The Newsletter of Edinburgh s Buddhist Community. History of Buddhism in Edinburgh

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1 Volume 2, Number 1 Spring-Summer 2007 The Newsletter of Edinburgh s Buddhist Community Sangha-Building in 2007 The Rowan Retreat The annual All-Edinburgh Buddhist Retreat was held April at Wiston Lodge near Biggar in the Scottish Borders. This 3rd annual gathering was attended by 36 participants representing five traditions: Community of Interbeing, the FWBO, Samye Dzong, Soto Zen, and the Theravadan Forest Sangha. The theme for the retreat was Building Sangha, and we followed the general format of previous years, with each group leading one session. The event began with a deeply relaxing guided meditation on Friday evening. The next morning, a 6 am bell awoke us for morning Qigong practice, followed by the first of the sessions. This year it was a joy to participate in a session led by Pete Baynes from Samye Dzong. He introduced a chanting practice in which each person chanted at their own pace and at their own pitch. The resulting buzz of sound and energy was powerful and a privilege to be part of. Other groups led sessions similar to those of previous years, with some changes to contribute to the theme of Sangha-Building. Nearly every group included both chanting and meditation. Soto Zen led a just sitting meditation, with eyes open. The FWBO s session introduced what is known as the Celtic Puja. And the Forest Sangha led chanting (a bit in Pali) and also contributed several readings. The Community of Interbeing, the organizers for this year s event, chose to use their time to encourage discussion in small groups. Six small groups were formed, each discussing one of (Continued on page 4) History of Buddhism in Edinburgh This is the third of four instalments of an article written by Rawdon Goodier. 5. The 1980s In the 1980s, a significant expansion of Buddhist activity took place in Edinburgh. Local meditation groups affiliated to the main traditions began to be established. The founding of a branch monastery under the direction of Ajahn Sumedho of the Forest Sangha tradition at Harnham in Northumberland in 1981 enabled the Edinburgh Theravadan Group to evolve a few years later. Others included the Samye Dzong Group (affiliated to Samye Ling), the Dharma Study group (following the teachings of Chogyam Trungpa), and the Soto Zen Group (affiliated to Throssel Hole Priory) in October was also Spring Summer 2007 Page 1 marked by the occasion of the first visit of the Dalai Lama to Edinburgh. In April 89 Nan Shin, one of Taizen Deshimaru s disciples, led a short zen retreat at the Salisbury Centre but the meditation group affiliated with that tradition moved to Glasgow. A University of Edinburgh Buddhist Society was formed in November 1983, and between then and May 88 promoted at least 34 lectures by distinguished Buddhist speakers including: Trevor Leggett, Anandamaitreya, Dhiravamsa, Tew Bunnag, Khentin Tai Situpa, Ngakpa Jampa Thaya, Ajahn Sumedho (Abbot of the Amaravati Buddhist monastery.) Rev Master Daishin Morgan ( the Abbot of Throssel Hole Priory), and Lama Yeshe, the Abbot of Samye Ling. (History of Buddhism, cont d on p. 4) Community of Interbeing members Pete Smith and Suzanne Dance lead walking meditation at the All-Edinburgh Buddhist Retreat held in April at Wiston Lodge. Photo by Annie Currie

2 Sangha Without Boundaries Newsletter News from the Sanghas Samye Dzong FWBO / Edinburgh Buddhist Centre The recent inter-sangha retreat with its sangha building theme has also been reflected in activities at the Edinburgh Buddhist Centre, home of the FWBO. We have had new practice groups emerging on Buddhism in daily life and a Saturday morning meditation practice group, and we also have a monthly get together called Sangha Xtra, a half day on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, as an opportunity to get to know one another more and deepen our friendships and connections with each other. We meditate together and then do something social such as a walk or, next time, a BBQ. As the Buddha said, and we heard in one of the readings at the intersangha retreat: Friendship is the whole of the spiritual life. offered by Tracy McLoughlin Theravadan Forest Sangha Edinburgh s Theravadan Forest Sangha benefits from regular visits by monastics from the Harnham monastery. Upcoming visits are scheduled for 7 June, 5 July, 6 Sept, 4 Oct, and 6 Dec. On these evenings, the visiting monastic (Ajahn Munindo or Ajahn Abinando) give a Dhamma talk after the chanting and meditation. Please note that there are sometimes last-minute changes to this schedule. Over the past year, we have also been fortunate to benefit from the frequent presence of Ajahn Candasiri, one of the senior monastics in our tradition in the UK. She is staying in the Edinburgh area until the end of June and often leads our Thursday evening sessions. All are welcome to attend any of our regular meetings. offered by Claralynn Nunamaker Soto Zen Why does it seem so difficult to write something fresh about our life and training? When Claralynn said we could use some old material from our groups I was wanting to grab the chance to avoid the work of looking and opening up to what is current in training for me. I looked at old copies of our newsletter and have found lots of helpful pieces, yet when I look at why they are helpful it is because they are all dealing directly with the present of that time. The Wiston Lodge retreat was deeply helpful for me because everyone is prepared to step up and share their practise and understanding. I particularly valued the small group discussion we had on the Sunday morning, looking at ways we have in our different groups of applying the teachings to our everyday lives. The honesty and courage of that kind of sharing had a real impact on my limited view of other tradition's ways of dealing with the sometimes difficult "passing scenery" of our lives. No matter what the outward appearance and style of our practise, we are all doing our best to live from the compassionate heart as we walk the path together. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone again at the Salisbury Centre for Buddha Day, and a big thank you to you all for sharing your training. In Gassho (with bows), Kathleen offered by Kathleen Campbell This is our usual schedule: Tues.-Sat a.m. Meditation and morning service. Tues,.Thurs.,Fri.,& Sat. 7.30p.m p.m. Meditation. Wed p.m. Meditation and dharma evening. Sun a.m. Meditation; tea, then a.m p.m. Ceremony & meditation. 2nd. Friday of each month is an Introductory evening. Please contact Rev. Favian if wishing to visit at another time:tel Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. In March, to mark the occasion, Samye Dzong was privileged to receive a 3-day visit by its founder, Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche. Whilst in Edinburgh, Rinpoche attended events hosted by Tara Rokpa, Rokpa UK Overseas Projects and Samye Dzong, representing the three branches of his activity to be found in the city. Presentations included discussions on charitable aid, Tibetan medicine, and approaches to psychotherapy. Rinpoche also met children from Trinity Primary School and presented a thanka to the head curator at the National Museum of Scotland. Whilst at Samye Dzong, Rinpoche gave Empowerments for Green Tara and Medicine Buddha practices. He also gave guidance on a new plan of study to be followed here at the centre. The next teaching events at Samye Dzong are: * 8 June, Green Tara Instruction * 6 June, Chenrezig instruction * Awakening Compassion, a 3- evening course by Clive Holmes 5 June How to Develop Compassion Through Mind Training, 12 June Meditation on Compassion (Tonglen), and 19 June Compassion in Everyday Life Clive Holmes has been teaching meditation for the last fourteen years all over the UK. He has completed over a year in intensive retreat and has studied in Europe and India with teachers from Burma, South East Asia, Japan and Tibet. To book please info@ edinburgh.samye.org Meetings will be held in Room 1 The Theosophical Society in Scotland, 28 Great King Street (off Dundas Street) Edinburgh. offered by Paul Sode Spring Summer 2007 Page 2

3 Community of Interbeing Wild Geese Sangha The Sangha of the Community of Interbeing follow the teachings of Zen Master, Ven Thich Nhat Hanh. Sangha Without Boundaries Newsletter The Sangha meet every Thursday evening at St Mark s Unitarian Church in Edinburgh We usually have two periods of sitting with a walking meditation in between. We often recite from the Buddhist teachings and sutras and follow with a period of sharing, and ending with the dedication of merit. Other regular gatherings include: Mindfulness@Lunchtime. Every Tuesday between and 2.00pm at St Mark s Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace. Mornings of Mindfulness (with shared lunch), every 1st Saturday of the month. Arrive at 10.15am for 10.30am start, with lunch from 1-2pm. At Kate s 29, Dick Place, Grange, Edinburgh. Please bring your own food to share. Sunday Evenings DVD evenings are back until 17 June (not available 3 June). with tea and biscuits (sweet and savoury), followed by a DVD of Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh s teachings, followed by sharing. At: Ani s, The Mews, 13 Inverleith Place Lane Ani also hosts morning sitting every weekday from 7:15 8:15 am until June 17. When you have arrived, the bell to invite is the new golden one by the new garden door. offered by Jon Bagust Meditations & Courses Weekly meditations Monday 7:30 pm Kagyu Samye Dzong, Theosophical Society, 28 Great King St. Tuesday 7-8 am, 7:30-8:30 pm Meditation 12:15 2:00 pm Mindfulness@lunchtime Community of Interbeing St. Mark s Unitarian Church Wed. 7:00-8:00 am Meditation 12:15 pm Lunchtime meditation Edinburgh Buddhist Centre 7:30 pm Service, meditation and discussion 7:30 pm drop-in meditation class, NKT St. Georges West Church, Shandwick Place Thursday 7-8 am, 7:30-8:30 pm Meditation 7:30 pm, Theravadan Buddhist Group Chanting, meditation and group discussion 7:30 pm, Community of Interbeing Meditation and sharing Friday 7-8 am, 7:30-8:30 pm Meditation 12:30 1:30 pm Lunchtime Meditation FWBO, Edinburgh Buddhist Centre Saturday 7-8 am, 7:30-8:30 pm Meditation Sunday 9:30 am Service, meditation and discussion On-line Discussion Forum compassion.heartwoodmusic.com Visit our very own on-line forum, created for and by the Edinburgh area Buddhist community. Please use the space to post announcements, plan events, discuss timely topics, and more. Membership is by invitation (a necessity due to spamming). To join, please write Claralynn at info@heartwoodmusic.com. NVC Practice Group & Introductions A NonViolent Communication (NVC) Practice Group meets regularly at the FWBO s Edinburgh Buddhist Centre, at 30 Melville Terrace. Our meetings are held from 2-4 pm on the third Saturday of each month. Please note we will not hold our regular meeting in August. Three NVC introductions will be held (2-4 pm on selected Sundays). Our regular Saturday meetings will resume in September. For more information, please contact Kalyanavaca on or her at ebudc@supanet.com. NVC Practice Group meetings NVC Introductions 16 June 5 August 21 July 19 August 16 September 2 September Every day until 22 June 7:15-8:15 am Morning sitting at Ani s, The Mews, Inverleith Place Ln. Courses Mondays 7:30-9:30 pm, Clear Mind, Compassionate Heart FWBO, Edinburgh Buddhist Centre 3 Sept. - 8 Oct., 15 Oct Nov. Tuesdays 7:00 pm, Awakening Compassion, w. Clive Holmes Samye Dzong, Theosophical Society 5, 12 & 19 June, 3-week course Fridays 2nd Friday of each month, Introductory evening 10:30 am - 4:30 pm, Creating a Stress-Free Life FWBO, Edinburgh Buddhist Centre Saturdays 28 July, 27 Oct., 24 Nov. Sundays 17 June, 16 Sept. To include a listing, send details or your group s meeting or course to info@heartwoodmusic.com. Please indicate that you d like it included in the Meditations and Courses section of the newsletter. Spring Summer 2007 Page 3

4 3 Jun DVD Sunday 5:00 pm Community of Interbeing Ani s place, Jun Awakening Compassion 28 Great King Street 7 Jun Monk s visit 7:30 pm Forest Sangha Christ Church Neil, Jun Green Tara Instruction Theosophical Society 8 Jun Introductory Evening Portobello Buddhist Priory Jun Chenrezig Instruction 10 am Samye Dzong 10 Jun DVD Sunday 5:00 pm Community of Interbeing Ani s place, Jun Awakening Compassion Sangha Without Boundaries Newsletter Calendar 28 Great King Street 5 Jul Monk s visit 7:30 pm Forest Sangha Christ Church Neil, Jul Introductory Evening Portobello Buddhist Priory Jul DVD Sunday 5:00 pm Community of Interbeing Ani s place, Jul Awakening Compassion 28 Great King Street 5-27 Meditation classes (intro) Aug FWBO Edinburgh Buddhist Centre Kalyanavaca, Sep Monk s visit 7:30 pm Forest Sangha Christ Church Neil, To list your event or activity, please send details to info@heartwoodmusic.com and indicate that you d like it included in the Calendar. We ask that events listed be of general interest and open to all. Wrapping things up with music, dancing and singing at the Rowan Tree Retreat. Photo by Kevin McConnell (History, continued from page 1) After 1988, the existence of the University Society became rather intermittent and I have no further record of talks held under its auspices. However, the healthy flow of communication between the various traditions represented in Edinburgh groups, previously encouraged through the University Society events, continued from 1984 to the present by the establishment of an annual Buddha Day gathering. Normally held at the Salisbury Centre on a Sunday in May, this event includes a puja led by one of the Buddhist groups, and a sharing of news and food. The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order did not become continuously active in Edinburgh until Order members Tejamitra and Agracitta moved across from Glasgow in Rawdon Goodier is a retired biologist who has been practicing within the Zen Buddhist tradition since encountering Throssel Hole Priory in He is also a lay minister in the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. (Retreat, continued from page 1) the six points the Buddha described as necessary for a successful sangha. We then reconvened for a fruitful fullgroup discussion. The weekend also included a work period, walking meditation, and a short introduction to NVC. We ended Sunday with the planting of a tree on the Wiston Lodge grounds. The group visited trees planted during the previous retreats (they are thriving!) before planting a rowan tree. True to its reputation of being the tree of life, the little rowan seedling helped inspire members of the group to play music, sing, and dance together in addition to the more usual verbal dedications. Looking forward to 2008, members of the Soto Zen group have offered to organize next year s retreat. Once again it will be held at Wiston Lodge at the end of April. Spring Summer 2007 Page 4

5 Offerings Altar set up at Wiston Lodge during the April retreat. Photo by Kevin McConnell Interlinked On my walk in the premises I came upon two rows of trees that looked quite old and solid. Each had its own characteristics, as it normally is in Nature. But when I looked down I saw that their roots were interlinked. I smiled because it seemed to me that they were reflecting our group: each has their practice and format, but at the base our roots are one in the Buddha's Dharma. offered by Ani Mavericka Offerings for this newsletter Sangha Without Boundaries Newsletter Rowan Tree Retreat At peace in the silent room I watch The smoke of the incense In the sunlight Flowing, swirling, Ever changing Graceful Light. The dew on the grass Outside shining bright, The tall trees Guardians in the sunrise Somehow the memory returns of my Dad Reading from his diary in the small front room, 'Your Mum said she thought we slept well because you were on Retreat'. offered by Suzanne Dance Interlinked tree roots, at Wiston Lodge. Please consider supporting Edinburgh s Buddhist Community with your subscription to Sangha Without Boundaries. Help keep our sanghas interlinked while keeping yourself informed. Name: Mailing address: Town Postal Code Lyrics shared at the Rowan Tree Retreat by members of the Community of Interbeing. See me beautiful See me beautiful Each and every day Could you take a chance Could you find a way To see me shining through In everything I do And see me beautiful. Look for the best in me That s what I really am And all I want to be It may take some time It may be hard to find But see me beautiful by Marshall B. Rosenberg Reprinted with permission from the Center for NonViolent Communication Photo by Annie Currie Subscriptions for the 2007 calendar year: Individuals : 5/year for print (via , by donation) Groups: 20/year (15 copies of each issue) Please make cheques/postal orders payable to Theravadan Buddhist Group and send to: Inter-Sangha Newsletter, c/o Claralynn Nunamaker 32 Preston Terrace Linlithgow EH49 6HU Phone or If you d prefer an electronic version only, please tick here. Copies will be sent via as a PDF file. Donations gratefully accepted. Spring Summer 2007 Page 5

6 32 Preston Terrace Linlithgow EH49 6HU Spring-Summer 2007 Inside this issue... News from the Sanghas 2 Meditations & Courses 3 Calendar 4 Offerings 5 Samye Dzong Pete Baynes pete.baynes@virgin.net Mondays, 7:30 pm Many activities visit website for more info Theosophical Society, 28 Great King St. Community of Interbeing Gill Mathews Thursdays, 7:30 pm Tuesdays, 12:15 pm St Mark s Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace Forest Sangha Neil Howell Thursdays, 7:30 pm Christ Church, Holy Corner Morningside Sangha Contacts & Weekly Meeting Info FWBO Kalyanavaca Melville Terrace Edinburgh EH9 1LP ebudc@supanet.com Tuesdays (sangha night) Many activities visit website for more info Edinburgh Buddhist Centre, 30 Melville Ter. Rigpa Mary Deans Eldindean Place, Bonnyrigg ripga@rigpaedinburgh.com Mondays, 7:30 pm The Salisbury Centre Thai Tradition Psrmahr Wisit (Head Monk) 199 Slateford Road Edinburgh EH14 1LA Editorial board: Annie Currie, Joe Richardson, and Neil Rothwell. Soto Zen Kathleen Campbell c/o Portobello Priory 27 Brighton Place, Portobello rossinjoppa@aol.com Wed., 7:30 pm Portobello Buddhist Priory New Kadampa Tradition Devi info@meditateinglasgow.org 7:30 pm drop-in meditation class, St. George s West Church, Shandwick Pl. Newsletter editor Claralynn Nunamaker Preston Terrace Linlithgow EH49 6HU info@heartwoodmusic.com Spring Summer 2007 Page 6