Newsletter No. 18 - September 2005

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TASHI DELEK! From the Trustees
TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
 

MESSAGE FROM THE TRUSTEES

The "Bodhicaryavatara" - a guide to the Bodhisattva's way of life by Shantideva was taught to us by Lama Lekshey on his recent visit. These teachings incorporated the six perfections (or paramitas) on how to walk the eightfold path as taught by the Buddha. Lama's teachings were captivating and very relevant to ordinary life and our own personal experiences. Everyone had a lot to contemplate and absorb. We quote below an extract from Lama-la's closing remarks at the end of the final teaching. The full transcript is enclosed separately with this newsletter, followed by a short personal reflection on the teachings by two of our members.
"So, until now everybody has worked hard we have found this place now and although
there may have been some disagreements about finding it, I would say that our first step is done and we have to do more and this is now a holy place. We do not need a kind of certificate to make it a holy place. We don't need a kind of seal to make this a holy place. A holy place is everywhere if you have a pure vision. There is no negative place anywhere. Negative place comes when your mind is negative.

so this place is particularly used for Dharma practice and the environment also shows the Dharma practice... it used to be a church in the past, that means it was used for many years for the spiritual purpose and it was already a holy place. Now it is us who are using this place and we also use this for good purpose and with the blessings of Buddha, Dharma, Sanghas and with the blessings of our Guru. Through the force of our faith and devotion this place is now a holy place. Even if you cannot practice you can visit this place often, you can bring your friends. There is no one who can't come to this place. You don't necessarily have to be a Buddhist to come to this place So, usually Tibetans what they do is that, whenever they have important business or important works to do, they go to visit (the Temple) and make the offerings (flowers, incense etc) and make wishes for what particular work or job they might be doing to be achieved. So, you can also do in the same way. Come here sometimes when you have time or when you are doing important things or even when you have some problems, sickness etc and say prayers and prayer is not necessarily to read Buddhist text. Prayers you can make with your own words and with your own mind. Tell them whatever difficulties you have and ask them, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, to give the blessings and if your karma and faith all go positively then I am sure there will be blessings."
We are grateful for all the blessings and teachings bestowed on us and hope to remember and uphold them in our daily life and practices. Thank you to everyone who supports the Centre financially and in every other way. Our wish is for the Centre to grow and provide a place where Dhanna can be taught in a relaxed atmosphere with the intention of bringing a resident Lama to this area. This is a sacred opportunity for us all to work together for the same purpose and benefit many beings.

Vedant, Richard, Jill and Liz

LAMA LEKSHEY'S TEACHINGS ON CD/DVD

Lama Lekshey's teachings on the "Bodhicaryavatara" are available at the Centre for £3 50 each on CD (£25 for the set of eight) or £10 each on DVD (£27 for the set of three). Four Introductory Teachings on Buddhism given by Lama Lekshey are also available for £3.50 each on CD (£12 for the set).

CENTRE VOLUNTEER DAY—SUNDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2005

The Centre has now been open nearly 18 months and every 6 months we have a dedicated day to keep the property in order. We still have some outstanding painting to do to the outside of the building and tidying and re-planting of the plant troughs etc. All the inside rooms need a thorough clean. We also need help with checking and re-stocking our handouts. This is an occasion where members of the STL Sangha can get together and get to know one another better, so come along and help us to keep our Centre up to scratch. Please enter your name on the form at the Centre or leave a message on the answerphone.

Jill Stanley

SUPPORT THE STL AND ACCUMULATE MERIT!!

Lama Lekshey's visit was a great boost to our income and has enabled the Trustees to reduce our mortgage. which now stands at about £85,000. Lama-la wished the funds to be used in this way to enable progress to be made to expand our facilities for the benefit of the community.

You will find a bank standing order mandate (S/0) and Gift Aid declaration form with this newsletter If you pay by S/0 you are not expected to donate when you visit the Centre. The regular income provided by our member's S/0's is the financial mainstay of the Centre. If you already donate by S/O please consider paying a little more. If you are a taxpayer and complete the Gift Aid declaration, the STL is able to claim back from the Inland Revenue an additional 28p for every pound you give!

A copy of the STL's accounts for the year ended 30 September 2004 was circulated at our last open meeting on 1st May 2005. If you were unable to be present, copies are available from the Centre upon request. The accounts for the current year ending 30 September 2005 will be prepared shortly.

Richard Sedgley

WWII 60TH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE

The STL was invited to participate as the Buddhist representatives at this inter-faith service held in the open air at Bournemouth Pier approach on Sunday 14th August 2005. The service was attended by war veterans, civic leaders and the general public with about 1,500 people attending. Lama Lekshey was keen that we should participate and trustees Jill Stanley and Richard Sedgley spoke on behalf of the STL with a quotation from HH the Dalai Lama, with the main thrust of the message being the need to transform our individual lives and society through compassion. There were also representatives of the Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faiths. The service included a march-past by the Ghurkhas which helped bring home the point that non-Christian peoples also fought and died in the war.

Jill and Richard arriving at the cere mony (above) and Jill speaking (right)


PROGRAMME FOR SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2005

SUNDAYS 18.00-19.30
INTRODUCTORY BUDDHIST
TEACHINGS AND MEDITATION
EVERYONE WELCOME

TUESDAYS 19.30-21.00
GREEN TARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

WEDNESDAYS 19.30-21.00
INTRODUCTORY BUDDHIST
TEACHINGS AND MEDITATION
EVERYONE WELCOME

THURSDAYS 09.30-11.00
MEDITATION
EVERYONE WELCOME

THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2005
19.30-21.00
MANJUSHRI SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2005
19.30-21.00
AVALOKITESHVARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER 2005
19.30-21.00
MEDICINE BUDDHA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER 2005
19.30-21.00
MANJUSHRI SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER 2005
19.30-21.00
AVALOKITESHVARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER 2005
19.30-21.00
MEDICINE BUDDHA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2005
19.30-21.00
MANJUSHRI SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2005
19.30-21.00
AVALOKITESHVARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2005
19.30-21.00
MEDICINE BUDDHA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER 2005
19.30-21.00
AVALOKITESHVARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 23 JUNE 2005
19.30-21.00
MEDICINE BUDDHA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

SUGGESTED DONATION: £5
CONCESSIONS: £2.50

MEDITATION AFTERNOON 30TH OCTOBER 2005

Another opportunity to spend a Sunday afternoon in silent meditation. We will develop our attention, sensitivity and awareness through sitting, walking and standing meditation. Come and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of our beautiful Centre. Everyone welcome! From 2.00-5.00 p.m. Liz Elwick

HIS HOLINESS SAKYA TRIZIN'S VISIT TO SPAIN 2006

His Holiness will visit the Sakya Drogon Ling in Denia / Pedreguer from 28 September to 17 October 2006 (approximately) Please contact the Sakya Drogon Ling for more de-tailed information and a brochure.

Tel: 00-34-96-5760777 Email: info@sakyadrogonling.com Alternatively, please contact our Trustees.
In April 2005, His Holiness Sakya Trizin gave an interview on Tara. To read this exclusive interview, please go to:-
Http://sg.geocites com/sakyadrotonling/RH_on_Tar tml (NB the underlining on the website address between "HH" and "on" and "Tara" is intentional)

For any information on the activities of the Sakya Thubten Ling,
please contact the Trustees:
Vedant White on 01202 300116
Richard Sedgley on 01202 483110
Liz Elwick on 01202 524975 or
Jill Stanley on 01202 423707
Public Relations: Sue Sedgley on 01202 483110

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Newsletter compiled and edited by Maddy Hadley

Patron: His Holiness Sakya Trizen
Founders:  Ven. Lama Thubten Nyima, Ven. Lama Jamyang Lekshey, Edith Drew-Wills