Centre Program in 2010

Sakya Choekhor Lhunpo Program from August 2010

Lama Konchok Choephel, the centre's spiritual director, will be holding the following dharma activities. Lama la and the committee invite regulars and newcommers to events.

Shamatha practice, including Q & A time with Lama Konchok

When: 10am Sunday 8^th August, then on the 1st Sunday of the month from September.

Where: Somatic Yoga Centre, 226A Glenferrie Rd, Malvern (Upstairs, opposite the Cold Rock ice cream parlour).

Cost: Entry by donation, though a facility fee of $5 is requested to cover costs.
Duration: For one hour.

Audience: Suitable for beginners and more experienced meditators.

Shamatha refers to a single pointed meditation. In the west it is also referred to as Calm Abiding Meditation and Mind Training, while Tibetans refer to it as Shiney. It typically involves a practice of resting the mind on an object of meditation such as one's breath, an image of a deity or a blue flower, and is contrasted to the more advanced analytic meditation practices. The purpose shamata is to enhance sustained voluntary attention, concentration or focus. This happens to coincide with a quietening of thoughts or of one's attention on thoughts. and in the well developed practitioner supports an attention that can be sustained for hours on end. Without some shamata ability, it is difficult to deepen one's practice or gain the deepest understanding of key Buddhist teachings. For futher explanations see this teaching by His Holiness Sakya Trizin.

Green Tara practice

When: 10am Sunday 15^th August, then continuing on the 2^nd Sunday of the month

Where: 36 Head St, Brighton.
Duration: Approx 1 hour

Prerequisites: No prerequisites, as this is a puja.

Please arrive well prior to 10am and text/call 0402518196 to gain access. For an explaation on the Green Tara practice see this teaching by His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche.

Conversations with Lama Konchok

When: 10am Sunday 22^nd August, then continuing on the 4^th Sunday of the month

Where: Somatic Yoga Centre, 226A Glenferrie Rd, Malvern (Upstairs, opposite the Cold Rock ice cream parlour).

Cost: $15 non members; $10 members/concession.

Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours

These are semistructured conversations with Lama Konchok. There is generally a topic or theme that Lama Konchock speaks about informally and audience participation in the form of questions and comments related to the topic is encouraged.

Unfortunately no credit card facilities available at events