How can we, in our busy, everyday lives, transform our awareness and turn our minds towards awakening? This week Paranita talks about the practice of the 'Four Mind Turning Reflections', the four reminders that work on our minds to turn them towards liberation. We will hear about how to reflect on the preciousness of our human life, the inevitability of death, the truth of karma and the dangers of samsara, to bring about a radical shift in awareness.

When we interact with others, do we truly see them as they are, beyond the stories we have built around them? Or are we often lost in our assumptions, judgments, and preconceived notions about who they are, based on our own views and experiences. This week Sanghagita explores how we can really learn to see others and discover that when we truly pay attention, there we find love.

We are continually being bombarded with news about world problems including war, starvation, violence, inequality, climate destruction etc. One response is to just ignore these problems. Sangharakshita argues that ‘an attitude of withdrawal from public concerns to purely personal ones is not worthy of a human being’. As part of our Sangha night theme on living with awareness, Vimaladasa will be exploring how we as Buddhists can bring a voice of sanity and compassion into the world and act accordingly.

In this talk Vadanya explores how paying attention to reality - rather than mental or media noise - can bring our life alive and give us a vivid experience of beauty. But is "being here now" enough to bring real happiness? Or do we need a deeper idea of the meaning of awareness?

"Isn't this supposed to be a theme about mindfulness?" Yes it is! True mindfulness includes an appreciative awareness of other people and the world around us. This cannot but find concrete expression in friendship, and it is through sharing our lives with others and opening our hearts to gratitude that this dimension of awareness can grow and flourish. Come along to hear Sanghajiva share and celebrate with us the joys and challenges of friendship.

In this talk Vadanya explores how paying attention to reality - rather than mental or media noise - can bring our life alive and give us a vivid experience of beauty. But is "being here now" enough to bring real happiness? Or do we need a deeper idea of the meaning of awareness?

This week Janet, Anna and Dayaloka will share how they practise the three different aspects of mindfulness: sati, appamada and sampajanna. Come along to hear how awareness has transformed the lives of these Sangha members.

'Mindfulness is the way to the Deathless.Unmindfulness the way to death. Those who are mindful do not die, whereas the unmindful are like the dead.' - The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 21. Awareness, or mindfulness, is the keystone of the Buddhist path and of any truly human life. The Buddha's teaching on what awareness is and how to practise it is vast, profound, and takes us far beyond what we might usually associate with the word 'mindfulness'. It requires a willingness to open our heart and a good deal of courage to enter upon this way. Are you up for the challenge? On Tuesday, Punyamala will be exploring how we can bring our mindfulness to the crucial juncture in our experience, the gap between feeling and craving. This point - the point of freedom, also sometimes referred to as the battleground of the spiritual life - is where we can start to change the habits that bind us to the Wheel. It’s the point where we can move from the reactive mind to the creative mind, move closer to the Buddha.

'Mindfulness is the way to the Deathless. Unmindfulness the way to death. Those who are mindful do not die, whereas the unmindful are like the dead.' - The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 21. Awareness, or mindfulness, is the keystone of the Buddhist path and of any truly human life. The Buddha's teaching on what awareness is and how to practise it is vast, profound, and takes us far beyond what we might usually associate with the word 'mindfulness'. It requires a willingness to open our heart and a good deal of courage to enter upon this way. Are you up for the challenge? This week we'll be continuing to look at Mindfulness as a complete Path to the Deathless. Paranita will be asking 'What is Mindfulness Really' as we explore awareness in its fullest sense and uncover its many dimensions.

'Mindfulness is the way to the Deathless. Unmindfulness the way to death. Those who are mindful do not die, whereas the unmindful are like the dead.' The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 21.

Awareness, or mindfulness, is the keystone of the Buddhist path and of any truly human life. The Buddha's teaching on what awareness is and how to practise it is vast, profound, and takes us far beyond what we might usually associate with the word 'mindfulness'. It requires a willingness to open our heart and a good deal of courage to enter upon this way. Are you up for the challenge?

Prajnahridaya explores how cultivating awareness is central and crucial to our existential situation, as well as evoking some of the wonders and treasures we can expect to discover if we dedicate ourselves to this practice.

What does Dickens' most famous character show us about the spiritual path? All will be revealed on Tuesday 17th, as Vadanya begins the festive season with his annual exploration of the myth of Scrooge, in a talk that's now become something of a legend in itself.

Nagavajri explores the semi-legendary figure of Padmasambhava. A scholar, philosopher, yogi, mystic and magician, he was called on to establish the Dharma in Tibet in the 8th century. Why was he needed? And what does this tell us about what we need to establish the Dharma in our lives?

This evening we are blessed to have Vajratara speak at Sangha Night on Dr Ambedkar, one of our 20th century Great Buddhist Teachers, who has ongoing influence and significance to the practice of millions of Buddhists, including ourselves. Dr. Ambedkar’s vision supports our Sangha friends in India to strive for a more enlightened society based on Buddhist values, with social, economic, and political justice. Vajratara is based at Tiratanaloka, the retreat centre for women who have asked for ordination. In the early 2000s Vajratara lived in Sheffield and worked at the Sheffield Buddhist centre as the Mitra Convenor for women. It is always a joy to welcome her back.

Bathe in the loving balm of Green Tara on this special Sangha Night. Join us to continue our series on teachers from the refuge tree, this time with a special night devoted to a refreshing fountain of wisdom and love from the Bodhisattva sangha. The Midnight Star is a refuge for us wherever and however we are. If we ask, Tara comes. Always. She offers us a diamond-like beauty in the night sky, a point to steer by and a place of heart's solace and safety in the travails of samsara. She will be evoked in two short talks and in a hauntingly beautiful puja to the Midnight Star - the "Victory banner of the supreme Dharma / The raised standard of the Victorious Ones".

Dhardo Rimpoche's motto is written in golden letters on the wall of our centre. Why? Who is this revered Tibetan tulku? And what can we learn from his teachings and life? Our visiting president Padmavajra explores, at Sangha night.

As part of our series on Buddhist Teachers, Bodhinaga will tell the story of Hsuan Tsang, from 7th-century China. Hsuan Tsang defied the Emperor and set out on an epic journey over 10,000 miles to India. It took him 16 years, and the mythic trek led to sutras and commentaries that would change Buddhism in China and beyond.

As part of our exploration of great Buddhist teachers of the past, Vadanya will this week be talking about Kukai, the founder of the Japanese Tantric school Shingon – ‘True Word’, meaning mantra. Kukai’s approach combined an emphasis on meditation with a deep appreciation of the world around us – and a commitment to action within it. This path is likely to chime strongly with many practitioners in the West.

Buddhist history abounds with teachers who led inspiring lives and shed new light on the Dharma, bringing it alive for the times and societies in which they lived. In this series we will be looking at a selection of these figures from the Triratna Refuge Tree, exploring how we can bring elements of their approach into our own practice to make it more vivid and effective. How do we move towards enlightenment? As part of our series on Great Teachers, Satyajyoti will explore the teachings of Dhammadinna, arahant and nun, who was alive at the time of the Buddha. We'll hear a bit about her life story and about her teaching of the natural process of how our hearts and minds open to reality.

Buddhist history abounds with teachers who led inspiring lives and shed new light on the Dharma, bringing it alive for the times and societies in which they lived. In this series we will be looking at a selection of these figures from the Triratna Refuge Tree, exploring how we can bring elements of their approach into our own practice to make it more vivid and effective. Vimaladasa will be introducing a mysterious figure from medieval Japan,Shinran, who inspired a Pureland tradition centred on the path of self-surrender.

Dharma talk given on Sangha Night at Sheffield Buddhist Centre.