Ajahn Brahm In Canada, October 2014

Ajahn Brahm In Canada, October 2014
Toronto, Montreal and Halifax

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Let's start our group meditation again!



Now that the retreat is over, we are hoping to restart our monthly meditation sitting. This group was started in 2012, after his three day retreat in Toronto. It was formerly called "Hi-Five Meditation Group." We have now changed the name to "Ajahn Brahm's Toronto Meditation Group."

We are planning to have the first sitting in November, 2014 (the date and time TBA), approximately a month after the October 19th retreat. The goal is to meet once a month for half a day (i, e 2-5 pm) and practice meditation as a group. We will be using a guided meditation audio/video by Ajahn Brahm from the retreat, at the beginning of each session. We will also be using his book, "Mindfulness, bliss and beyond" as our text guide. We can also watch a videos by Ajahn Brahm related the meditation instructions as given during the retreat to refresh our memory.  We believe these group sessions will inspire us to follow the path and encourage our daily meditation practice at home. 

The date (usually a Sunday), time and place will at the same venue as the retreat, Mississauga, temple. The general format of the monthly meeting is outlined in the blog (in the right side column). At the first meeting after the sitting meditation we will discuss the first two chapters of of the Ajahn Brahm's guidebook for meditation, "Mindfulness, bliss and beyond."

Joining this group is totally voluntary and is free of charge. Anyone who lives in and around the Toronto area and wishes to join us, can sign up by signing up using a online sign up sheet that will be emailed to you soon.  We are hoping to limit this to a small group about 50 so that we can have interactive discussions as a small group.


To join the group please click on the following link:

If you have any suggestions to the format please comment here. Also if there are any volunteers who have their own expertise who are willing to help to set up the group please let us know by email at 

Metta

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Information on Voluntary Donations



Donations
Some of you have asked about offering Pirikara (gifts) to Ajahn Brahm as a way of paying respect and gratitude to him. However as you know Ajahn Brahm will not accept or handle money and other gifts.

A large number of participants have already been asking how and where to donate.
Ven. K. Dhammawasa, the Abbot of the temple has said that the Halton Peel Buddhist Society will accept voluntary donations. A donation box will be placed inside the temple and you can ask a volunteer for the location. You can make a cash donation (please write the name and address on an envelop available in the temple) or write a cheque to “Halton Peel Buddhist Society.” For the cheques written and cash donations with contact information you will receive a tax receipt from the temple in due course. Ven. Dhammawasa will send donations to Buddhist society of Western Australia to the monks expenses account and for the use of Jahna Grove Meditation Retreat Center.

Parking for Ajahn Brahm’s One-Day Meditation Retreat on the 18th of October 2014; Update



Change in parking

Thank you for registering for Ajahn Brahm’s one-day meditation retreat on the 18th of October 2014. There is a change in the parking arrangements.  Salvation Army parking lot is no longer available as stated in the previous email as they have a new event that day at their site. So please DO NOT Park there. See below for all the parking sites available. TRY TO CAR POOL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE or get your self dropped at the temple.  You can also call the temple for public transport options at 905 891 8412.


WHERE TO PARK NOW?  Parking is available at the back of the temple, West-end Buddhist Cultural Center, 3133 Cawthra Road, Mississauga. Overflow parking will be at Mini School (3153 Cawthra Rd)`Dixie Presbyterian Church (3065 Cawthra Rd) parking lot (same side of the street as the temple. 

Friday, October 10, 2014

Public Talks in Toronto, by Ajahn Brahm


October 17th: Why practice self-compassion? A public talk at University of Toronto, Room 1050, Earth Sciences Centre, 5 Bancroft Ave, 7-8pm  (This talk is sponsored by Nalanda College of Buddhist Studies).

October 18th: “What is right livelihood?,” A public talk at Halton Peel Buddhist Society, Mississauga, 3133 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, ON. L5A 2X4 Canada, 6-7pm

October 19th: Brahma-vihara: “Loving-kindness, compassion, altruistic joy and equanimity,” A public talk, Toronto Mahavihara,4698 Kingston Rd
Scarborough, ON. M1E 2P9,  9-10am

Please note that no registration is necessary for all the public talks. All are welcome. No tickets or passes. It is all free of charge. Seating is on first come, first serve basis. Please try to come early as possible.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Conversations on Consciousness with Ajahn Brahm: Monday, 20 October 2014, Montreal, QC




Details

Monday, 20 October 2014 from 

8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (EDT)

Montreal, QC


Event Details


Conversations on Consciousness, is a student-organized interdisciplinary conference that aims to encourage a dialogue between experts in diverse fields with an interest in conscious experience. This October 20th, 2014 will be our inaugural year and we will address two themes: 1) How should our knowledge about consciousness guide our treatment of animals? and 2) What can the investigation of subjective experience, i.e., meditation, teach us about consciousness? Our speakers will include cognitive scientist and vegan activist Stevan Harnad, religious studies scholar and vegan activist Marion Achoulias, Philip Buckley, a phenomenologist and Ajahn Brahm, an ex-theoretical physicist and Buddhist monk.

In the spirit of conversation, each theme will first be addressed by two speakers, drawing from the perspectives of their discipline, before a conversation involving all speakers and members of the audience will be encouraged. Ajahn Brahm will provide meditation instruction and lead a session before we break for lunch. All conference attendees are invited to experience, first-hand, the practice of meditation before enjoying a vegan lunch. Registration is $5.00 in person and $6.29 online. Register soon as space is limited to 90 spots.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Women and Gender Equality in Theravada Buddhism :A Talk at McGill University, Montreal, 20th October 2014



Women and Gender Equality in Theravada Buddhism :A Talk at McGill University, Montreal: 20th October 2014 from 5-6 PM at Birks Chapel

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Ajahn Brahm’s One-Day Meditation Retreat on the 18th of October 2014: Information and guidelines (Registered participants only)



Please read the following information and guidelines very carefully.

Please try to arrive at the venue early. Your seat number will be assigned at the registration desk according to the order you have registered. We will provide cushions for everyone and your seat number will be marked on it.

Lunch (vegetarian) and refreshments will be provided free of charge by the organizers. If you have any special meal requirements or allergies please bring your own food.

Please DO NOT REPLY to this UNLESS you are unable to come or have special needs. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO COME ASAP, so that we can give your spot to someone else from the wait list. You can email us at :buddhistwisdomgroup@gmail.com

The Preliminary Schedule
08:00 - 09:00 A.M:  Sign in
09:00 - 09:45 A.M: Instructions on meditation
09:45 - 10:00 A.M: Questions on meditation
10:00 - 11:00 A.M: Sitting meditation
11.00 - 12:00 P.M: Lunch (Please practice *mindful eating)
12:00 - 1:00 P.M: Rest
01:00 - 2:00: **Walking Meditation/***Interviews
02:00 - 3:00 P.M: Group Sitting Meditation 
03:00 - 03:30 P.M: Rest/Tea Break
03:30 - 04:30 P.M:  Group Sitting Meditation 
04:30 - 05:00 P.M: Rest/Walking Meditation
05:00 - 06:00 P.M: ***Interviews
06:00 - 07:00 P.M: Public Talk: "What is right livelihood?
(Please note that no registration is necessary for the public talk)
07:00 - 07:30 P.M: Q&A (both written and oral questions are accepted)
07:30 - 08:00 P.M. Book signing
* Mindful eating: Please click on the word mindful eating to learn more about it.
**Walking Meditation: Please click on word walking meditation to learn more about it
***Interviews: These are 5-minute individual interviews with Ajahn Brahm to discuss personal/meditation practice related questions. Space is limited. Please sign in early at the registration desk on the day of the retreat. Please limit your session for 5 minutes and you will be notified when your time is done. Thank you for your cooperation.

Very important notice to ALL (including organizers): PLEASE OBSERVE COMPLETE SILENCE form 9:00 AM to 5:PM; this includes lunch break, rest periods and tea breaks.  All cell phones have to be switched off completely (no vibration mode please).

Place of the retreat: West-end Buddhist Cultural Center, 3133 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, ON, L5A 2X4, Canada
Contact info: info@westendbuddhist.com (905) 891-8412
(905) 566-9741 http://www.westendbuddhist.org/  

What to wear: Please wear comfortable clothing, preferably white. Shoes will have to be removed as you enter the temple and they should be placed in a specified area in the basement. Please ask one of the organizers if you need help.    

What to bring: A meditation cushion (if you have one), a blanket or shawl if you need one. We will provide a chair if you want to sit and please let us know in advance. Please note that all chairs will be marked with your number and will be placed at the back of the hall so that it would not obstruct the view of others who are seated on a cushion.

Where to park: Parking is available at the back of the temple. Overflow parking will be at Mini School (3153 Cawthra Rd) and Dixie Presbyterian Church (3065 Cawthra Rd)  parking lot (same side of the street as the temple).

For further information and updates please visit the site below.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the retreat.
Metta.