SOLSTICE WALK IN GLENDALOUGH

21 DEC 2008 – NOON

The ‘old heart, new heart’ mindfulness sangha would like to offer an invitation to the Buddhist Network members and their friends, to join together at noon on the shortest day of the year, to walk in peace through an ancient valley of Glendalough. We will meet at the entrance to the visitor centre, where the free car parking and toilet are provided by Duchais. The entrance is on the left, just as you enter the very beginning of the valley. Please try to be early and wrap up warm (waterproof leggings if you have them), boots are best but stout shoes are ok as terrain is easy but muddy in parts. If you bring your dog please keep on a lead and be prepared to clean up after it.

The local hotel serves grand lunches and we can expect to be back there by 2pm. The walk will include short stops and time to absorb the scenery which is always dramatic and breathtaking. The main sights include:
· The Hollywood Labyrinth,
· The board walk over the wild marshes,
· Lower lake, woods and upper lake,
· Refert Church and St. Kevin’s Cell,
· Oak forest and back to the monastic complex with round tower.

The hotel is close by and we can go in there in small groups, as people are ready. The journey from Kilmacanogue on the N11 should take 35-40 minutes. Take the Glendalough roundabout road, passing through Annamore and Laragh. St. Kevin’s bus from Dublin does not get there until 1pm!

HOPE YOU CAN COME. Ring Fiona 087-9270647 if lost.

Visit by Ajahn Vajiro 7th to 9th November 2008

Venerable Vajiro was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1953. Upon graduating in England in1974, he began attending Buddhist meditation retreats.

Soon therafter he went to meet with Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho in1977, and in 1978 asked to join the community as an anagārika. He left for Thailand in 1979 and in October that year he became a samanera, receiving upasampada from Ajahn Chah in June 1980.

Venerable Vajiro returned to England in 1984, and assisted with the establishment of Amaravati Buddhist Centre. From 1985 to 1986 he resided at Harnham Buddhist Monastery and from 1986 to 1993 he lived at ‘Cittaviveka’. Then between 1993 and 1998 he led the community in Bodhinyanarama before spending the following three years living quietly in the hermitage ‘Sanghaloka’. He now resides at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England.

Friday 7 Nov

7-10pm An evening sitting (meditation and talk/questions)
at rooms above Crysalis shop on Woodstock Rd, where Jampa Ling Belfast meet.

Saturday 8 Nov

8-10am Morning sitting at Black Mountain Zen Centre, Belfast. http://www.blackmountainzencentre.org/

10.30am-1pm Dana at Peace House, Lisburn Rd, Belfast
(Giving of food. Please bring along a little food to offer to Ajahn and then to share - rice will be provided. Also time for short meditation/chanting.)

7-10pm Evening sitting at Black Mountain Zen Centre

Sunday 9 Nov

Morning - private visit

2-4pm Afternoon sitting at Black Mountain Zen Centre

7.30-9pm Evening sitting at Black Mountain Zen Centre


Please contact Claire Ferry for further information

tele (028) 9022 0426

claire@claireferryyoga.net

Pictures from Multyfarnham Friary

Hi all,

Here is the link to the pictures I took as part of our gathering at Multyfarnham Friary.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/julian1970NornIron/MultyFarnhamFriary


With Deep bows always,

Julian Cigognini
Black Mountain Zen Centre

Insight (Vipassana) Meditation Weekend Retreat

Insight (Vipassana) Meditation Weekend Retreat with Bhante Bodhidhamma



Bhante Bodhidhamma is an English monk in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. He has trained in Burma, Thailand, and Sri Lanka as well as in England, and has been coming to Ireland since 1988 to lead retreats. He has been ordained for over twenty years.

Outline: Training in Insight (Vipassana ) Meditation and Buddhist Teachings
This retreat teaches Insight Meditation according to the method developed by the Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma.

Date: 6 p.m. Friday 3rd October - 4 p.m. Sunday 5th October 2008

Venue: An Tobar, Navan, Co. Meath.

Cost: €180 residential, Fri-Sun
€40 per day non-residential
Concessions available

Booking: To make a booking or if you require further information, please contact Margaret Groome at 01-282 8199 / buddhism@ireland.com

· The retreat is suitable for beginners & advanced meditators.
· Donations to the monk, if desired, are not included in the above cost.

Evening talk and meditation: 8 p.m. Wednesday 1st October with Insight Meditation Group. For further information contact Margaret 01-282 8199.

Fast and Pray for Tibet, August 30, 7am - 7pm.

Dear Friends,

One of our BNI member sanghas, Bodhicharya Ireland, has received the following email from its teacher Ringu Tulku Rinpoche.

Please consider taking part or supporting in whatever way you feel appropriate.

Here is the mail from RTR...


"Dear All,
We had a special meeting of Lamas of all schools of Tibetan Buddhism
with His Holiness the Dalai Lama yesterday morning at 9 am before the
inauguration of the Lerab Ling Temple [Rigpa, France]. He asked all Tibetan Lamas in the
west to work together and gave very specific advices on various important subjects. I will write about them all soon when I will be able to transcribe it.
The most urgent request that he made was to observe the Fasting Prayer Day on Aug 30th. from 7 am to 7 pm. for Tibet and all such problems like that of Tibet.
I hope all the centers and groups connected with me will be able to
observe this and pray for all the problems of the world.
I will be driving from Austria to Munich on that day and will observe the
fast and prayers.
Wish you all the best,
RT"

Incidentally, I watched the inauguration of the Lerab Ling Temple live online, thanks to Rigpa Dublin, and was very inspired to hear HH Dalai Lama teach so inspiringly.

He spoke about the essence of Buddhism being Wisdom and Compassion - in order to benefit beings, longing to attain complete enlightenment.

It was rather shocking and saddening, however, to hear HHDL speaking about Tibet...

He said that during the most recent uprising, March 2008, he felt China's brutal clampdown signalled the beginning of the very end for Tibet.

He recalled how, in his lifetime, various cultures had been wiped out by the Han Chinese - the Manchurians, the Inner Mongolians - and how Tibet would be the next catastrophic disappearance.

Perhaps most sobering of all was when His Holiness likened the current situation in Tibet to a prisoner who has been given the death sentence -

The final outcome is now clear and inevitable.
There is nothing that can be done to avoid it.

HHDL spoke about how the Buddhist approach of non-violence and compassion for the Chinese has led paradoxically to Tibet losing her country.
He also mentioned that all the glorious Tibetan masters of the past [themselves living Buddhas] could not do anything to avoid losing their country.
How sad to see most of today's masters living as refugees in exile, including HHDL himself who concluded -

People look to me for guidance and leadership towards a free Tibet.

But what can I do?

...Nothing!

It's too late!

Annual Council Meeting of BNI

Left to right - James Curtin [Passadhi], Deirdre O'Mahony [Shambhala],
Steve Williamson [Black Mountain Zen], Bruno Breathnach [chair],
Malcolm MacClancy [Rigpa], Fiona Wilson [Mindfulness Ireland],
Alan Eustace [Jampa Ling].

Today, August 16 2008, was a very auspicious day for Buddhism in Ireland. Each of the main lineages in Ireland sent a representative to this momentous first Council Meeting. We opened discussions in may specific areas such as the ethos and vision of the Network, future projects and common aspirations.

We meditated together and acknowledged, with deep gratitude, the Dharma-work of our Root Teachers and Lineages, and the support of the Sanghas we represent.

Our common motivation is to work harmoniously together for the benefit of beings and we have set a date in October for an important feedback meeting.

The atmosphere was joyful and open, and we look forward to including, at the next meeting, Elders from Kagyu Samye Dzong, Bodhicharya, Irish Zen Group and Vipassana Association, who were unable to contribute today.