January Newsletter

Meditation Classes at Menai:

Please see "Class Page" on the Website for details on times and address.    These will recommence again on Tuesday 7th February.    Beginners are very welcome and it will be great to see my regulars back again too.

Meditation Classes at Cronulla:

Please see "Class Page" on the Website for details on times and address   These will recommence again on Thursday 9th February.   Similarly, beginners are very welcome and I look forward to welcoming back my regulars too.

The above classes are by way of donation.

Meditation Classes at Sutherland:

These are run by the Older Women's Network but are led by me and are for older women only.  Any lady who thinks they are old enough to come are welcome!!     Details can be found on the "Class Page" of my Website.      These will recommence again on Monday, 31st January.    Beginners are welcome but please telephone Pat for further information on 9526 5746.   

Workshop Coming Up:

This will be a One-Day Vipassana Retreat to give those a taste of what it would be like to do our Three-Day Vipassana Retreat in June.     Our one day Retreat is on Sunday, 18th March at Bundeena Community Centre and details are on the "Retreats Page" of my Website.    There is really no need to book but I would like an idea of how many are coming so morning and afternoon tea can be catered for appropriately.    Please note that this time, you will be bringing your own lunch!

Three-Day Vipassana Retreat:

This will be held again on the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend in June at the beautiful Govinda Valley.   Full details can be found on the "Retreats Page" of my Website.    The future of this Retreat next year and those following will be decided after this June.    Because of the very small attendance last year, we will be sharing the grounds with another group (who may not be on Retreat either) and if this is not successful for our Retreat, we may cease all future Retreats.   This would be a great pity as we are the only Organisation which offers a short Retreat, The average time being 15 days or longer.    Many of the public have balked at the cost stating that other Vipassana Retreats are by donation only but in those cases the Buddhist Centre owns the Retreat Centre and can absorb the costs.   In our case, we have to hire the Govinda Valley Retreat Centre and therefore must pay what they charge us.   We will go ahead with the Retreat in 2012 as a substantial deposit has been paid which I would lose but we will re-assess the future later in the year.    I agree that 2011 was a tough financial year.

We may be able to find a smaller venue who would be willing to take on a few Retreatants but such a Centre is quite hard to find in the Shire to compare with Govinda Valley.    We can look further than the Shire but some people are not willing to travel outside the Shire.    However, in 2010 at least 50% of our Retreatants came from outside Sydney, 25% were interstate and only a handful from the Shire!   Can I have your opinion on this aspect please.

Children's Classes:

Unfortunately, my health does not allow me to recommence the classes for children.   I am trying to find someone who may be able to lead these classes for Meditation in the Shire and if anyone knows of a person who would be like to do the classes for me, one day a week after school, please contact me on 9589 0334.    I am looking for a person who has patience, love and compassion.   They will like children of course and will work directly with Meditation in the Shire.    We will find the venue but I am afraid the pay is very small, if at all.   So it would be a job of wanting to bring meditation to the littlies.   Planting a seed in their minds for a positive outlook later in life.    Please keep in touch with the Website as details on these classes will be posted.

Private Meditation Classes:

Again my health does not allow me to continue with these classes.    Of course, I am always available to have a chat over a cuppa on a "one off" basis but there will be no private classes.   Those referred to me by local counsellors, doctors, ect. will be encouraged to join my classes but must continue with their own therapy.

Buddhist Blessings:

I will now be doing blessings for babies, children, weddings etc. in the Sutherland Shire area only and details of these can be found on the appropriate page on the Website shortly.    I cannot become a Marriage Celebrant and so cannot actually marry couples but a Buddhist blessing can be arranged at these times.   Please note that we are happy to do this for same sex marriages as well.   For a Buddhist Funeral, one must contact the Vajrayana Institute on 9798 9644. 

Changes at the Vajrayana Institute:
   
The Office hours have changed at the Vajrayana Institute.   One may visit the Centre any day between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm but reception will be manned during the hours of 3 - 5 pm each week day only.    If phoning the Centre, please do so during these hours or leave a message and your call will be answered.    All information can be found on their website details of which are on the Resources Page of my Website.

Massage and Yoga Therapists:

Many of my students like to follow this therapy as well as meditation.   "I take care of the mind;   they take care of the body".    I do have quite a few pamphlets for these Centres on the table at classes.   I only display pamphlets for reputable classes and therapists that I know personally and can recommend.   

Counsellors and Psychotherapists:

Similarly there are some brochures for help in this field. 

So please take time to browse through the information on my table.

Teaching:

As the Dalai Lama says, "If you cannot be kind, then at least do not harm".    Remember, this takes affect for all "sentient beings".   A "sentient being" is anything which has a heart and a mind which covers the tiniest insect to the huge elephant and of course, all human beings.   We have all been here before and may have been in the animal world many times.   The cockroach you see may once have been your offspring in a past life.   Your enemy, in a past life, may have been your mother or father.   Your loved ones may have been your enemies.    The animals you have eaten may have also been your family in a past life.   Would you eat your family?     Every sentient being does not want to suffer but wants to find happiness but sometimes we take that right away by stepping on or killing another.    A human being is the biggest killer on the planet.   We kill each other because of our delusions, our ignorance and out of anger.   
Meditation can help you rid your mind of these delusions and ignorance and introduction to the Buddhist Philosophy helps one stay clear of these negativities.   One becomes a better person and then those around you become better people.    We become happy and content and then those around us also become happy and content.   It makes for a better world!    One of love, kindness and compassion - and peace.

Much love and many blessings, Venerable Yangchen