Lama Gursam Retreat – June 30, 2018

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Marck

Lama_Gursam_June_30_2018 (1)

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Taking Refuge – What does it mean to you?

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Buddhist Sangha

What does Taking Refuge mean to you?

One way we can take refuge is:
– To appreciate and honor the original teacher, the one who awoke.
– To appreciate and honor the dharma teachings kept alive for thousands of years, and all the people who took great care to study and teach the dharma.
– To appreciate all the dedicated sanghas in past present and future who give guidance and support to each other, practicing and learning the dharma.

More about Taking Refuge

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Rebecca Li – the practice of Just Sitting

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Buddhist Sangha

On April 23, 2018 Rebecca Li gave instructions and lead a guided meditation that settles into the practice of Just Sitting or Silent Illumination. The practice of Silent Illumination is similar to the practice of Zen Shikantaza. The evening felt like a mini-retreat and instead of the usual break we all did walking meditation through the break followed by a period of Q&A.

Here is the audio recording:

Download it here “/audio/2018-04-23.RebeccaLi.SilentIllumination.mp3”

2018-04-23 SilentIllumination     
  • Introduction to the practice
  • 17m practice instructions ,
  • 31m the sitting practice period and walking
  • 1h 30m Q&A period
  • 1h 55 Closing readings

If you are interested in learning more about this practice, Rebecca recommends practicing on a retreat, where the teachers can guide you and you will have the benefit of a settled state of mind.

Next Silent Illumination retreat is 5/26/18 (Sat, 6 pm) to 6/3/18 (Sun, 10 am) with Rebecca Li with one of Master Sheng Yen’s Dharma heirs, Dr. Simon Child.

Detailed instructions will be given on this subtle method of Chan to investigate the mind, to really get to know ourselves, and to cultivate wisdom and compassion. Participants will also receive individualized instructions in private interviews. $585 (scholarships available; 3-day retreat experience needed) www.dharmadrumretreat.org

If you would like to send general feedback or share a reflection about your experience of Rebecca’s upcoming teaching on April 23rd,  you may email us at bsbc19067@yahoo.com. Your feedback is private and will not be shared publicly without your express written permission. Thank you. 

About Rebecca Li, PhD 

Rebecca LiRebecca began practicing in 1995, and attended her first seven-day intensive retreat with Chan Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Retreat Center (DDRC), in the following year. Since then she has attended numerous intensive Chan retreats. In 1999 after moving to New Jersey she began translating for Master Sheng Yen. In the same year, she began her training with the Master to become a Dharma and meditation instructor. Currently, she teaches meditation and Dharma classes and gives public lectures at the Chan Meditation Center (CMC) and leads 1- to 3-day retreats at CMC & DDRC. She has been training with Simon Child since 2008 to conduct retreat interviews and has been assisting in his intensive retreats since 2012. Along with her husband David Slaymaker, Rebecca leads Chan practice at Rutgers University and the New Jersey chapter of DDMBA and teaches on behalf of Dharma Drum in various community activities in the NJ-NY area. Rebecca is a board member of the Dharma Drum Retreat Center and professor of sociology at The College of New Jersey.

The Chan Meditation Center: http://www.chancenter.org/
The Dharma Drum Retreat Center: http://www.dharmadrumretreat.org/
See Rebecca’s talk about why we meditate here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZrcxVnufyw
Hear her recording from other visits /tag/rebecca-li/ 

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Padma Dharini – Meditation Series Commencement

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Joe Beck

We were delighted to have Padma Dharini last night on Monday, April 16, 2018. Fortunately, we were able to record this final session (as part of a 6-week meditation series). The entire talk is excellent. Midway through (starting at 31 minute mark), Padhma Dharini led us through a guided meditation exploring awareness and self. It was quite an interesting experience and enlightening to hear others’ describe their experience. The Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County is so grateful to Padma Dharini for all the time and instruction she provided over the last 6 weeks. We certainly hope to continue to benefit from Padma Dharini’s teaching in the future. Enjoy this audio below!

The Audio from April 16, 2018 below:

04.16.18 Meditation Series Commencement     

Also we have audio for some of the previous weeks

04.02.18 Practice of loving kindness or metta     

Week 6 Visual Posterboard:

 

 

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Sangha visits Feasterville Library

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Buddhist Sangha

On March 22nd the Feasterville Library welcomed our sangha members Eugene and Rika with a room with more than 40 people who wanted to learn about meditation despite the snow storm on the previous day.

The people who attended were really interested in mediation, add although some were completely new, some were familiar but did not know where or how to start.

Their sincere attitudes planted a seed of love and gratitude in our heart and inspired us to do our best.

We left them “How to Meditate” prints of sangha and we hope a glimpse of the benefits of meditation and the desire to pursue their interest.

To listen to the talk given please click here

Feasterville Library Meditation Intro     
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George Haas – The Meaning of Life, 3/12/18

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Joe Beck

We were delighted to have George Haas back to the Yardley Friends Meetinghouse on Monday, March 12th. One of our sangha member’s comment captures the visit quite well–“George, you make me feel smarter when you come here.”

The Audios from that evening are available below:

George Haas 3.12.18 Vipassana Meditation     

George Haas 10.30.17 Dharma Talk     

Mettagroup Founder George Haas

Mettagroup founder George Haas began his creative explorations in the fine arts, as a visual artist and poet associated with the late Seventies downtown New York City art scene that coalesced around the iconic Club 57 — a community that included Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Madonna, among others. (George’s work will be included in a Club 57 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art opening on October 31).

Following a relocation to Los Angeles to advance a career in the film industry George began to study meditation with Shinzen Young, which led to his pursing the path of meditation teacher and ultimately founding Mettagroup. George has brought his creative and synthetic skills to bear in a skillful wedding of Theravada Buddhist theory and practice and the modalities of western psychology, particularly Attachment Theory, with spectacular results. “George’s teachings are extraordinarily powerful,” says BSBC sangha member Philip Murphy. “Looking through the lens of attachment theory at the ways we form and maintain personal relationships, and utilizing Buddhist meditation practice to reimagine and implement affirming life strategies has had a profound impact on my way of being in the world.” states Philip. (To view a two-minute overview video on Mettagroup’s The Meaningful Life course, click here.)

To view a 2 minute video on Mettagroups “The Meaningful Life” course please visit:

https://vimeo.com/174866097

To learn more:

https://www.mettagroup.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_theory
…
http://press.moma.org/2016/11/club-57/

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Lama Gursam visits Buddhist Sangha March 2018

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Buddhist Sangha

Please join us at Makefield Friends Meeting House on March 2, 7pm-9pm, for an evening meditation and dharma talk and again on March 3, 9am-4pm, as Yogi Acharya Lama Gursam leads us in a silent retreat.

During the retreat we will enjoy a quiet lunch (bring your own lunch) with discussion afterwards.

lama.jpg

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Dharma Voices for Animals film and discussion

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Buddhist Sangha

 

Monday, January 15 and 25th, 2018, 8 PM (following meditation at 7)

Join us for a two-part screening of the Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA) film, Animals and the Buddha. This powerful film explores our relationship with animals in the context of the buddhadharma and was produced by award-winning documentary filmmaker Keegan Kuhn (Cowspiracy, What The Health).

Buddhist luminary interviews are featured and a post-screening group discussion will be led by DVA Los Angeles Chapter Leader and BSBC Member Philip Murphy. Please join us for the film screenings and engaged conversation!

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2017 New Years Retreat

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Buddhist Sangha

Jeanne with Lama Gursam to her left and James above during retreat

On this last evening of the year, you are invited to join the BSBC community for a rare and lovely opportunity to engage in extended meditation practice with our sangha. The retreat will be from 7 pm to 12 am.  Everyone is welcome to come for the whole or part of the evening.

The retreat will include guided meditation instructions, chanting, alternating sitting movement and walking  meditation periods, and a time for sharing poems, readings and reflections.

Sangha member and long-time practitioner Jeanne Reis will lead the retreat with BSBC founder James Reis who now reside in Boston.

If you aren’t able to arrive at 7 pm, you may either time your arrival to coincide with a walking session or enter quietly if the group is sitting. If a sitting is in progress, choose a spot in the back of the hall, then feel free move to a preferred spot during the next walking session. There will be chanting sessions at the beginning and end of the evening; chanting sheets will be provided.

You may bring a favorite poem, reading, and snack to share at teatime, if you wish.

Suggested donation is $10 to cover the cost of reserving the meetinghouse

Please contact us with questions 

Tentative Evening Schedule:

7:00-7:30pm                    Welcome, settle in, quiet sitting
7:30 – 8:00pm                  Walking
8:00 – 8:40 pm                Opening session and Bells Meditation chanting
8:40 – 9:00 pm                Walking session* (instructions available)
9:00 – 9:30 pm                 Quiet Meditation
9:30 – 10:00 pm               Tea: share readings, poems, intentions
10:00 – 10:30 pm             Mindful Movement
10:30 – 11:45 pm               Alternating quiet sitting and walking
11:45 – 12:00 am               Closing and final chant

*You may opt to continue sitting during walking sessions, if you wish

Download BSBC New Years Eve Retreat Schedule 2017

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 The practice of Samadhi – 11/27/17 Nikki Mirghafori

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Buddhist Sangha

Nikki Mirghafori joined the sangha in November 2017 to discuss the practice of Samadhi (unification of mind).

You may see the video that was streamed live by clicking the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn1mf4WWGY8   – There are also auto generated subtitles available so you can make use of that!

Nikki is a Spirit Rock authorized retreat teacher, a Stanford trained compassion cultivation instructor, and a UCLA certified mindfulness facilitator, Nikki teaches Buddhist meditation and contemplation nationally. She was introduced to contemplative practices and yoga in the early 1980’s, to meditation in 1991 and to Theravada Buddhism in 2003 and has studied with various Western and Eastern teachers.

In 2012, Nikki was invited by Jack Kornfield to join the 2013-2016 joint teacher training program at Spirit Rock/IMS/IMC, and was mentored by Gil Fronsdal and Guy Armstrong. She holds a PhD in computer science from UC Berkeley, engaging in daily life practice as a research scientist in academia.

In addition to Pa Auk Sayadaw, she has practiced with other monastic teachers such as Bhikkhu Analayo, Ajahn Succitto, U Tejaniya, and Tsoknyi Rimpoche (Dzogchen), as well as highly respected Western teachers, such as Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Guy Armstrong, Gil Fronsdal, and Steven Tainer (Chan).  She particularly appreciates and enjoys the depth of long-retreat practice.

Please visit the following URL for a long list of Nikki’s Dharma talks:
http://www.audiodharma.org/teacher/229/

See the following URL for a more complete biography–
https://www.nikkimirghafori.com/bio

 

 

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