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Dhammalata

Gratitude

Mon, 5 Nov, 2018 - 23:32

Last Tuesday night I returned home from our meditation at the croquet club to find an email saying my teacher Urgyen Sangharakshita had been re-diagnosed by the specialist as having sepsis and that antibiotics (for pneumonia) would be discontinued as the sepsis (infection of the blood) would be fatal.
I set up a simple shrine in my front room with a photo of him and candles and did metta for him.

When I checked my emails again...

Dhammalata

A Skilful Christmas

Tue, 30 Oct, 2018 - 01:38

A Skilful Christmas

Tue, 30 Oct, 2018 - 01:38

I don’t know how you experience Christmas present sourcing but it throws up a challenge and dilemma for me. I want to be generous and engage with the communal spirit of Christmas but I resent spending money on junk. I’ve had years where I’ve actually felt a bit sickened by the hammering my credit card’s taken in order to truck home bagfuls of ….. um …. well ….. crap.

So! Here’s an opportunity for us all to...

Dhammalata

How do you learn to be a human being?

Tue, 16 Oct, 2018 - 00:46

How do you learn to be a human being?

Tue, 16 Oct, 2018 - 00:46

If I think back through my own life there have been a few people who have been very influential in shaping who I’ve become. I am also aware that some people have been a fairly unhelpful influence whilst others have been enormously helpful.

The Buddha said that to be in the company of those who are wise and mature in virtue is critical for both our present and future welfare and to be in the company of the...

Dhammalata

Befriending your Demons

Tue, 9 Oct, 2018 - 11:34

Befriending your Demons

Tue, 9 Oct, 2018 - 11:34

Befriending Our Demons

One of our senior order members named Purna has agreed to come over to Coogee to give a talk on the evening of Friday October 19th.

BYO Vego dinner 7.30 pm and then talk to follow

He’s going to base it on the story of Padmasambhava taming the demons of Tibet in order to build Samye Monastery - no doubt there’ll be a parallel to the way we can befriend and transform the demons...

Dhammalata

Meditation this Week

Mon, 14 May, 2018 - 07:14

Meditation this Week

Mon, 14 May, 2018 - 07:14

The Buddha encouraged us to think of the good things done for us by our parents, by our teachers, friends, whomever; and to do this intentionally, to cultivate it, rather than just letting it happen accidentally.

—Ajahn Sumedho, “The Gift of Gratitude”

Meditation this week:

Tuesday 6.30 - 7.30 pm

Sunday 8 - 9 am

Metta

Dharmalata and Padmadakini

Dhammalata

Why I Keep Meditating

Mon, 7 May, 2018 - 04:06

Why I Keep Meditating

Mon, 7 May, 2018 - 04:06

Meditating isn’t exciting. It sometimes feels like hard work, especially as winter approaches and mornings can be cold and bed is so yummy! And yet I’m very committed to it and would hate to be without it. Why?

For me meditation gives me the best chance of finding positive, life giving responses to …. well …. everything. It helps me sort myself out in a very basic, fundamental way. And you’ll probably agree that life regularly throws up situations...

Dhammalata

Changing to Tuesdays ...

Tue, 10 Apr, 2018 - 01:13

Changing to Tuesdays ...

Tue, 10 Apr, 2018 - 01:13

Starting from this week (TODAY!!) our weekly evening meditation is changing to Tuesday evenings

6.30 - 7.30 pm

There will be a delicious cup of tea and cake / biscuits from 6 pm and this will be a regular fixture from now on.

So if you haven’t been along for awhile why not come along and say coo-ee and check in with yourself and others to experience some kindly spaciousness …………

...

Dhammalata

Don't try to make anything happen

Wed, 4 Apr, 2018 - 12:28

Don't try to make anything happen

Wed, 4 Apr, 2018 - 12:28

Dear Coogee Meditator

Most importantly:

NB: From April 10th Thursday nights will be changing to Tuesday nights for our regular weekly meditation

Let go of what has passed.
Let go of what may come.
Let go of what is happening now.
Don’t try to figure anything out.
Don’t try to make anything happen.
Rest, Relax, right now, and rest.

Meditation advice from 10th century Indian master Tilopa

Also to let you all know that The...

Dhammalata

The Bunnings Meet-up

Tue, 20 Mar, 2018 - 06:39

The Bunnings Meet-up

Tue, 20 Mar, 2018 - 06:39

Twice lately I’ve randomly met up with a fella from our Coogee meditation group in the aisles of Randwick Bunnings. It’s not surprising as I practically live there …… always getting odds and sods for the properties I take responsibility for.

But it’s somehow a bit weird because I’m meeting them in such a different context to the
quiet, friendly oasis where we meditate at the croquet club and it feels as though slightly different rules might apply....

Dhammalata

A Place of Refuge

Mon, 12 Mar, 2018 - 23:31

A Place of Refuge

Mon, 12 Mar, 2018 - 23:31

A spiritual practice can be an island, a place where opening to uncertainty and doubt can lead us to a refuge of truth.
—Joan Halifax, “The Lucky Dark”

Last night I rode to the Sydney Buddhist Centre on my motor-bike. My journey there was under clear, benign skies but as I exited the building at the end of Men’s study there was light drizzle. ‘This’ll be okay’ I thought, ‘Nothing much to worry about’. But it quickly turned to rain...