Intensive Practice Nights
This collective practice evening is a chance to come along and do a solid night’s practice with other Sangha folk. The evening usually consists of a long meditation sit and then a Puja, and is open to people who have been around the Sangha for a while and who have a regular meditation practice, as well as a desire to practice Puja.
Led by Vajrashura and Pavara. On a donation basis.
Mastering the Basics: Tuesday Night Drop-in Class
This drop-in class is intended for all those who would like the opportunity to meditate with others or who have just completed a foundation meditation course and are wondering what to do next. In it we’ll be exploring ways of engaging with meditation and the issues that arise in our lives with help from the Buddhist tradition.
All welcome, whatever your level of practice. No need to book, just turn up.
Led by Jnanadhara & Aksobhin. On a donation basis.
Morning Meditations
This is for people who’d like to have a communal meditation sit in the morning before they start their work day. The sit is from 7.30am - 8.25am, but we’d ask you arrive around 7.20am to set yourself up beforehand.
Led by Dayananda and Tony Keogh.
Introduction to Buddhism Course
The Buddha taught a path of self transformation culminating in Enlightenment: the complete transcendence of all unhelpful and negative states of mind and being. In this course we will be introducing the Buddha, the Path that he taught and the Spiritual Community of men and women who tread that path.
Our Introduction to Buddhism course is aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about Buddhism in general and how we practice it in our particular Western context. No experience of meditation is necessary.
Led by Vajrashura.
Starts Thursday 9th September 2010.
Women's Sangha Group
This group will be meeting up on the second Saturday of every month and is a chance for women in the Sangha to get to know each other, meditate and study together. The evening starts with a meditation sit from 7.30pm - 8pm. Open to any woman who has completed the foundation meditation course and has an interest in Buddhism.
No booking required, just turn up. On a donation basis.
Practice Mornings
February: Sunday 12th
March: Sunday 4th
April: Saturday 14th
Led by Prajnagita and team.
We're delighted to launch these new weekend meditation mornings at the Centre. They are an opportunity to come together regularly for intensive collective mediation practice. The morning will consist of three consecutive sits, each around 45 minutes long, with short leg stretches and a tea break in between. All the mornings run 10am - 1pm.
No need to book, on a donation basis.
New Year Tonic
Invest in your health & wellbeing with a day of balancing energies and reducing stress. The workshop includes deep relaxation, yoga postures to eliminate energy blockages, stress management tips, simple acupressure points, life coaching, meditation and simple routines to positively enhance your mind, body and spirit.
Led by Mairead Keane, Stress Management Consultant.
Dharma Enquiry Day
Transforming Anger
Led by Jnanadhara.
On this Dharma Enquiry Day Jnanadhara will explore the theme 'Transforming Anger'. Anger is a very painful emotional state that is extremely corrosive of our general well-being. It is also the root of much destructive behaviour. On this Dharma Enquiry Day we'll be looking to gain clarity on what anger is and how it arises. We'll also be exploring creative strategies for working with anger, strategies that transform the energy that arises with it into something positive and beneficial, and that do justice to the complexities of the mental and emotional processes involved.
Mitra Mornings
March: Saturday 31st, for Men Mitras, 10am - 1pm. Led by Vajrashura.
These mornings are a special opportunity for the Mitra Sangha to come together and engage in communal Dharma practice. They will mainly involve meditation and puja, but also with a chance to talk about practice more generally. On a donation basis. The morning in February will take place in the centre, the morning in March in the Men's Community in Sandymount.
On a donation basis.
Cavan Retreats
A retreat gives you a chance to put aside the concerns and demands of your everyday routine. By getting away from the noise and clutter of the city or wherever you come from, you can begin to relax and open up. Many people who go on retreat feel more grounded, calmer and in touch with themselves. Those who go on retreat regularly find these qualities pervading the rest of their lives, and find their spiritual practice naturally deepening. They are suitable if you've done a Foundation Meditation Course.
Alive to the Positive
February: Fri 10th - Sun 12th: Led by Jnanadhara & Vajrashura.
Cost: € 205 waged / € 165 low-waged / € 125 unwaged.
We often approach our meditation in terms of ‘getting rid of hindrances’ or ‘eliminating distraction’. This is of course a perfectly valid approach; however it can lead us to be overly problem orientated. On this retreat the focus will be on dwelling in the positive factors already present in our minds and allowing them mature into deeper states of contentment, clarity and joy.
This retreat is suitable for all levels of experience, though if you haven't been on retreat before, or if you've not spent a lot of time on retreat, then this weekend will be particularly appropriate for you.
The weekend will be held at The Old Rectory, a Georgian house, set it in beautiful grounds, in Donard, Co. Wicklow. This is comfortable retreat venue, suitable for all, but especially for those who find the accommodation in our usual venue challenging.
March: Fri 16th - Mon 19th: Led by Jnanadhara & Aksobhin.
Cost: € 175 waged / € 155 low-waged / € 125 unwaged.
April: Thu 5th - Mon 9th: Led by Jnanadhara & Vajrashura.
Cost: € 205 waged / € 185 low-waged / € 155 unwaged.
These retreats will all be held in our usual and well-loved retreat venue, Sandville House, set in the lovely Cavan countryside.
Parinirvana Day Festival
On this festival day we'll be commemorating the physical death of the Buddha, through meditation, readings, mantra chanting, a talk and puja. More details will be announced closer to the time.
Retreat for Men Mitras and Order Members
Brahma-Viharas - The Sublime Abodes
This retreat is for all Men Mitras and Order Members, and will be on the theme of 'The Brahma Viharas', the four 'sublime abodes'. These are the cultivation of metta, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. These four qualities are the basis of emotional maturity and the foundation of transcendental compassion. The retreat will be held in Jyotika's house in Wicklow. Please book for this retreat by the end of January.
Day Retreats for Women Mitras and Order Members
May: Saturday 12th, 10am - 5pm. Led by Subhadramati
Candraprabha lives and work in Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre, where she is part of the Women's Ordination Team who help women prepare for ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order. Subhadramati is the Women's Mitra Convenor in the London Buddhist Centre, as well as President of the Dublin Buddhist Centre.
They will both be leading day retreats for Women Mitras and Order Members, which will include meditation, study and ritual. More details will be announced closer to the time.
'The Bliss of Wise Attention'
An Exploration of Dharmic Reflection
Led by Dhammaloka
Who does your thinking? This is a weekend on foolish and intelligent reflection. Our habitual minds may be compared to a wheel driven by us whilst driving us: a way of thinking that, in Buddhism, is called "papanca", mental proliferation. It is a most efficient means of making ourselves and others unhappy.
The wholesome and enjoyable alternative to papanca is wise attention and consideration. This is a way of meditative reflection and thinking leading to clarity, spaciousness and an open heart. On this weekend we'll be looking at how to reflect well upon the Dharma and enjoy the bliss of wise attention.