Tag: Exeter Triratna

The Divine Abodes - the upeksha bhavana

By mokshini on Thu, 22 Jun, 2017 - 20:32

The Divine Abodes - the upeksha bhavana

By mokshini on Thu, 22 Jun, 2017 - 20:32

We are continuing our exploration of the body of practices collectively known as the brahma viharas or the Four Immeasurables, and this last Wednesday we spent some time practicing and talking about the upekka bhavana - the development of equanimity, ” when a mind imbued with metta applies itself to looking at the nature of existence” - ” a loving and insightful responses based on applying pratitya samutpada [ the law of conditionality] so as to illuminate how...

Exeter Triratna Group

A bit more on 'The Divine Abodes'

By mokshini on Wed, 14 Jun, 2017 - 16:05

A bit more on 'The Divine Abodes'

By mokshini on Wed, 14 Jun, 2017 - 16:05

Last night at Exeter Sangha Night we continued our theme of the ‘Divine Abodes’ - AKA the brahmaviharas, or the Four Immeasurables. We are exploring this theme as part of Triratna’s Buddhist Action Month 2017!

Our topic this week was to practice the skill of being joyful at other’s good fortune and rejoicing in their merits. We talked about taking every opportunity to express our appreciation for others (or in fact to ourselves too!) and noticing the effect that...

Exeter Triratna Group

Residing in the sublime abodes ...

By mokshini on Tue, 13 Jun, 2017 - 08:20

Residing in the sublime abodes ...

By mokshini on Tue, 13 Jun, 2017 - 08:20

Over the next few weeks we’ll be exploring and practicing the ‘Four Sublime Abodes’ in Exeter Sangha Night. The Sanskrit name for this body of practices is brahmavihāras (sublime attitudes, lit. “abodes of brahma”) are a series of four Buddhist core qualities and the meditation practices made to cultivate them. They are also known as ‘the four immeasurables’.

They are: loving-kindness or universal goodwill (metta), compassion (karuna), sympathetic joy (mudita), and equanimity (upeksha).

Here is a link to a guided meditation on the karuna bhavana, development of compassion,...

Exeter Triratna Group

Celebrate Dharma Day

By mokshini on Tue, 6 Jun, 2017 - 14:04

Celebrate Dharma Day

By mokshini on Tue, 6 Jun, 2017 - 14:04

Come and celebrate Dharma Day Sunday 9 July 2017!

Glenn, Sue and Colin from the Exeter Triratna Group are hosting a half morning at the East Devon Forest Garden (also known as Hridayabija, ‘seed of the heart’) - a beautiful spot about 15 miles from Exeter, full of magic and unexpected finds.

Please arrive by 10am for a half day of meditation and dharma readings followed by a shared lunch and a swim. For any that wish to stay on there...

Exeter Triratna Group

Sangha Nights in Exeter in May

By mokshini on Sun, 14 May, 2017 - 10:29

Sangha Nights in Exeter in May

By mokshini on Sun, 14 May, 2017 - 10:29

Thank you to all who came to Buddha day on May 10th. We had a beautiful shrine, created by William, and I thoroughly enjoyed practicing with a group of fellow truth seekers. Prajnananda led us in a puja dedicated to the Buddha Shakyamuni - thank you!

Over the remaining weeks in May we will return to our theme of exploring our meditation practice.

Wednesday 17 May: ‘Opening the Heart’ - another look at the metta bhavana

Wednesday 24 May: ‘What is ‘Just Sitting’?’ - ways of...

Exeter Triratna Group

What is mindfulness?

By mokshini on Tue, 18 Apr, 2017 - 14:36

What is mindfulness?

By mokshini on Tue, 18 Apr, 2017 - 14:36

Last week Vidyadasi led the class and explored what we mean by ‘Mindfulness’ - what qualities are we looking for? In addition to a guided practice and discussion there was time to reflect on some notes & points on the theme of mindfulness:

Mindfulness is not the same as thinking about something. It is more like ‘awareness’.

In mindfulness, we are just ‘being’, not ‘doing’.

These things are ‘doing’: planning, worrying, remembering, replaying, ruminating, comparing, going over, wondering, imagining.

Turn off the autopilot.

‘Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges through paying...

Buddhist Action Month 2016

Exeter & Devon sangha beach clean

By mokshini on Sat, 25 Jun, 2016 - 21:55

Exeter & Devon sangha beach clean

By mokshini on Sat, 25 Jun, 2016 - 21:55

This post could be entitled ‘How to do something positive for the world and have a really good day at the same time’: the Exeter & Devon Triratna sangha met with members of other local Buddhist groups - Western Chan fellowship, Gaia House group and Diamond Way - at Dawlish Warren, a little seaside resort south of Exeter, and followed Neil, our beachcare officer, along the beach, away from the shops selling flip flops and ice cream.

10 minutes on the...

Exeter Triratna Group

Karunadarshin - A new order member for Triratna Exeter

By Nandavajra on Thu, 5 May, 2016 - 21:37

Karunadarshin - A new order member for Triratna Exeter

By Nandavajra on Thu, 5 May, 2016 - 21:37

Karunadarshin - A new order member for Triratna Exeter

On 2nd May the former James Hedge was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order, in the context of the four month ordination course at Guhyaloka, becoming Karunadarshin – he who sees and understands with compassion.

Here is what was said of Karunadarshin at the ceremony:

The ex-James is a painter and print-maker which means that he spends a lot of time paying attention to, observing and looking at things. Especially in nature this can be, for him,...