £8. Trains to Berkhamsted depart from Euston Station in central London and the journey time is approximately 35 minutes. For those traveling from London St Pancras International are advised to take the underground/subway to Euston Station for their train to Berkhamsted (total journey time approximately 55 min). For detailed information on timetables & fares http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Buddhist Fact of the week #6: Jhanas

After the wonderful and detailed article shared by our fellow member on the Facebook group about suffering, and a touch on the idea of cessation of self(the highest stage of Jhana), here's a little more about the different stages of Jhana:

May you all attain the last stage of Jhana soon.

Samatha (Concentration/tranquility based on the Ananpanasati Sutta MN  118 - stages of

Concentration:
        1. Observation of thought.
        2. Silent moments appearing between thoughts.
        3. In these silent moments and as the mind becomes calm, the in breaths and the out breaths are noticed somewhere in the body, perhaps touching the nose tip area or rising and falling in the lower naval area.
        4. Minute details of the in breaths and out breaths are noticed.
        5. Awareness of the in breaths and out breaths disappears, replaced by the overwhelming beauty of complete stillness.
        6. This overwhelming beauty may manifest in the mind as a nimitta, which many times but not always appears as a bright light, or a deep sense of calm, or a feeling of elation, etc.
        7. Absorption into the nimitta or the feeling then brings up the jhanas, or deep states of concentration and calmness. Each subsequent stage of jhana is a refinement of the previous stage by the natural falling away of the previous stage's coarser factors. This refinement and falling away must occur naturally in the mind with no effort involved. The "doer" must stop all agendas, determinations and volitions, and merely be an observer.

                 Jhanas —

 First Jhana contains five primary aspects

         1. Vitaka (Initial thought directed toward meditation object)
         2. Vichara (Sustained attention on meditation object)
         3. Piti (Physical rapture in increasing stages of euphoria)
                   a. Hair raised as if seeing a ghost
                   b. Shocks, body jerks, like lightening hitting
                   c. Waves of water washing over the body
                   d. Bliss flooding the body
                   e. Feelings of the body Floating, levitating
         4. Sukkha (mental bliss much deeper than rapture above)
         5. Ekagata (absolute stillness, one pointedness of mind)

Second Jhana contains three primary aspects after dropping vitaka and vichara above:
         1. Piti (Physical rapture)
                    a. Hair raised
                    b. Shocks like lightening
                    c. Washing over like water waves
                    d. Flooding the body
                    e. Floating, levitating
         2. Sukkha (Bliss,Joy)
         3. Ekagata (One pointedness of mind)

Third Jhana contains two primary aspects after dropping Piti above:    
         1. Sukkha (Bliss,Joy)
         2. Ekagata (One pointedness of mind)
                     
Fourth Jhana contains two primary aspects after dropping sukkha above:
         1. Uppekha (Equanimity) replaces Sukkha
         2. Ekagata (One pointedness of mind)
                                     
Fifth Jhana:          Infinitude of  Space
Sixth Jhana:         Infinitude of consciousness
Seventh Jhana :   Nothingness
Eighth Jhana :      Between perception nor non-perception
(Ninth Jhana) :    Cessation of feeling and perception

Online Source: http://dhammarocksprings.org/5.html

A little more about Buddhism: Buddhist Fact of the Week(s)

Terribly sorry for the long hiatus! Hope that everyone has been enjoying their holidays thus far!

#4

The Buddhist Etiquette - Full prostrations

Three prostrations infer deep respect for Buddha’s teachings. By performing three full prostrations, one expresses his/her intention to adhere to The Three Jewels - the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Likewise, the act symbolizes the discarding of the Three Poisons - hatred, ignorance and excess.

Practioners will press the elbows, knees and forehead to the ground when prostrating. In Tibet, however, prostrations involve touching all five body parts (head, legs, arms, chest and abdomen) to the ground. The posture is intended to symbolically release the ego and respect the Buddha and other sentient beings:

• Put the palms of your hands together with the thumbs aligned and tucked into the center of your palms. Your folded thumbs represent offering a wish-fulfilling jewel to the Buddhas. 
• Touch your folded hands, with thumbs tucked inside the palms, to your crown, forehead (optional), neck, and heart as above.
• Bend forward, place your hands flat upon the ground, lower your knees to the ground, and touch your forehead to the ground.
• When standing up, first the head leaves the ground, then the knees, and finally the hands.
• Begin the next prostration by immediately placing your folded hands on the crown of your head. 

Text Source: www.thranguhk.org/

#5

Offerings

We make offerings not because the Buddha needs them - the Buddha is an enlightened being, He certainly does not need an incense stick to be happy!
Nor do we make offerings to win the Buddha's favour. The Buddha developed universal loving-kindness and compassion long ago and won't be swayed by flattery and bribery the way we ordinary beings are.
We make offerings to create positive energy and develop good qualities such as giving with a respectful attitude and gratitude.• Moreover, the offerings remind us of certain teachings of the Buddha.

Offering of Light (Lamp/Candle)

 Light symbolizes wisdom.• Light drives away darkness.• Similarly, the light of wisdom dispels the darkness of ignorance.

Offering of Incense

When incense is lit, its fragrance spreads.
Incense symbolizes the fragrance of pure moral conduct.• This reminds us to cultivate good conduct.

Offering of Water

Water symbolizes purity, clarity and calmness.• This reminds us to practise the Buddha's teachings, so as to cleanse our minds, which are full of desire, ill-will and ignorance, and to attain the state of purity.

Offering of Fruit

Fruit symbolizes the ultimate fruit of Enlightenment which is our goal.• Fruit also reminds us that all actions will have their effect.

Offering of Flowers

The freshness, fragrance and beauty of flowers are impermanent.• Fresh and beautiful flowers will soon become withered, scentless and discoloured.• This reminds us of the Buddha's teaching that all things are impermanent.• We should value what we have now and live in the present.

Text Source: www.buddhanet.net

ATTENTION!

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY SESSION THIS EVENING. 

THE NEXT EVENT WILL BE A CHRISTMAS SOCIAL JOINTLY ORGANISED BY DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES. DO SIGN UP ON THE LINK GIVEN ON THE WEEKLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER. THANK YOU

ADVERTORIAL

FOR ALL WHO WANT TO GO TO BUDDHAPADIPA TEMPLE ON SUNDAY (25 Nov 2012) FOR KATHINA FESTIVAL, BE AT PUTNEY BRIDGE TUBE STATION (OUTSIDE THE GANTRY) AT 8.30AM

*** CALL ME, XIN, AT 07563265326 IF YOU CAN'T FIND US ***

ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN GET THERE YOURSELF.
 14 Calonne Road  London SW19 5HJ

CHEERS, HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

(P.S. please read the following documents on temple etiquettea before coming. )

http://www.buddhapadipa.org/files/2011/04/regs.pdf