Tag: mandala

Day 5: Mudita & Amoghasiddhi

By jvalamalini on Wed, 18 Mar, 2015 - 18:58

By jvalamalini on Wed, 18 Mar, 2015 - 18:58We’ve had a wonderful sunny spring day today in Bristol, perfect for us to dwell in what Sangharakshita has described as the bright dancing colours of mudita.

Ratnavandana talked about mudita as a natural response that happens often, but which we don’t always recognise. She suggested consciously appreciating moments of gladness in our lives, particularly when it connects us to others - for example she enjoyed seeing three small girls with mother’s day bouquets in the street at the...

Bristol Buddhist Centre

Day 4: Karuna & Amitabha

By jvalamalini on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 14:57

Day 4: Karuna & Amitabha

By jvalamalini on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 14:57After days of gloom outside it’s wonderful to have spring sunshine today as we move into contemplating karuna - which Sangharakshita has described as like metta with a shadow over it.

Ratnavandana says:
It is good to reflect on our attitudes to suffering, whether it’s physical or emotional. I know for a long time I had this a sense that somehow suffering was wrong, that I shouldn’t be suffering, so there was a feeling of failure there which was...

Bristol Buddhist Centre

Day 3: Metta and Aksobhya day

By jvalamalini on Mon, 16 Mar, 2015 - 13:59

Day 3: Metta and Aksobhya day

By jvalamalini on Mon, 16 Mar, 2015 - 13:59A damp grey Monday morning outside and the warmth of the Sangha and colour of the mandala in our shrine room.

Today we’re exploring metta in the brahma vihara realm and allowing Aksobhya’s qualities to draw us.

We did metta exercises in pairs, looking at each other with metta, and describing ourselves as our best friend would, then Ratnavandana gave a lovely short introduction to the metta bhavana which she led. She talked about not ‘doing’ the practice...

Bristol Buddhist Centre

Urban Retreat Tips – The Power of Intention

By jvalamalini on Sun, 15 Mar, 2015 - 09:59

Urban Retreat Tips – The Power of Intention

By jvalamalini on Sun, 15 Mar, 2015 - 09:59What is your wish for this retreat?

Spend time forming a clear, simple wish – eg “I’d like to be more friendly”, “I’d like to stay more soft and open”, “I’d like to be emotionally honest with myself”
The essence of practice is to remember this wish, and to ‘stop and real-ise’ – connect – with your body, with what’s going round your head, with your heart. Where are you in relation to your wish? Where are you in relation to

Bristol Buddhist Centre

Rains Retreat 2015 - Living in the Mandala - Morning 1

By jvalamalini on Sat, 14 Mar, 2015 - 15:31

Rains Retreat 2015 - Living in the Mandala - Morning 1

By jvalamalini on Sat, 14 Mar, 2015 - 15:31It was so gorgeous coming back into our mandala early this morning, and lighting our aspiration candles. Meditating, I could sense the immense beauty we were sitting in and creating together, and how we’re opening to the world with this, influencing the world. It was like something full of colour and light, and at the same time vast and open, white and spacious. And powerful…. I don’t usually think of beauty as powerful!

Later in the morning, we meditated...

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

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

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...

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

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...

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