The Wangapeka Community
These are always in flux so if you have a contribution or for missing links please contact: wanga.comms@gmail.com
Throughout NZ Aotearoa members and friends of the Wangapeka have established local groups for mutual support. These groups of Wangapeka Sangha are nonsectarian, and vary in both formality and size from established Dharma House or group society to the informal meeting of a small group of friends. All enquiries are welcome.
Below is a list of contacts and regular activities for each region. Regular meditation teachings are also available in some areas.
Auckland
The Auckland Sphere Group is affiliated to the Wangapeka Education Trust. Regular activities include: Weekly group meditations on Metta, Mindfulness; and Teachings, classes and retreats. All are welcome. To sign up to the Auckland Sphere Group email list click here. For further information please contact: Janet Eades, ph: (09) 846 8853, mobile: 021 298 1242 or Mira Riddiford (09) 213 3246, mobile: 021 548 781.
Website: www.aucklandsphere.org
Email: info@aucklandsphere.org
The Auckland Sphere Group Facebook Page
Mira Riddiford is a meditation and mindfulness teacher who runs retreats and online series, with students across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia. With more than 20 years of daily practice, Mira has been trained internationally through retreat work, study and apprenticeship. She specialises in teaching on Western Mysticism, Archetypal integration and Non-Duality in a way that’s clear and accessible to students at all levels of study, including beginners. Her contemporary, warm and engaging style breathes life into these ancient yet-still-valuable meditation teachings. www.mirariddiford.org
Katikati, Bay of Plenty
Regular Group Activities: For information contact Kelvin: falconer@enternet.co.nz.
Tarchin Hearn gives meditation and buddhadharma teachings open to all when in residence at Orygen Hermitage, his and Mary’s land near Katikati. For dates and times please check www.greendharmatreasury.org/teaching-retreat/public-schedule/ or email the Katikati contact. It’s also possible to do retreats at Orygen Hermitage.
Leander Kane is now resident in the Katikati and offers classes, individual sessions and retreats in Katikati and Auckland. For further information phone (07) 549 2729 or email: leanderkane@clear.net.nz.
Tauranga, Bay of Plenty
Drawing inspiration from the world’s great wisdom traditions, modern science, and the unbroken oral transmission of Buddhist Teachings, we engage in a range of mindfulness and meditation practices to foster wisdom, compassion and awareness in the midst of everyday living. Tauranga grounds these activities in local conditions, local relevancies, needs and concerns; Dharma as applied in Tauranga, now – today.
Our Website: http://www.mindfulliving.co.nz
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TaurangaDharma
Email us
Wellington and Lower Hutt
There is an ongoing program, sitting group called the Manawa Ora Meditators, and visiting teachings convened by Ruth Pink. Email pinkruth@xtra.co.nz for further information and to be added to their newsletter. Ph: 04 801 8896 or mobile: 027 676 6895.
Dido Dunlop now lives in Lower Hutt. She teaches groups and individuals around New Zealand, and around the world, often by Skype. She’s been teaching for close to 40 years.
She’s especially interested in applying the teachings to help with climate change, and the culture shift we need to create a regenerative lifestyle on this planet. We’re presently starting an Engaged Buddhist group for Climate Change, involving all Buddhist schools.
Dido teaches among other things female deities such as Green Tara, 21 Taras, and the Dancing Dakinis of the Elements.
This year Dido published a book ‘Storm Weathering: a Workbook for our Inner and Outer Climate’, and is working on further books.
See Dido’s website www.wisebirds.org or contact Dido: dido@wisebirds.org
Nelson
Meditation and Buddhadharma Teaching is available from Keith Rowan whose interest is non-sectarian teaching. Keith also teaches at The Nelson Buddhist Centre with teacher Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoché. Contact Keith: keith@krdesign.co.nz
For weekly meditation and other activities in Nelson please contact Mark: schrader.mark@gmail.com.
Golden Bay, Nelson
For details on regular group activities and other activities contact Carolyne: carleigh@xtra.co.nz
West Coast, South Island
For details of regular group meetings and other activities in Westland contact Jenny: jennyhellyer@xtra.co.nz
Christchurch
For details of meetings, meditation and activities contact Kathleen: kathleen@xtra.co.nz
Queenstown
The Queenstown Dharma Centre Established in 1997 the Queenstown Dharma Centre is dedicated to embracing the full richness of life through meditation, insight and fellowship. The Centre welcomes both residents and visitors to Queenstown.
We practice wisdom, compassion and awareness in a non-sectarian context for the benefit of all. By focusing on the essence of great teachings and practices of liberation we can come to recognise and embrace our own inherent freedom.
Contact information:
www.dharmacentre.org.nz
Phone: (03) 442 5761
Email info@dharmacentre.org.nz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qtdharmacentre.
Overseas Affiliations
Canada
Dharma Centre of Canada at Kinmount was founded by Namgyal Rinpoché
Bodhi Publishing is a source of books by Namgyal Rinpoché
Friends of the Heart – a Toronto based group of students associated with Catherine Rathbun
Crystal Staff is located in Ottawa
Crystal Mountain – a Retreat Centre on Galiano Island, BC
Sunshine Coast Retreat House – a Retreat House in Robert’s Creek on the Sunshine Coast (near Vancouver), BC, Canada under the guidance of resident teacher Bonni Ross
Lama Mark Webber is based on Galiano Island, BC. For a biography see here. Mark Webber’s website is www.markwebber.org
http://www.atimarga.org/ Ven. Sonam Senge is based on Vancouver Island, BC.
Robert Sinclair teaches buddhadharma through art in Edmonton. For a biography see here
Yukon Dharma Society: Lama Lodro (Jeff Olson) resides and teaches in Whitehorse. Contact email: yukon.dharma@yknet.ca
Novayana Society of Eastern and Western Studies, Cecilie Kwiat’s community in Edmonton and Calgary.
Clear Sky Centre Doug Duncan Sensei has founded this Centre in the Canadian Rockies, BC.
Australia
Perth
The Origins Centre in Perth – led by Chimé Shore. Besides teachings in Perth they hold courses and retreats at the Balingup Retreat Centre. Website:www.origins.mysouthwest.com.au
Contact email: Origins@iinet.net.au
Melbourne
Open Path Meditation is led by Bill Genat and Kathryn Shain. Website: www.openpathmeditation.com.auContact email kshain@aapt.net.au
United States
The Open Path in Boise.
Website: www.theopenpath.org
Contact email: President@theopenpath.org
UK
Crystal Group – UK group with Retreat Centre in Herefordshire.
Website: www.crystalgroup.org.uk
Contact email: ad.brugman@ukonline.co.uk. Sonia Moriceau teaches here
Germany
Dharma Group in Germany.
Contact email info@combi-nations.de
Switzerland
Contact email michael.gohl@bluewin.ch
Japan
Dharma Japan – a Kyoto-based Dharma group led by Doug Duncan.
Website: www.dharma-japan.org
Brazil
Jangchub Reid teaches in Brazil www.novayana.com
Contact email info@novayana.com
Guatemala
There is an affiliated group in Guatemala, retreats have been held at: www.villasumaya.com and www.balamya.com
Other Dharma Links
Some Wangapeka visitors
Diamond Sangha New Zealand – based in Nelson and led by Roshi Mary Jaksch
The Nelson Buddhist Centre with teacher Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoché.
Dr Steven Aung is based in Edmonton, Canada
Soundseasy with Mikal Nielsen
Healing-Shiatsu Sonia Moriceau Sensei – Meditation and Shiatsu in UK
NZ Mountains and Rivers Order (Zen)
Retreat Centres in NZ and Overseas
Although of different traditions our teachers are welcome at these retreat centres
BellaRakha Retreat Centre at Oratia (formerly known as Knock na Gree) and Kawai Purapura Community at Albany are frequently used by Wangapeka Teachers and others affiliated to our group.
Te Moata, Mana Retreat and Dharma Gaia Garden – all in the Coromandel, New Zealand
Dorje Ling Retreat Centre – a Tasmanian Retreat Centre in Australia, under the guidance of Zasep Tulku Rinpoché, also hosts visits by Namgyal lineage teachers including Tarchin Hearn and Cecilie Kwiat.
Open Mind Meditation is run by Mana Waite in West Australia
Websites of Interest
East West Wisdoms, run by Dr Jacqui Dodds, has interesting articles, book reviews and recorded interviews.
Buddha Net has comprehensive links including a Top 10 Buddhist Websites webpage including:-
Women Active in Buddhism
Himalayan Art – featuring over 1500 artworks from Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India, China and Mongolia.
and Shambala Publications – a major Buddhist publisher.
Dharma Directories – Buddhist groups in NZ and around the world
The New Zealand Spiritual Directory – An up-to-date resource for any person interested in developing his/her own spirituality
Dharma Net – This is one of the first and largest Buddhist websites on the Net. It has been online since 1991.
DharmaNet International WebRing – A ‘webring’ of some 187 (or more) websites whose focus is Buddhadharma
Buddha Net aims to facilitate a significant Buddhist presence in the ever-expanding realm of computer communications technology. As well as links to interesting websites, ebooks, multimedia and education it includes comprehensive regional directories such as the New Zealand Directory
E-Sangha is a Buddhism portal that contains free buddhist e-books, Buddhism discussion forum, free e-cards and an extensive collections of Buddhism related links