Come along and join us

Classes in Berkeley Street

Hi everyone,

I hope that you are all doing OK.  I have been feeling the weight of our suffering world recently.  I’m always aware of the world around us as I tend to follow the news. I often wonder how I would cope if I hadn’t found the Dharma.  I think I would be overwhelmed with anger and sorrow.  The Dharma gives me tools to work with my own mental states and also a bigger perspective.  However, recently it has felt like a struggle to remember that and I am pleased that we are exploring the Bodhisattva Ideal at Mandala night, especially this month when we are concentrating on BAM (Buddhist Action Month - see my blog from June 3rd for more information).

On the first Tuesday I gave an introductory talk - link here

https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=LOC6521

The following week we heard about the Karuna Trust’s work with marginalised communities in South Asia. (karuna.org for more information) Angela told us of her recent experience of a telephone fundraising campaign and Carunalaka talked of the door knocking appeal she did some years ago.  It was a really inspiring evening.  Next week we will listen to an extract from a talk by Bhante Sangharakshita with time to discuss the issues raised. We will continue to explore BAM through the rest of June and into July.

The ‘alternative’ Friday night meditation and Puja class continues to go from strength to strength, with 17 people attending last week.  Courses and other classes all seem to be going well.  Last Saturday morning I was at our LGBTQ+ morning which I really enjoyed. After a practice of the Metta Bhavana and the obligatory and enjoyable tea break, we heard a little bit from everyone about how their practice is going.  That was inspiring and, like myself, many are struggling with the state of the world and grateful to have a practice and a safe space to share in. 

Woodside Crescent update

The Woodside Workshops are over and Moksadhi and Sarah have pulled together the ideas generated.  I attended both the feedback sessions and they were inspiring, stimulating and moving.  Various options for the use of the property were suggested.  I ended up thinking that, whichever one - or combination, we choose will be fantastic. It was exciting to hear the options laid out and I have great appreciation for all the work put in by so many different people to get us to this place.  We are still waiting for planning permission and building work estimates but everything is moving along smoothly.  We have a number of events coming up at Woodside - so here are the dates for your diary:

24th June 1.00pm - 5.00pm. Cleaning day - volunteers welcome.  The team say 

We are meeting in the new Centre at 2 Woodside Cres with our lunch at 1pm.

An opportunity to connect with sangha members and work together to help set up this fundraising event. (The skills auction)

28th June 2.00pm - 6pm Skills Auction:

The auction will take place on Saturday 28th June 2-6pm. During the intervals there will be live entertainment from musical duos Pete & Stephen and Jen & Laura.

£5 gets you in for tea/coffee and all the cake you can eat. We’d love you to come and join in the fun on the day.

More information on the Whats On section of the website.

6th July Dharma Day 11.00am - 4.00pm.  

More information on the Whats On section of the website.

I’m excited about these upcoming events.  Every time we do something in the new centre it feels more like home.  I hope that you can come along and join us for any or all of the dates.  

Going back to my sense of the suffering of the world, one of the ways I am working with this is doing a gratitude practice.  Every night I reflect on things I feel grateful for and I love that there are always things come to mind.  Right now, having written this, I feel grateful not only to have found the Dharma but to be able to help make that more available to the people of Glasgow.  So, I feel grateful for our new centre, for all the events that we are doing there and for the sangha who keep it alive and will do into the future.

For now, as always, may all beings be well, may all beings find true happiness and its causes and may all beings be free from suffering.