Programme from September 2011 to March 2012

Lama Thubten

The timetable of courses and seminars is: 10,30am to 1pm, lunch break, and from 3 to 6pm (unless otherwise stated).

 

Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September
The four ordinary preliminaries in Buddhist Mahayana practice - 2nd weekend

In Tibetan Buddhism, some preliminary practices must be completed by those who are in search of enlightenment, to go about it in the correct way. There are two kinds of preliminary practices: ordinary and special practices. This course describes the ordinary ones.
The four ordinary preliminary practices, also called "the four ways that change the mind" are: precious human rebirth, impermance and death, karma and its consequences, samsara or cyclic existence and its suffering.
In the first appointment, we will see precious human rebirth, impermance and death. The other two, karma and its consequences, and samsara or cyclic existence and suffering, will seen during the second weekend.

 

From Friday 14 October at 6pm to Sunday 16 at 6pm
Residential Retreat on Tara Chittamani

This is a special Tibetan Buddhist method for removing interferences and liberating all living beings from all forms of fear and danger. This practice lets us identify with the pure crystal energy of the female deity called Tara, also known as the Liberator and the Fast Heroine for the rapidity of her action to succour all beings. She is the consort of Buddha Amogasiddhi, the Supreme Healer of fear. Tara’s special energy is the key for overcoming all external, internal and secret fears.

 

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November
Seminar: The Eightfold Path

Siddharta Gautama taught the Noble Eightfold Path as a method to free ourselves from suffering and attain true inner peace. It is also called the Middle Way and it is related to the Four Noble Truths. Lama Thubten will teach us how to apply this precious teaching in our daily life in this modern world.
The pathway to transformation involves the correct use of all aspects of thought and expression: right aim, right action, right thought, right speech, right awareness etc.

 

From Friday 13 January at 6pm to Sunday 15 at 6pm
Residential Retreat on Black Manjushri

Black Manjushri is the irate form of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. He helps us to heal deep negative emotions and mental suffering caused by problems and illness. He is also a powerful antidote to distress and harm caused by negative astrological influences. There are many benefits to the meditative practice of Black Manjushri. Firstly, it gives both mental and physical support to those who suffer from so-called incurable illnesses like Aids and cancer. It helps us dominate our anger, depression, fear and delusion that arise when we are facing a health problem or the difficulties of our daily life.

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February
The 5 disturbing emotions: anger, pride, fear, attachment and mental confusion. And how to transform them to recover harmony and peace of mind in our daily life.

There are various methods for reducing, purifying and freeing ourselves of the 5 disturbing emotions. The most common way is to use the right antidotes, the paths of thought and meditation that oppose our mental defilements. We will only find peace when our mind becomes free. Lama Thubten will explain how to apply the antidotes during our daily life.