• Saturday, 26 May 2012

• 10am – 1pm

Priory Street Centre, York, YO1 6ET

with Gen Kelsang Thekchen

Take a break from your hectic life and have a holiday for your mind. On this half day course we will give a complete introduction to the practice of meditation. Topics covered will include what is meditation, the benefits of meditation and how to start a daily meditation practice.

The course will consist of practical instructions, peaceful meditations and advice on how to use meditation in everyday situations so that we can maintain a positive mind during the day.

Click here for a map.

everybody welcome to join in the fun!

This year’s annual summer fayre will feature a host of activities for all ages and abilities. From a bouncy castle and water slide, to house tours and guided meditations, this is a fantastic day out for all the family.

• arts and crafts
• bric-a-brac and other stalls
• bouncy castle
• water slide
• fun giant games
• house tours
• guided meditations
• barbecue and snacks …
• … and more!

If you have any special skills (or even if you don’t!), if you would like to get involved to help out, hold a stall, or donate bric-a-brac, please get in touch by emailing admin@madhyamaka.org, and together we will make this a fantastic day.

These talks will be taught by Gen Kelsang Thekchen, Resident Teacher at Madhyamaka KMC, who is well known for his ability to explain Buddha’s teachings in a simple, practical way that makes it easy to understand and put them into practice in our everyday lives.

The book Modern Buddhism (free eBook) is a special presentation of Buddha’s teachings on compassion and wisdom that communicates their essence in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice.

Gen Thekchen will give a talk on this book, by renowned author and meditation master, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.  Gen Thekchen is an inspiring and engaging Teacher whose teachings are of interest to everyone; Buddhist and non-Buddhist, young and old.  We look forward to welcoming you to these special events.

Modern Buddhism is also available as a free eBook – for more information, click here.

free events, no need to book.

… many more coming soon in Leeds, Halifax, Harrogate, Durham, Darlington – please check back!!

29th July – 3rd August
Join Madhyamaka KMC in this Post-Summer Festival retreat based on the teachings of Modern Buddhism received at the Summer Festival.  Gen Thekchen will guide meditations on Sutra and Tantra to help us gain confidence in the path to Enlightenment.

This is a perfect opportunity to deepen our understanding and experience of the meditations found in Modern Buddhism set in the beautiful conditions of Madhyamaka KMC.

Use this week to take these wisdom and compassion practices deep into your heart.

* Blessed and beautiful retreat conditions
* Meditate in the choice of four powerful & exquisite meditation rooms
* Relax in a peaceful haven in the rolling hills and woodlands of the Yorkshire Wolds
* Discuss profound Dharma with like-minded friends

This retreat follows on from the NKT International Summer Festival in the Lake District.
Madhyamaka KMC will also be holding a Post Spring Festival Retreat – for more information, click here.

 The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness

May 24th – 27th

This is a wonderful opportunity to deepen our connection with Buddha Tara and gain personal experience of the teachings on love and compassion in the beautiful and peaceful setting of Madhyamaka KMC.

This retreat will be based on teachings from Eight Steps to Happiness. Everybody is welcome to this course.

27 June – 1 July 2012

All our problems arise because we do not understand our mind. This course will give practical guidance to developing and maintaining a light, positive mind – showing how to recognize and abandon states of mind that harm us and replace them with peaceful and beneficial ones.

The insight we will gain from Buddha’s understanding of human psychology will help us profoundly to improve our lives.

Wise and Compassionate Advice for Difficult and Uncertain Times

14th – 16th September 2012

The Course

White Tara is a female enlightened being known as the “compassionate mother of long life”. Her function is to bestow long life, good fortune and wisdom. It is said that living beings receive Tara’s blessings as swiftly as the wind moves because she is the manifestation of the wind element of all Buddhas. Drawing close to White Tara we’ll discover that all the pure happiness there is in the world comes not from self-concern, but from wishing others to be happy. Thinking like this we can solve our problems, experience a peaceful, happy mind all the time, and become a source of inspiration for everyone we meet.

Through receiving the empowerment and engaging in the practice of White Tara we shall make a strong connection with her. As a result we shall naturally be protected from dangers to our life, and increase our good fortune and wisdom.

During the course we will learn how to wisely transform the difficult times in our life where our situation is uncertain and we find it hard to make clear and correct decisions. We will discover how to develop the wisdom and confidence needed to lead a meaningful and beneficial life. By learning how to integrate spiritual practices into our daily life we shall transform these uncertain and troubled times into causes for profound spiritual progress.

The course is suitable for everyone.

The Teacher

The Celebration will be taught by Kadam Bridget Heyes, the NKT-IKBU National Spiritual Director for the UK and Resident Teacher of Nagarjuna Kadampa Buddhist Centre, Northamptonshire. Kadam Bridget is a dedicated disciple of Venerable Geshe-la and has been studying and practising Kadampa Buddhism for many years.

8 -10 June 2012

This weekend is dedicated for the family to enjoy Buddhist meditation and simple principles for living a happy and harmonious life. This year we will focus on the story of Lam Chung. Taking his example we will be inspired to overcome our individual limitations by developing extraordinary effort, faith and patience. The weekend will offer drama, music, art and many other fun activities.

Book early for this extremely popular event – call 01759 304832 or email info@madhyamaka.org. Alternatively you can book online. Everybody is welcome to this course.

10am – 5.30 pm

Buddha’s most renowned and precious teachings on the ultimate nature of reality

~ emptiness, shows us how to lightly enjoy what is appearing in our life and let go of the tight grasping at ourselves and others that is the cause of all our suffering and problems.

Day course costs: £25

Timetable

10 – 10.15 am: Refreshments
10.15 – 11.30am: Teaching
11.30 – 12.15: Refreshments
12.15 – 1pm: Meditation
2.30 – 3.45: Teaching
3.45 – 4.30: Refreshments
4.30 – 5.15: Meditation
5.15- 5.30: Q&A

Medicine Buddha Empowerment and Retreat

With Gen Kelsang Thekchen

4 – 7 May 2012

During this special weekend course we will receive the blessing empowerment of Medicine Buddha and teachings explaining how we can cleanse our body and mind of the inner poisons that cause us mental and physical suffering.

Using the uncommon Kadampa teachings there will also be a guided retreat on the powerful healing practice of taking and giving. This practice is renowned for purifying the deepest sickness and disease for ourselves and others.

For an exact timetable of the weekend, please see the calendar.