The theme of this weekend is 'Working with Pride and Jealousy in Ourselves and Others'. We'll explore these emotions to discover that they are distorted expressions of qualities intrinsic to awareness, and learn how we can trust our essential nature and let go of the distortion.
This weekend also has special features tailored for people who are new to Awakened Heart Sangha courses and retreats.
Many newcomers have said they would appreciate an entry-point event that is specifically for them, where they can meet other newcomers and where they can ask basic questions they might otherwise be shy about asking. So we are making this September London weekend a newcomersΓÇÖ weekend. Old-timers should not think that this makes it any less a weekend for them! It will be the same as our normal weekends, with teachings, meditation & discussion. And of course the teachings, being spiral learning, always speak to all of us, new or old. But there will be one or two extra features to help newcomers feel at home.
First of all, Shenpen will hold a short welcoming session for newcomers, including basic meditation instruction, starting at 10 am on Saturday in the guesthouse at St. MaryΓÇÖs. Newcomers will then join everyone else in the shrine-room for the rest of the day.
When we break into groups for the discussion period, there will be a special newcomersΓÇÖ group that anyone who is fairly new is welcome to join. There will be a facilitator for this group to make sure that everyoneΓÇÖs questions are being heard and taken into account. Shenpen will drop in on this group discussion from time to time so that people can pose their questions to her directly. There will also be an opportunity for all newcomers to have an interview with Shenpen sometime during the weekend, starting on Friday evening for those people planning on staying overnight at St. MaryΓÇÖs.
Concerning the teachings, Shenpen writes: "The teaching topic for the weekend is Pride and Jealousy. This may sound a strange place to start for a newcomer. However, I will be introducing the subject in relation to how negative emotions in general are actually a distorted form of what is basically energy emanating from the purity of our heart. So I will be talking about how meditation and awareness practice can return that energy to its source and transform those emotions into openness, clarity and sensitivity."
So if you are new or newish to the Awakened Heart Sangha, please do consider coming to this weekend. We hope that there will be plenty of newcomers at this weekend to make it worthwhile. And we also hope there will be plenty of old-timers to welcome the newcomers.
For a full description of London weekend courses, click here for the booklet "An Introduction to Awakened Heart Sangha Events".
Practicalities of London weekend courses
All London weekend courses are held at the St. MaryΓÇÖs Convent, Priory Field Drive, Edgware, Middx, HA8 9PZ (a 15-minute walk from Edgware Tube Station).
All weekends are open to everyone, and it is fine to come to one or both days. There is no need to book to attend the courses.
Saturdays are from 10:00am to 5:30pm and Sundays are from 9:00am to 4:30pm.
There is a charge of ┬ú15 per day (increased from ┬ú10 as of September 2004). Please also bring food for a ΓÇýbring and shareΓÇÖ lunch on both days.
There is limited accommodation at St Mary’s Convent for from £12.50 to £5 per night. It is essential to book this accommodation if you want it, by contacting Stephanie Hair (see below for tel no).
There is also dormitory accom-modation available (c 1¼ hr away) at Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist Centre for £14 per night. For more info, contact them on 020 7928 5447, [email protected]gro.eymas@nodnol .
For any inquiries about weekend courses please contact Stephanie Hair, tel: 01702 716511, email: [email protected]ku.gro.sha@nodnolnisdnekeew .
Below is a map of how to get to St Mary's Convent. To print just the map, right click on it and choose 'Print picture'.
