September NEWSBYTE
Dear Friends
I hope this Newsbyte finds you all well and happy!
A full description of courses on the website.
Click: Calendar 2017
Tip o’ the Day below
Aim and Objective in Present Time
Diary:
We are now coming to the end of the summer. And a yearly concern is how we are going to get rid of the hay. Andy, our property co-ordinator, tells me how difficult it is for people with small meadows to have them cut and taken away. There are 36 members in the Marches Meadow Group and they’ve organised machinery to cut the meadows, but can only help to get rid of it. We have been fortunate that up until now we have been able to get a local farmer to take it. And now a young man, Ryan, takes it for his sheep. However, this does present us with a yearly ethical dilemma. We want to help wild flower, but we don’t want to feed sheep who end up on the dinner plate. So we are looking for solutions.
Announcement:
Calendar 2017 – please note the new long Winter Mahasi Course. You can apply from the start of October. It is only for those who have done at least one weeklong course in the Mahasi Tradition either here or in another meditation centre and it will be a little more demanding than the Summer Mahasi – but only a little! See below for details.
Accommodation Block: Slowly, slowly, the building rises from the ground.
Google have closed down Picasa and put everything into Google Photos. Unfortunately all the captions have gone! And I haven't yet found a way to put comments into the photos. And I can't organise the photos chronologically. If anyone knows how or can give me a link to explain, do email me. Thanks.
So as you scroll down you'll have to guess how the building has progressed!
Anyway Take a look: Accommodation Block
Sacred Activists: Leadership & spirituality in action : Young People Needed
Sad news: Wisdom Books has had to close down. As far as I know the only Buddhist bookshop for last 35 years or more. Probably slain by the all conquering Amazon.
Karuna Book: Every morning at puja we call the names of those who a sick /dying or having a hard time.
Mudita Book: Every evening at puja we call the names of those who have something to rejoice about.
The Complete Calendar for 2016
Assistants Needed
N.B. All the courses are serviced by assistants.
As an assistant, we do not expect payment of the deposit because you have kindly offered your time.
And as usual any dana by you is entirely in your gift.
However, your commitment is essential, for the course would be very difficult to run without an assistant and may indeed have to be cancelled.
If you are interested, follow this link: Course Assistant
For info. about Retreats and teachers see website www.satipanya.org.uk
See drop down menus: especially About Us, Teachings and Retreats
Would you like to come and assist on a course?
Scroll down to see where we need you.
All Retreats run by Bhante Bodhidhamma
unless otherwise stated
Click on names for bio.
Summer Mahasi Retreat
Assistants : Need may arise
Eleven week roll-on, roll-off Retreat.
Minimum stay eight nights.
Start dates: Saturdays:-
13 & 27 Aug. 10 Sept.
Finishing Sun. 18 Sept
N.B. Start restricted to listed Saturdays.
Alternate Sun. possible for Mahasi devotees.
A challenging Retreat easily modified for beginners.
See Beginner’s Testimonials on website.
You are encouraged to stay for more than one week.
Assistants
Starting and ending on following Saturday.
02 – 16 July : Matthias Wicki
16 July – 30 July : Assistant : John MacDougall
30 July – 13 August : Assistant : Ulla Mergen
13 – 27 August: Assistant : Adeline Defrance
27 August – 10 September: Assistant : Adeline Defrance
10 – 18 (Sunday) September: Assistant : Dea Pardisos
Sangha Day : Ninth Anniversary
Saturday 17 September
Assistant : Needed
Please bring veggie food to join us for communal lunch at noon.
Ceremony starts 13.30
Talk: To be announced.
Mahasi Two Week Retreat
Places Available
Sat. 24 Oct. – Sun. 09 October
Preference given to those who want to stay two weeks.
Assistant : Therese Caherty
The usual schedule and format – see website.
Day Retreat
Saturday 15 October
Assistant : Yatin Mistry
Local Assistant : Needed
Kick Start/Top
Arrive 09.30. Finish 17.00
Please bring food to share.
Weekend Retreat
Fully booked. Feel free to apply to be on the cancellations waiting list.
Fri. 21 – Sun. 23 p.m. October
Assistant : Yatin Mistry
See usual Schedules
The Mahasi system is challenging, and its emphasis on moment-to-moment mindfulness can prove to feel particularly difficult. Carl teaches a gentle approach to the practice, encouraging a skilful and effective orientation that helps practitioners to commit themselves fully to the practice and the schedule, and thereby get the most out of the course.
Autumn Mahasi Retreat
29 Oct. – 20 Nov.
Bhante Bodhidhamma
Ulla Mergen and Ruth Worgan : Needed
Preference is given to those who wish to stay for the full three weeks.
The usual schedule and format – see website.
Day Retreat
Kick Start/Top up
Saturday 03 December
Local Assistant : Needed
Arrive 09.30. Finish 17.00
Please bring food to share.
Xmas Retreat
Places Available
Fri. 23 – Tues. 27 December
Assistant : Needed
N.B. This retreat is reserved for those who have completed a Retreat as Satipanya.
The first day will be a normal retreat schedule though we shall rise at 5.30.
An opportunity to make it a day of fasting
in solidarity with the one in nine people undernourished and starving.
The second day, Xmas Day, is a contemplative day
looking at the qualities of gratitude, renunciation and generosity.
During a group event, you will be asked to speak
about an event which manifests the goodness of mankind.
The third day is communal. There is a walk – weather permitting.
Xmas menu will be close to the traditional veggie fare - a set menu!
New Year Retreat
Places Available
Thurs. 29 December to Mon. 02 January
Assistant : Anne Aston
N.B. This retreat is reserved for those who have completed a Retreat as Satipanya.
The first day will be a normal retreat schedule though we shall rise at 5.30.
An opportunity to make it a day of fasting
in solidarity with the one in nine people undernourished and starving.
On the second day, the Eve, we will see in the New Year.
During a group event, you will be asked to tell us about an event which has had a effect upon you - international, national or local or personal.
We hope to have a bonfire.
A day to reflect on the past year, plenty of time to oneself.
Retreatants will be asked to say a little about an virtuous event chosen by them.
The third day, New Years Day, is communal with a walk – weather permitting.
Winter Eight Week Mahasi
Applications from October onward.
Open to those who have done at least a one week course at Satipanya
Or one week with another Mahasi teacher.
You are encouraged to stay for more than one week.
Assistant first Two weeks : Jim Tibby
Assistant for other Six Weeks: Mark Blaxland
Sat 14th Jan. - Sun 22nd Jan : Sun 22nd Jan - Sat 28th Jan
Sat 28th Jan - Sun 5th Feb : Sun 5th Feb - Sat 11h Feb
Sat 11th Feb - Sun 19th Feb : Sun 19th Feb - Sat 25th Feb
Sat 25th Feb - Sun 5th Mar : Sun 5th March - Sat 11th March
Aim and Objective in Present Time
Our concept of time is linear. We believe we are coming from a past, stop for a moment in the present and head off into the future. Historically speaking this is true. We can point to a past happening and we can predict to some extent what will happen in the future.
These views can be considered as conventional. From a personal point of view, time is a way we structure events. If I said to you, I went for a walk yesterday afternoon, you would be able to position that walk in time – about so many hours ago. Not today. Not tomorrow. All this is useful for daily living, but it can be a barrier to experiencing time in a liberated way.
In what way do we liberate ourselves from time? First of all it is to acknowledge that time does not actually exist. It is a concept whereby we organise past, present and future events. It’s not that we want to get rid of the concept. If we did, we would be utterly disorientated. But we need to recognise the disconnection with actual present events that may come with it.
This moment is sandwiched between what I think happened in the past (memories are never absolutely accurate) and what I presume will happen in the future. So I am either being compelled to act in a certain way determined by a past decision or I am acting in a way dictated by a future I imagine or expect. In this way, I am never living in the present moment as it is right now.
When I am behaving like this, I am not in contact with the way things really are. In fact I find myself often in conflict with what is actually happening or manipulating what is happening to realise a future event. I’m neither living in the future nor experiencing the present moment as it is.
One way we can bring ourselves into present time is to make a distinction between aim and objective. Supposing we have to go to the dentist. (I prefer uplifting examples.) When I set off the aim is to get to the dentist on time. The objective is to stay mindful of what is happening every moment of the way. This may also include any anxiety about being late or thoughts about what may happen.
This way we are always living in the present even though we may be experiencing the consequences of past action and the effects of future action.
In other words, it is to live in the immediacy of the present moment.
Catch yourself opening a door. Are you already in the other room? Catch yourself brushing your teeth. Are you in a hurry to get it over with, so you can launch yourself into bed? How many times have you set out on a journey and arrived at where you are going whether driving or public transport without any awareness of the journey? How many times have you ‘mislaid’ your keys?
If we see how frequent is the number of missed present moments, we’ll want to do something about it.
Also if you fail to receive a monthly NEWSBYTE, please, look in spam
or re-establish the email by filling in the form in MAILING LIST at the bottom of the front page of the website.
Many thanks.
Finally, please forward this email if you know someone who may be interested. Thanks.
Metta
Onward
Bodhidhamma
SATIPANYA BUDDHIST TRUST
Directors - Rob Poleykett, Mike Regan, Dea Paradisos, Jim Tibby
Limited Company Number 05924965 Registered Charity Number 1116668
Satipanya, White Grit, Minsterley, Shropshire SY5 0JN
T: 0044 (0)1588 650752 email: bodhidhamma@satipanya.org.uk info: info@satipanya.org.uk
