Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre
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Bonni Ross in Nelson 2012

Read about Bonni Ross here and at www.retreathouse.bc.ca/about-bonni-ross/. See articles by Bonni here, here and here.

The latest information about Bonni Ross' 2012 visit to NZ is available for download here and a poster is also available about Bonni's teachings in Nelson. Individual posters are available for specific retreats - see below.

Page updated 02 February 2012


Bonni in Nelson
Exciting Nelson News *updated
Nelson classes *updated
Nelson workshops:
February 17-19: Death and Impermanence *new
March 9-11: Topic to be decided
Wangapeka Retreat *updated


Exciting Nelson News
It has been confirmed that Bonni Ross and her partner Matthew Eades will be coming to stay in Nelson from January 2 until May 9, 2012. .

This offers people the chance to connect with Bonni over a four month period and receive Dharma teaching.

Here are some of the precious opportunities available during this time.

* A chance to work together to explore, engage and build a strong Sangha community in day to day life.

* Bonni will be teaching regularly at the Nelson Buddhist Centre in Nile Street

* Weekend workshops will be organised to explore pertinent themes, such as effective models of communication within dharma communities

* There will be some opportunity for personal meditation instruction

* Bonni will be leading a month long meditation retreat on the theme of Anapanasati at the Wangapeka Centre from April 6 to May 6 (see below)

The Sangha group involved in the planning feel much excitement and gratitude flowing out to Bonni and Matthew for being willing to come, to Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche and Keith Rowan for the use of the Nelson Buddhist Centre, for Ramona Clark for offering her house, for Andy and Chani who are flying in from Tasmania to help and to many others near and far who are supporting this project as it unfolds.

Now we want to look at practical ways we can support Bonni and Matthew while they are here in terms of food, domestic help, gardening, transport and such things.

Anyone who would like to offer service as a participant in the grass-roots Sangha organising committee, are very welcome.

If you want to be involved in planning or supporting the next phase of this venture or would like more information about teachings and weekend workshops please contact jane.hobday@clear.net.nz.

In Nelson we meditate together to support our development of mindfulness. If you are able to, please join us for our weekly meditation at Nelson Buddhist Centre every Tuesday 6pm – 7pm.

Ramona Clark, Kath Mitchell, Bridget Musters, Jane Hobday


Weekly classes in Nelson
January 12 to April 5
Venue: Nelson Buddhist Centre, 87 Nile St, Nelson
Cost: Dana (koha)
Contact: ramona@xnet.co.nz.

Tuesdays:
'Buddhadharma in Everyday Life'.
For everyone interested in learning about Buddhadharma including the opportunity to dialogue about our thoughts and experiences.
Starting 17th January 2012, 7.00pm - 8.30pm

Thursdays:
'Awakening in Community'
For anyone interested in exploring community from a spiritual point of view. 
Starting 12th January, 7:00 – 8.30pm


February & March Weekend Workshops in Nelson

February 17 – 19
Death and Impermanence
We were born. Sometime, we know not when, we will die.

All traditions of Buddhadharma ask practitioners to contemplate impermanence and death. It is easy to accept these facts as ideas, and very hard to process the strong emotions that arise when the reality of our own death faces us.

This workshop provides a structured opportunity to explore these feelings through a variety of meditations on death, group process, drawing and movement exercises, personal contemplation and craft work. Death ceases to be the unknown, feared enemy and emerges as a powerful ally which can strengthen our aspiration to awaken and provide an energetic antidote to lethargy and procrastination.

Learning to calmly accept arising and passing away increases our sense of the preciousness of each moment and helps us to look more clearly and fully, without denial or fantasy, at the wondrous reality of life/death. 

Cost: $180 waged, $140 unwaged
Times: Friday 7.00-9.00 pm, Saturday & Sunday 9.00 am-4.00 pm
Pre-registration and $60 deposit is necessary as numbers are limited.

For further information, and to register, please phone Ramona Clark on 021 027 45183 or e-mail ramona@xnet.co.nz 

Here is a poster, please print out and put up in a noticeboard in your community, people will be travelling from all over to go to these teachings.


March 9 – 11
Weekend workshop:Topic to be confirmed.


Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre
April 6 - May 6
Energy Rides the Winds
An exploration of Anapanasati, meditation on breathing, with Bonni Ross
This subtle and profound practice is potent for everyone. It is said to be the contemplation Gautama was engaged in as the experience of full enlightenment dawned, totally transforming him into Buddha. Since breathing defines our corporeal aliveness, as long as we are breathing, we can practice. This is good news; no special equipment or circumstances required!

We begin by developing one-pointedness of mind, the foundation of skillful meditation. This leads us quickly into a process of purification -- releasing the blocks and distortions of our energy body and defensive patterns and tension from the physical form. We begin to develop the ability to rest more durably in wholesome states of mind and to directly experience the interplay of mind and breath. As the focussed field of our awareness naturally expands, we discover, as all those who have explored the mystical path before us have done, the great Truths that transcend culture, belief and understanding rooted in intellect alone.

We will augment formal meditation with gentle methods to support our bodies’ transformation and to facilitate the healing of negative emotional reactivity.

Participants should be in relatively good physical and emotional health.

As usual, you are welcome to start at the beginning and stay as long as you can. However, preference will be given to those able to commit to the whole retreat.

Cut-off date for Registration: The cut off date for applications is the 7th February. We will let you know as soon as possible after that date whether we are able to confirm your registration and place on the Retreat. The retreat is almost full and our hope is to find a place for everyone. One possibility is that we may ask people to share rooms for the first week or two.

After this time we will operate a waiting list and there will be some flexibility thanks to people who have enrolled for part-time attendance and are still waiting for confirmation.

Costs for accommodation, food, cook and travel are:
Members: $57 per day      $1710 for 30 days
Nonmembers: $63 per day      $1890 for 30 days.

In addition to this, participants offer Dana to the Teacher for the gift of the teaching. (More about dana here)

For information about Wangapeka retreats please consult the program page on this website.

A download of this retreat information is available here and a poster is available here.

 A registration form is available here.
For further information and to register please contact the Centre
Ph 03 522-4221
email retreatcentre@wangapeka.org


This latest information about Bonni Ross' 2012 visit to Nelson NZ is available for download here

Sarva Mangalam - All is Blessing