Current News
To keep our monthly newsletter brief we have mainly kept to explaining upcoming courses and events. However, lots of other things happen every week and to keep you in touch with these developments we have created a current news section. Browse here to learn about developments in the centre and see how the courses and events turned out.
Work a Day for World Peace
Individuals from the centre contributed £269 to the International Temples Project, by donating a day's wage they helped to develop Kadampa Temples and KMC world wide. KMC France was the most recently opened and the Temple in Brazil is almost complete. See Kadampa.org for more details.
Posted 20/12/2008
Christmas Party
Lots of cake, decorations and a party game (the unfortunate game organizer had come down with a virus). Most people were from the main Keighley classes although others came from the various branch classes and it is lovely for everyone to get together. For the raffle 1st prize went to Karen Parrish of Halifax, 2nd Prize to Barrie Oddy from Otley, 3rd Prize Viv from Guiseley and 4th Prize Alan Mottershead from Cullingworth. Various smaller prizes were also won. £53.30 was raised which is being put towards the previously mentioned camera and some photos will hopefully appear in due time.
Posted 15/12/2008
Christmas STW
This went down extremely well. We started the evening with mince pies and a tasty fruit punch, which was followed by a calming meditation (for most of us!) and a talk, explaining methods to maintain a peaceful mind in the midst of our busy activities, drawn from the Kadampa mind training teachings. The cooks had really pulled out the stops and the food was delicious, five courses in total. A satisfying evening all in all.
Posted 15/12/2008
Camera
Lhasang has bought a very qualified camera so now we are one step closer to making on-line photo galleries. In the meantime paparazzi activity is arising around the centre until she gets used to it.
Posted 15/12/2008
Patience Workshop
Events conspired against this workshop with sickness, weather and other factors meaning a lot of the people who intended to come were not able to. So we had to practice patience - its all in the title!
Posted 15/12/2008
Tara Chanting
This was a beautiful event re-establishing our connection with Arya Tara, who is the spiritual mother of Kadampa Buddhist. We chanted the praises to Tara seven times in each session of which there were six in total spread over 24hrs. There were are core of four or five to the night sessions with more coming during the day time. It is such a wonderful practice for receiving blessings and making spiritual progress. For those who would like to try a single session we have a regular Monday morning Tara Puja.
Posted 15/12/2008
Busy weekend
There was a lot on this weekend past with an American STW on Friday evening, The Stillness With Day Course on Sunday and Long Protector Puja on Saturday. About 15 people came to STW where we also celebrated Lhasang's birthday. A similar number came to the day course which dealt with increasing our concentration. People mainly came from the branches including Burnley, Grassington, Ilkley and Otley and we were inspired to put effort into our meditation practice.
Posted 3/12/2008
Camera
It's said that a picture can tell a thousand words, so we are thinking that photo galleries of our events would add a new dimension to the web site. We are looking to get a new digital camera before Christmas so if anyone has any knowledge on choosing cameras or in making web based photo galleries please let us know.
Posted 22/11/2008
Weekend Meditation Retreat
Madhyamaka Centre near York has kindly offered to host our annual weekend meditation retreat which will be based on meditations for developing cherishing love. Residential accommodation is available starting at a very reasonable £45 for the whole weekend in a dormitory including meals. Single, twin rooms etc are also be available.
Posted 22/11/2008
Paris NKT Autumn Festival
Nine of us from the centre went to the autumn international festival near Paris and enjoyed greatly listening to Venerable Geshe-la teach on wisdom. He also taught of the power of belief explaining how it brings our practice to life. The Festival was held at Euro Disney which gave an interesting backdrop to a Buddhist Festival with probably the best fire works we will see for a while! Next festival is the Northern Dharma Celebration near York in March.
Posted 22/11/2008
Keighley GPs
We maybe spoke too soon on the Keighley GP front as all has suddenly gone quiet. It is, however, very nice to have two levels of classes so hopefully we can continue this in the New Year.
Posted 22/11/2008
New Property
Unfortunately the Eastwood Tavern mentioned previously is under offer from another party and so currently is unavailable. We are keeping our eyes out for any other properties so if you see one you think might be suitable please let us know.
Posted 22/11/2008
New Property
After a while of little happening on the property front a new building has come into view. Its in Keighley very close to the train station and the site of the new Asda. It's an old public house which could provide the option of a café in a very visible and accessible area. We will keep you up to date on developments.
Posted 18/10/2008
Coffee Morning
This went very well with over 40 people coming and enjoying the centre. There were tea and cakes aplenty and the two guided meditation were attended by about 16 people each time. A real mix of people came with some just curious, some re-establishing contact with the centre and others who come regularly. Approximately £100 was raised which will be put towards the centre move.
Posted 18/10/2008
Introductory and Intermediate GP Meditation Classes
Opening a second GP in Keighley has been a wonderful development and shows how the centre is maturing. It has allowed the Thursday class to explore subjects in greater depth while those wishing for an introduction have the, now almost, brand new Monday night class.
Posted 18/10/2008
Vajrayogini Class
For those with HYT empowerments this class has started to look at the practice of Vajrayogini. Running more or less once a month we will work our way gently through Guide to Dakini Land and the Dakini Yoga Sadhana. It has been lovely to have some of our Sanga from Bradford's Kashyapa centre along as well as many of the regulars from Buddha Land.
Posted 18/10/2008
