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Our
Sunday Meetings
Our
Sunday meetings are our way of giving new-comers an easy peek at
the vast landscape of Tibetan Buddhism.
What to expect
Sunday
meetings usually draw people from all walks of life.
Generally there are a few newcomers each time.
To
those of you who have never heard Tibetan or been part of a meditation
group, the experience can feel a little like a trip to another planet!
Don't worry-- it was that way for most of us, even those who were
immediately attracted to the path.
The
main thing to remember is that you should do only what you are
comfortable doing. No one is keeping score; we're just happy
you came. Just observe and listen until you get the hang of things.
Some people jump right in, while others wait. It may take a few
meetings to feel like you have a handle on things.
Modeled
on the format our lamas use when teaching us themselves, each meeting
consists of preliminaries, a teaching, a meditation, and closing
prayers.
1. PRELIMINARIES (10 minutes)
This section helps us to calm our minds and establish a connection
with the Buddha and our teachers. It can be a challenging part of the
morning for newcomers, but it only lasts about 5 minutes. This is
all outlined in our practice book, the equivalent of a prayer
book used in church.
- Breath
purification. In this section we clear the wind channels,
the source of negative emotions. This is something you can watch
a few times and then join in.
- The
7 Line Prayer.
This essential homage to our teachers and lineage is a simple
one-line melody repeated six times. The whole piece is chanted
three times. Just listen and jump in when you feel ready.
- Guru
Rinpoche Mantra. After singing this a few times, we chant
this core mantra 108 times. The more experienced practicioners
will do this at warp-speed, but just go at your own pace.
The
talks are poignant, insightful, and often funny as we share our
struggles and insights.
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2. TAPED TEACHING (25 minutes)
Recordings of accomplished masters, often part of a series, provide deep insight into the basic concepts of the mind and the Buddhist art of living.
3.
MEDITATION (20
minutes)
Buddhism
gives us many tools to train and empower the mind.
They take two forms-- focus and analysis. Focus involves
concentration on a single object or idea while blocking
out all other considerations. Analysis involves exploration
of and reflection on a subject on a personal and universal
level. In either case deep realizations are possible.
During "sits" we explore different techniques
so that each person can find the best fit for his or her
self-exploration. Many techniques eventually result
in enlightenment, and all quickly become beneficial if the
intent, discipline, and dedication are there.
4.
CLOSING PRAYER RECITATION
(5 minutes)
Each spoken TIbetan word has an energetic aspect that
resonates within the speaker as well as the spoken-to. For
centuries Tibetans have used prayer recitation as an extremely
powerful and liberating way of connecting with our
inherent Buddha nature. During our closing minute prayer recitation
we chant specific practices from sacred Tibetan texts to dedicate the merits of our meeting and pray for the long lives of the Dalai Lama and our two lamas.
Always delivered in the spirit of love and compassion for
others, these prayers create great benefits for both
speaker and recipient.
WHAT
TO BRING
The only thing you may
want to bring is a meditation cushion if you would like to
use one. However, there are plenty of chairs.
PROTOCOL
In keeping
with the concept of relaxation as a Buddhist end and means,
we encourage you to mix and mingle-- or not- as you see fit.
In the meditation room, however, we ask that you not converse
before the meeting.
Also,
we ask that those sitting on cushions do not point their feet
towards the altar, and to keep somethjing between practice books and the floor, such as one of the mats we provide.
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