Bristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol Buddhist Centre

consciousness & metta quote

By jvalamalini on Sat, 14 Mar, 2015 - 14:25

There is good reason to believe, intuitively at least if not on the basis of hard evidence, that the very nature of consciousness is a well-spring of loving kindness. It is said that the very quality of Buddha Nature is that of inexhaustible love, and it is already there.

from ‘Boundless Heart’

Alan Wallace
Bristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol Buddhist Centre

Dedication Ritual - Rainy Season Retreat 2015: Living In The Mandala

By Centre Team on Sat, 14 Mar, 2015 - 12:58
The opening ritual to dedicate the Rainy Season Retreat included meditation, readings (from Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche and Nyanaponika Thera) and chanting to invoke the mandala of the five archetypal Buddhas and the qualities of kindness, compassion, gladness, and equanimity.

Led by Dharmacharini Ratnavandana

Five Buddha Mandala readings included in this recording

View all posts from ‘Living In The Mandala’
Bristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol Buddhist Centre

Brahma Viharas morning verses

By jvalamalini on Sat, 14 Mar, 2015 - 10:03

Brahma Viharas morning verses

By jvalamalini on Sat, 14 Mar, 2015 - 10:03I and all else that moves, until awakening,
Take the Triple Gem as refuge.
In order to gain perfect Buddhahood for others’ sake
We practise the Four Immeasurables -
Whereby may sentient beings
Gain happiness with its causes;
Be parted from all grief with its causes;
Not become parted from the happiness wherein no grief is
And dwell in the condition of equanimity

Refuges and Precepts

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa
Namo Tassa...
Bristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol Buddhist Centre

Verses invoking the Jinas to purify the poisons

By jvalamalini on Fri, 13 Mar, 2015 - 22:59

Verses invoking the Jinas to purify the poisons

By jvalamalini on Fri, 13 Mar, 2015 - 22:59OM AKSOBHYA HUM
By the power of your Samaya
Deliver us from the hells
By purifying the demons of hatred and aversion
And transforming them into the Mirrorlike Wisdom
The deep blue, imperturbable Buddha Aksobhya

OM RATNASAMBHAVA HUM
By the power of your Samaya
Deliver us from the human realm
By purifying the demons of pride and conceit
And transforming them into the Wisdom of Equality
The golden yellow, jewel born, Buddha Ratnasambhava
...
Bristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol Buddhist Centre

We're under way!

By jvalamalini on Fri, 13 Mar, 2015 - 22:47

We're under way!

By jvalamalini on Fri, 13 Mar, 2015 - 22:47This afternoon the spaces in Bristol Buddhist Centre were transformed - what used to be a shop at the front of the building is now a food preparation and dining room, and the shrine room has become a wonderful five Buddha mandala. Kumuda’s wonderful paintings of the Jinas fill the walls and we have a beautiful 5 Buddha shrine in the centre of the room.

As Alyson reminded me as people arrived - this is magic!

It...
Bristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol Buddhist Centre

Some Ways To 'Live In the Mandala' by Ratnavandana

Some Ways To 'Live In the Mandala' by Ratnavandana

By Centre Team on Fri, 13 Mar, 2015 - 21:13

As part of her preparatory notes for the Spring urban retreat on the theme of ‘Living In The Mandala’ and the Brahma Viharas, Ratnavandana has prepared this great set of reflections on ways to stay connected when you’re doing an ‘urban retreat’ of this sort (whether online or at a Buddhist Centre!).

To download, read the document in full screen mode and choose ‘download’ from the sharing options (top left of the navigation panel).

Log...

Community Highlights
Community Highlights

Send Your Mandala Pictures For The Rainy Season Retreat

By Candradasa on Fri, 13 Mar, 2015 - 15:30

Send Your Mandala Pictures For The Rainy Season Retreat

By Candradasa on Fri, 13 Mar, 2015 - 15:30
All this weekend and next week we’ll be bringing teaching and blogs from the Rainy Season Urban Retreat that starts this evening in Bristol, UK. The theme is ‘Living In the Mandala’ and we’ll be exploring the...
Buddhist Centre Features
Buddhist Centre Features

Living In The Mandala - Rainy Season Retreat Online!

By Centre Team on Wed, 11 Mar, 2015 - 19:30

Living In The Mandala - Rainy Season Retreat Online!

By Centre Team on Wed, 11 Mar, 2015 - 19:30To mark the arrival of Spring in the northern hemisphere we enjoyed a great, unexpected opportunity to go a bit deeper with our practice together. Bristol Buddhist Centre in the UK took part in a ‘Rainy Season Retreat’ together on the subject of Living In The Mandala - looking at the Brahma Viharas. And they invited everyone to join in online!

View all posts from ‘Living In The...
Bristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol Buddhist Centre

Why is it called a 'Rainy Season Retreat'?

By jvalamalini on Wed, 11 Mar, 2015 - 16:59

Why is it called a 'Rainy Season Retreat'?

By jvalamalini on Wed, 11 Mar, 2015 - 16:59It’s pretty damp in Bristol today, and last year our rainy season retreat happened in a very wet month with flooding over much of the UK. But that isn’t why it’s called a rainy season retreat (though people did joke about us invoking rain gods last year)

We’re actually referring to the times when the Buddha and his followers shetered from the monsoon.

As you know, the Buddha and his followers had a wandering lifestyle. But every...
Bristol Buddhist Centre
Bristol Buddhist Centre

Living in the Mandala - Rainy Season Retreat

By jvalamalini on Wed, 11 Mar, 2015 - 15:29

Living in the Mandala - Rainy Season Retreat

By jvalamalini on Wed, 11 Mar, 2015 - 15:29From 13th - 21st March Bristol Buddhist Centre will host our second Rainy Season Retreat for Order Members and Mitras. This means suspending all regular Centre activities and classes and dedicating the building to providing as close as we can to retreat conditions for the week.

Last year this had a really positive effect on our Sangha, and was clearly part of us Building a Buddhaland together.

This year we’re fortunate to have Ratnavandana leading the retreat. She...

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