samatha news june 2013
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Samatha Newsletter 54 - June 2013
Sam
atha
ISSUE 54JUNE2013
Welcome to the Samatha Newsletter
Samatha Events 2013
In this issue you will find details of meditation courses, periods of theory, practice and creative work taking place during the summer and autumn of 2013.
Details of Nai Boonman’s period of practice in Manchester can be found on page 3. Please note the closing date for applications is the 20th of July so you’ll need to act quickly.
The range of other courses includes weekends and weeks of samatha practice, theory, mindful work and gardening a Family Weekend and 8 days working with 8 precepts and the 8 fold path.
Please note, some of the events in August may now be fully booked.
Visit! www.samatha.org/forum to find up to date information about courses, a selection of downloadable chants, podcasts, images, photographs and videos.
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CONTENTS
Weekend Courses 2
Gardening and Practice 2
Courses With Nai Boonman 3
Family Weekend 4
5 Day Course for Newcomers 4
A Week of Theory & Practice 5
Weekend of Breathing Mindfulness 5
Working with Wakefulness 6
Manchester Extension Update 6
A Week of Samatha Practice 7
888 Practice 7
Calendar 8
Samatha Newsletter 54 - June 2013
!
Weekend Courses in Samatha Meditation 2013
These courses are for those who prefer tolearn Samatha meditation during weekends atGreenstreete, including those who havestarted practising Samatha but have not yetcompleted all the stages of the practice, and soare not yet able to go on practice weekends ormindful work weekends.
Introductory Courses are for people with no (or very little) experience of Samatha. Intermediate Courses are for those who have some experience but no local group and wish to continue to be part of an ongoing group that meets over weekends a few times a year.
The next weekend courses will be:
Introductory
11 – 13 October 2013
Intermediate
15 – 17 November 2013
For more information contact:
Ian Rose
!Ian Rose! Lavender Cottage! 6 Stanedge Road! Bakewell! Derbyshire! DE45 1DG
!01629 814617
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Gardening and Practice Week(Friday 4th October to Monday 7th October 2013) An autumn gardening weekend, pruning back, tidying, clearing and shaping the gardens around the house at Greenstreete.
We will consider the area of land behind the 'runway' and begin work on renewing the pond here.
If you like working outside, do consider joining us - it is very rewarding work and great fun!It is best if you could come for the whole period but if this is difficult please contact Fiona to discuss this.
If you are interested in coming, please contact:
Fiona Thomas: !0161 434 4126 ! [email protected]
Samatha Newsletter 54 - June 2013
Summer CoursesWith Nai Boonman 2013
Nai Boonman will be taking two periods of practice at Greenstreete this year:Sunday 14 — Wednesday 24 July Tuesday 13 — Friday 23 AugustThese will include work on the rūpa (form) and arūpa (formless) jhānas.If you would like to attend either of the periods of practice at Greenstreete, please write (having first spoken with the person to whom you report) to: The Courses Co-ordinator Manor Barn 5, Elsfield Manor Elsfield Oxford OX3 9SP.If you would be able to attend either course, it would be helpful to know that.In addition to your name and address, please could you also supply your email address if you have one (as well as any dietary requirements).
Nai Boonman will be taking a week of practice in Ireland this summer, from Saturday 27th July to Saturday 3rd August at The Servite Priory Benburb.The cost will be £330 full-board, with a deposit of £100 payable by the end of May. The number of places is limited.Please talk to your teacher before applying.All queries and applications to: Fergus Gordontel: 07753451943email: [email protected] from Belfast airports can be arranged.
Period of Practice at the Manchester CentreThere will be a four day Samatha practice course led by Nai Boonman at the Manchester Centre (19-21 High Lane)from Thursday 8th August until Sunday 11th August.
This is open to people who have done Samatha practice for over two years.Please ask your teacher before applying.Closing date for applications is Saturday 20th July.
Ensure that you can come for all four days; each day will start at 8am, and finish around 5pm.Lunch will be provided.
Dana: offers of accommodation
If anyone in Manchester would like to offer accommodation for the four days to Samatha meditators from other parts of the country please let Cos know:[email protected], if you need accommodation.
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Samatha Newsletter 54 - June 2013
Family Weekend(Thursday 25th July to Sunday 26th July 2013)
This will be a family oriented weekend with an opportunity to share Greenstreete with your
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families, do some practice and have fun. If you're single and can juggle, tell a story or breath fire you would be especially welcome to come too!
The weekend is organised by Cary Mandel and Gwil Wright
If you would like to go on the weekend please contact:
Amber Hatch
[email protected] 07979 415971 47 Edgeway RoadMarstonOxfordOX3 0HF$Andrew Caink
Marjorie Jack: majack2222 @hotmail.co.uk : 07981 495 908
Peter Kerrigan:: [email protected] : 0161 224 61
5 DAY COURSE FOR NEWCOMERS(Tuesday 6 August to Sunday 11 August 2013)
This five day period is for people who have completed the course of Samatha practice in the last year or so and feel they would benefit from time to explore and deepen their practice.It would be particularly of value to anyone who has not yet spent time at the Greensteete centre.
Interspersed with group and individual practice there will be opportunity for walking in the grounds and light work in the house and surrounding area.
If you would like to participate please check with your teacher and then apply by 29th July to:Annie O'Malley: : [email protected]: 0161 864 2313.
If you have any queries about the course you can contact
Samatha Newsletter 54 - June 2013
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A Week of Theory and Practice(Saturday 24 August - Sunday 1 September)
It is said that the dhamma is beautiful in its beginning, beautiful in its middle and beautiful in its ending. Taking the path towards freedom includes all aspects of what we are; in doing this we develop and deepen our experience, combining practice and theory. We are going to be working with aspects of the 37 requisites of Enlightenment (bodhi-pakkhiyā dhammā) both as an introduction to those who have not come across it before and to develop experience for those who already have some knowledge of it. The approach will combine investigation and understanding with Samatha practice using different ways including art.
The week will be held at Greenstreete starting on Saturday 24th August and finishing on Sunday 1st September and will be taken by Alan Brownlee and Chris Westrup.
If you would like to apply please first talk to your teacher and then book by August 1st with:
! Alan Brownlee, ! 112 Perse Way, ! Cambridge ! CB4 3SA
! 01223 315171
! [email protected] The week is suitable for those who have practiced for a year or more and have experience of the stages of the practice.
A Long Weekend of Breathing Mindfulness(8:00pm Wednesday 4th September to after lunch on Sunday 8th September 2013)
"Better than living a hundred years Unwise, unconcentrated,Is living for one day Wise, a meditator." -The Dhammapada
Synopsis
This four day course, Mindfulness of Breathing, as with the breathing practice, is suitable for all.
It will be an entirely practical course exploring mindfulness of breathing to develop all four levels of mindfulness.
Should you wish to attend and can stay for all four days, please contact [email protected]. before 14th August.If you would like more information about the course, please contact [email protected]
Samatha Newsletter 54 - June 2013
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Working withWakefulness(Sunday 22nd to Sunday 29th September 2013)
An open week from Sunday 22nd to Sunday 29th September 2013We can learn to be more awake in our daily lives by giving wise attention to what is internal and what is external. In the course of this week, we will be decorating the upstairs shrine room at Greenstreete as an act of generosity and as a means for exploring ways to cultivate wakefulness.
Anyone who is practising Samatha, regardless of their level of experience, is welcome to come and join in for the whole or for any part of the week.
You will need to bring old clothes suitable for practical work.
Please contact Karim Alami by email: [email protected] or by phone: 07531 654986 to indicate how long you are able to stay and whether you have any specific dietary needs. If you would be willing to help organise food during the week, please let Karim know.
“Bhikkhus, even as one who encompasses with his mind the great ocean includes thereby all the streams that run into the ocean, just so, whoever develops and cultivates mindfulness directed to the body includes all wholesome qualities that pertain to true knowledge.” AN 1.575
1912...
2015...
2012...
Manchester Extension UpdateThings are moving on apace. The appeal for donations will be launched in July when the appeal brochure providing information about the extension will be with you. A start has been made on approaching external funding bodies and an appeal website is under construction.
Samatha Newsletter 54 - June 2013
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A Week of Samatha Meditation Practice(Friday 18th October to Saturday 26th October 2013)
"Just as if a skilled bathman or bathman's apprentice would pour bath powder into a brass basin and knead it together, sprinkling it again and again with water, so that his ball of bath powder — saturated, moisture-laden, permeated within and without — would nevertheless not drip; even so, the monk permeates, suffuses and fills this very body with the rapture and pleasure born of seclusion. There is nothing of his entire body unpervaded by rapture and pleasure born from seclusion." (Sānaññaphala Sutta)
This week is an opportunity to explore and deepen samatha practice. It is suitable for all who have been practising for at least a year, have completed all the stages of samatha practice and wish to practice in conditions that support the development of the limbs of jhana (jhananga), balancing the faculties of confidence, vigour, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom. The course will be taken by Rosie Rose and Rob Adkins.
If you would like to come along please ask your meditation teacher in the first instance and then apply by email to: [email protected]
Period of practice observing the 8 precepts(Friday 22 November to Sunday 1 December 2013)
A period of 8 full days of meditation undertaking the 8 precepts to explore the 8-fold path, and to enhance personal practice.There will be no formal leader, but a pattern, to include :
• The session to begin on the evening of Friday, 22nd November, around 8pm with the intention of setting up the format for the 8 path days.
• A path factor to be assigned to each full day (starting from the 23rd)
• An evening group meeting every path-factor day, where those who wished to would be able to offer a formal contribution on that path factor.
• An opportunity for the group to meet together the following Sunday morning to review, reflect on, and integrate experiences of the 888 work before finishing.
You are welcome to join in with this special sangha cluster if you have completed 20 years of Samatha meditation practice (As usual - check with your teacher).
To take part in this venture send an email to [email protected] put forward your name to create the special sangha cluster before 1st November. After this date the names of the special sangha participants will be circulated amongst the sangha cluster so members can make practical arrangements.
Dana: Offering of food for the main meal for the special sangha 888:
If you wish to offer your generosity/time to plan, cook/serve the main meal for sustaining this sangha for one or more days, it would be wonderful!• There will be a room in the main house
designated for the person who offers to cook. • The cook may take part in the meetings as an
honorary sangha member for the time they are there.
Please apply as above, including the dates you'd be able to offer. Cooks names will also be included in the circular to discuss practical arrangements.
Samatha Newsletter 54 - June 2013
Chanting Week with Sutta Study
1st Summer Course with Nai Boonman
Ireland Week with Nai Boonman
5 Day Course for Newcomers
Family Weekend
2nd Summer Course with Nai Boonman
A Week of Theory and Practice
Weekend of Breathing Mindfulness
Working with Wakefulness
Gardening Weekend
Introductory Weekend
Week of Samatha Practice
Intermediate Weekend
8 days 8precepts 8 fold-path
6 - 13 July
14 - 24 July
27 July to 3 August
6 - 11 August
25 - 28 July
13 - 23 August
24 August - 1 September
5 - 9 September
22 -29 September
4 - 7 October
11 – 13 October
18 - 26 October
15 – 17 November
22 November - 1 December
Cal
enda
r of
Eve
nts
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Summer & Autumn 2013