Teachings in Auckland 2009Wangapeka Program 2010Wangapeka Notices || Caretakers Wanted | Caretakers Report AGM May 2005 | Caretaker's Report September 2005 | Caretaker's Report February 2006 | Newsphere Teachings in Aotearoa || Visiting Teachers in Auckland | Lama Mark Webber in NZ 2010 Tarchin's Teaching Schedule || Leander Kane's Schedule In January and February 2010 Auckland will be hosting two teachers Lama Mark Webber as part of a NZ tour There are two evening talks, and two weekend retreats. *new* Lama Mark Webber will also be giving a formal Mahayana Blessing and an Empowerment. See below for requirements and details Leander Kane, who is now resident in Whangaparoa, will teach on on the Wonderful Mystery called Body, with a 7 day residential retreat in February , and a four week course of evening classes, preceded by a free class, in February/March. Updated 13 February 2010 A printfriendly version of this page is available here January 30 - February 7, 2010 Wellpark North Shore Campus, Auckland Meditation the Experience of Freedom and the Neuroplasticity of the Brain Two evening talks, and two weekend retreats with Lama Mark Webber *new* Lama Mark Webber will also be giving a formal Mahayana Blessing and an Empowerment. A poster of Lama Mark Webber's events is available here Weekend Retreat: January 30-31 (Saturday 9am- 9pm, Sunday 9am- 5pm) Being Present in Community Dana (Donation) for the Teacher plus $200/$170 (waged/unwaged) (includes full catering and accommodation) “Being in a community requires a shared vision. However, the greater the personal psychological presence, clarity and support of each other for unfolding this vision, the more easily will the vision emerge and grow. When we are all of “one accord”, community building is a most beautiful, almost effortless engagement. Yet, when we are caught in uncomfortable feelings, disturbing mental states and harmful notions, this is the recipe for community friction, no matter how beautiful and compassionate is the collective vision. The only thing blocking the way to personal and collective harmony is fear of being hurt, disappointment or feelings of unlove—non presence. A common experience! In this workshop we will explore the fundamentals of personal and collective “health”, especially the topic of leadership and power/powerlessness, through talks, mindfulness sessions and meditations.” Lama Mark Evening talk: Tuesday, February 2, 7.30pm Compassion Dana (Donation) for the Teacher plus $10 The great Yogi Shabkar once said, “Although one's realization of Mind may be great, without compassion the Dharma is rotten." Waking up this pillar of the Path is fundamental for all of us who are growing, searching and unfolding as human beings. Eventually we come to see compassion, unified with deep insight, as the very essence of meditation. This topic has been extended to incorporate refuge, precepts, and Bodhicitta which are compassionate commitments, as preliminary teachings for the Mahayana Blessing. For those who wish to receive the Mahayana Blessing it is very important to come to this class. Thursday, February 4, 9am Mahayana Blessings followed by: The Empowerment of White Manjusri, the Embodiment of Enlightened Wisdom Location: Wellpark North Shore Campus Cost: Dana (Donation) for the Teacher End time: Approximately midday For those who wish to receive the Mahayana Blessing it is very important to go to the Tuesday class. It is customary when receiving such blessings to offer Dana to the Lama. This was traditionally given in the form of food, clothing, medicine or shelter (and nowadays with money to support the Lama in teaching and liberating the natural freedom of all beings) Please register for the Mahayana Blessings with Rafael on rafael.hoekstra@gmail.com or 021 122 5631. Evening talk: Thursday, February 4, 7.30pm Meditation and the Art of Learning Dana (Donation) for the Teacher plus $10 “Liberation and awakening are really grand crafts. And so too is meditation; it is not a rote technique. If we re-orientate our view to crafting a path of awakeness through the joy of building, discovering, unlearning, making mistakes, studying, asking questions—then meditation serves to support liberation. Then we build a mandala of awareness projects, all joining together a lucid open mind with a heart of compassion. This is an essential view. We must learn how to patiently chip away, like a good sculptor in stone, at a theme or spiritual project until revelation and deep meaning emerges.” Lama Mark Weekend Retreat: February 6-7 (Saturday 9am-9pm, Sunday 9am-5pm) Meditation, the Experience of Freedom and the Neuroplasticity of the Brain Dana (Donation) for the Teacher plus $200/$170 (waged/unwaged) (includes full catering and accommodation) “Meditative traditions and modern research on the nervous system have clearly documented that the human nervous system is capable of enormous plasticity, transformation and experiences of freedom. Let’s practically explore the interconnections between meditation, mindfulness and recent findings from the field of neuroplasticity. To a great degree, we can build and shape what we want, as long as the interest and determined attention is sustained.” Lama Mark “Stimulating the brain, which also alters our bodies, makes the nervous system grow and reconnect in almost every possible way. I ask, in what ways are we stimulating our brains? Are we placing ‘groves’ or ‘ruts’ in the brain that build negativity, hurt and pain, or groves that support openness, clarity and compassion? Meditation is sustained interest and deep attention on uncovering a continuum of calm, lucid, aware and loving mind states. Almost all of us have experienced the beautiful natural states and feelings from time to time. Who told us that we can’t dwell in and naturally function in these beautifully lucid states? All of us recognize that if we put in many hours per day we can build muscles, play a musical instrument, ride a bike, swim or learn a new language. We are all essentially wondrous grand musical instruments; we can choose to play the instrument badly, day after day, building ruts and following scratches in a vinyl record, or we can build an instrument that speaks, walks, feels and thinks with creativity, aliveness and clarity. We must be interested and focused. And that takes some training and study. Just as a person who has been injured or suffered a stroke needs to regain body, mental or speech functions, so too we need to recognize that hurtful or delusional states are an accepted level of ‘illness’ in our society. Yet we do not have to accept this way of being! We also know that regions of the brain do not lay dormant or empty. If we do not use parts of the brain we quickly lose it to other competing functions. Why have negative, hurtful or dysfunctional states take over, especially since we know for certain that our brains are constantly evolving and designed to learn? It is time to let go of these outdated and false ideas that the brain and body are fixed somewhere in puberty or early adulthood. And that we are helpless to change the organization of nerve cells and “what we have is what we shall become.” Nonsense! We do not necessarily evolve or build structures that lead to genuine happiness and profound satisfaction - yet we can. All we need are enriched environments that support and develop mind maps of compassionate clarity. The maps are there in “seed” form; otherwise we could not even recognize them or have compassion or lucidity from time to time! We require deep confidence in this process and that requires patience and exploration, not quick fixes and hope for instant enlightenment. Plasticity of the brain is the normal condition. But we must unlearn deeply held beliefs which are actually brain maps - ‘ruts’ and ‘groves’ - and that can be uncomfortable. So our reward is genuine, natural happiness, often physical bliss, otherwise there will be no change. Let us grow brains of awareness and compassion for all of us and that includes our entire biosphere. The evidence has been around for centuries; present in meditative and spiritual traditions, East and West. And now results of research in neurophysiology and learning greatly support and enrich these long developed spiritual and meditative traditions.” Lama Yongdu (Mark Webber) VENUE, REGISTRATION AND ENQUIRIES: Please ensure that you get your bookings for the weekend retreats into the Wellpark North Shore Campus Retreat Centre as soon as possible so that you do not miss out on a place. We have endeavoured to keep the costs to a minimum so that as many people as possible can participate, however if these charges will prevent you from being able to attend, please contact Rafael on rafael.hoekstra@gmail.com or 021-122-5631 to discuss.
Wellpark North Shore Campus Retreat Centre, Lama Mark Webber will also be giving a formal Mahayana Blessing for those who are interested. Leander Kane will be teaching on the Wonderful Mystery called Body in the Auckland region with a residential retreat and a weekly evening course in February and March. February 22 - 28 Sharda Centre, 15 Percy Graham Drive, Tuakau The Wonderful Mystery called Body: Healing and Transforming through Mindfulness Live-in retreat from Monday 22 February to Sunday 28 February. It will also be possible for people to attend the weekend only. A flier with more information is available here Retreat fees: $310 for the full retreat including accommodation and food plus dana. $60 for the weekend only plus dana – includes accommodation for Saturday night plus food. Dana (Donations/generosity to the Teacher): There is no set amount but this is the teacher’s only source of livelihood, so your generosity would be appreciated. As a guideline, $25 per day or more would be reasonable. Anyone unable to contribute this suggested amount, please feel free to donate within their means. Registration is essential - For additional information and to register, please contact Janet Eades 021 298 1242 or janete1@ihug.co.nz February 5, 12 &19, March 5 & 12 Kawai Purapura Community, Albany, Auckland The Wonderful Mystery called Body: Healing and Transforming through Mindfulness A flier with more information is available here A 4 week evening course preceded by a free introductory class, Friday evenings 7-9pm, at the Kawai Purapura Community in Free introductory class on Friday, February 5, 7-9pm Course dates: Fridays 7-9pm, February 12 & 19, March 5 & 12 Costs: $25 (for the full course) + Dana to Leander To register and for further information please contact Catrin Phrenie@gmx.de, 021-2671327. Also Leander is now available for individual sessions of the Wonderful Mystery called Body at her home in Whangaparoa: phone 09 428 7670 email leanderkane@clear.net.nz See Leander's teaching schedule for a description of her work, and teachings in other parts of NZ including the Wangapeka Retreat Centre. For more details about teaching in Auckland please contact Janet Eades. Email: janete1@ihug.co.nz Ph: (09) 846 8853 Mobile: 021 298 1242 On behalf of the Sphere Group Auckland. Affiliated to the Wangapeka Educational Trust www.wangapeka.org Please contact Janet to be put on the Auckland emailing list. Click here for the printfriendly version of this page About Us / Program / Teachers / Treasury / Buddings / Images / Links / Books / Stay / Contact Us / Members
Sarva Mangalam - All is Blessing
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