Welcome

Welcome to the Buddhist Council of Wales site. Here you will find details of events, information and news relating to the organisations which are members of the Council and also to other Buddhist organisations – a resource for all Buddhists in Wales.

Sunday, 26 October 2014

Samatha Trust - Llanfyllin, Llangunllo & Pembrokeshire


The Trust's purpose is to foster the development of Samatha Meditation, a traditional technique of self-cultivation leading to inner-strength, tranquility and knowledge. The meditation method has its origins in ancient India, but developed over recent centuries in Thailand and was brought to Britain in 1963.



The Trust has a national centre in Wales, a converted farmhouse with individual accommodation, forest meditation huts and a purpose built shrine hall, where regular courses for beginners and experienced meditators are held in a rural setting. The grounds consist of more than 80 acres of hill country, including rivers, footpaths and substantial areas of woodland.



Local classes offering instruction in meditation are held in many parts of Britain. Other activities from time-to-time include: groups for experienced meditators and study groups working on aspects of Southern Buddhist (Theravada) theory, practice and texts; chanting; celebration of puja and occasional work relating to Mahayana and other traditions.

The Samatha Trust is constituted by Deeds of Trust and is a registered charity, No. 266367 (est. 1973).

There are regular meetings and classes held in Llanfyllin, Llangunllo and Pembrokeshire.

Monday, 20 October 2014

Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Time study


Join Rissho Kosei-kai members and friends from accross Europe and Africa for the Dharma Time online study group covering the basic teachings of Buddhism on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm.

For details on how to connect please email Rev Mizumo or RK-UK.


Friday, 17 October 2014

Palpung Changchub Dargyeling

Palpung Changchub Dargyeling 


Palpung Changchub Dargyeling is a Karma Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist Centre under the spiritual guidance of His Eminence 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche.
It is located in Brynmawr, Wales, in the midst of the beautiful landscapes of the Welsh Valleys. The Centre has a resident teacher, Venerable Choje Lama Rabsang, whose guidance and teachings are available for Buddhist students as well as anyone interested in exploring Buddhism.

The Centre´s focus is to preserve the unbroken pure lineage of Buddha Dharma and to serve humanity and every sentient being, bringing harmony and peace in this world. Towards that aim the Centre holds regular courses, retreats and events as well as group practices on auspicious days and hosts visits of great Buddhist Masters. There are Meditation Classes introducing one to Calm Abiding meditation, every Tuesday and Sunday as well as long term courses on Mindfulness Meditation.

The Centre has a cosy lounge and library, just call ahead to ensure someone is in. Everyone is very welcome!

2090520C-037

Wednesday, 15 October 2014

Autumn at Aro Ling Cardiff - Nyingma Buddhism


The Autumn programme at Aro Ling Cardiff is detailed below.


Monday closed
Tuesday 19:00–20:30 Meditation Group – open group, all welcome
Wednesday 14:00–15:00 Tibetan Yoga – through these movements Mind finds itself in its own free space
Wednesday 15:45–16:15 Children’s Story-time – stories from Buddhist Traditions
Wednesday 17:30–18:30 Tibetan Yoga – through these movements Mind finds itself in its own free space
Thursday 19:00–20:30 Courses on Vajrayana Buddhism – for details see below
Friday 10:30–11:30 Tibetan Yoga – through these movements Mind finds itself in its own free space
Friday 12:00–13:00 Guided Meditation – enjoy a delightfully different lunchtime break
Saturday 10:00–12:00 1st Saturday of the month: Meditation – discover the spaciousness of Mind, & learn how to start or establish a regular practice
Saturday 10:00–12:00 Other Saturdays – courses & events – for details see below
Sunday closed (unless we are running a weekend event)

Upcoming courses:

The Body of Visions – 
the rich and dramatic symbolism of inner Tantra
Thursdays, 5 week course, 19:00 – 20:30, 06 Nov – 04 Dec, £6 per night, or £25 for the course
These five weeks will explore tantric theory and imagery, and practices of vision, voice, gesture, and music. It will include an evening of empowerment, and a presentation of Tibetan Tantric arts. Attend for particular evenings or for the whole course.
Week 1: The path of transforming ordinary appearance into realised appearance
Week 2. Tantric imagery – a visual presentation
Week 3: Padmasambhava – Guru Rinpoche, the tantric Buddha
Week 4: Yeshé Tsogyel and other important women in Tibetan Buddhism
Week 5: Empowerment and the Vajra Master

Tibetan Yoga through these movements Mind finds itself in its own free space. Saturdays, 3 week course, 10 – 12, 11 – 24 October, £15 for the course
Tibetan Yoga offers a range of exercises suitable for all ages, abilities and body types. The exercises range from simple to challenging, from low impact to high impact. It is an enjoyable practice that can benefit everyone.


Weaving the elements release neurosis into the skies of the elements Saturdays, 4 week course, 10 – 12, 08 – 29 November, £6 per session, or £20 for the course
Weave the elements earth, water, fire, air and space into thread cross designs and amulets to release oneself or others from neurosis and health problems. Discover the significance of the elements to our emotional state.

Thursday, 4 September 2014

Yungdrung Bon Meditation Group, Swansea

Yungdrung Bon is the pre-Buddhist spiritual tradition of Tibet. Yungdrung Bon was taught by Buddha Tonpa Sherab in Wol-mo Loong-Ring (Shambala), he taught the indigenous people some causal Bon (Gyu-yi Bon) aspect of teachings, such as healing arts, prayer flag hoisting and medicinal plant fumigation.

Beginning from 8th century, Tibetans also imported Dharma from India. Since then, Tibet had two major religious traditions; Yungdrung Bon and Dharma. Yungdrung Bon has five sub-schools and Dharma with five sub-schools under their umbrella respectively. Both the traditions emphasise the generating of indiscriminate love and compassion and have similar views on the path. However, there are historical and geographical differences.

WEEKLY "DRUB-DHE" MEDITATION

The focus of these evenings is on the Dzogchen Ngondro foundation practices which employ a combination of mantra, visualisation and meditation. Whilst these are generally associated with Yungdrung Bon (The Ancient Buddhism of Tibet) and Buddhism, their essence has Universal Application and can be adapted and utilized by anyone – regardless of the faith or belief system one ascribes to.

These sessions are FREE of charge however, if you wish to make donations, these are always most welcome. Offerings such as flowers, incense, candles, food etc. (ALL FRESH) can be brought in and dedicated for the benefit of yourself, your family / friends. This being a positive karmic act and if, at any point, you wish to sponsor / dedicate the prayers from any session for a particular purpose, please advise your local um-zey (prayer leader) / named organizer in order that these may be done.

WELSH DRUB-DHE:

In Wales, practices are held every Wednesday evening and there is also an all-day practice on every month.

WEEKLY PRACTICES
Day: Wednesday
Time: 6:30 pm for 6:45pm start
Venue: Silver Horse Tibetan Buddhist Temple, 105 Sway Road, Morriston. SA6 6JD
Entry: Free. Donations welcome.
The focus of the first part of the evening is on the Dzogchen Ngondro foundation practices.

Each Dzog-chen Ngon-dro practice will commence with Dhe-chen Gyalpo (The King of Great Bliss), Mitak Gyud-kul (The Mortality Prayer), Sem-kyed (The Generation of Enlightened Mind), and Kyab-dro & Chak (The Seeking of Refuge) thereafter the following practices will be included on a rota basis:

Yig-gya (One Hundred Syllables) on the first week
Mandal Bulwa (Mandala Offering) on the second week
Lamei Neljor (Acquiring the Jang-chub Sem (Enlightened Mind) of the Lama on the third week
Nying-po Nam-soom (The Three Heart Essences) on the 4rth week – starting at the beginning of the rota the following week.

Following on from the rota-ed practice, we will either be saying the Dedication Prayer and proceeding to the Ngo-zhi practice or, if there are people in attendance who have not received the loong (transmission) of Dzog-chen Ngon-dro, we will have a short break to allow our guests to partake of refreshments –if they wish – and then to leave.

The second part of the evening focuses on Dzog-chen Ngo-zhi Principal practises and, as mentioned above, is only open to those who have received the loong of the Dzog-chen Ngon-dro. Again, these practices will be done on a rota – a different one each week - in the following order:

1) Ma-gyud (Gong-chöd Nam-soom) – first week
2) Phowa (Yeshe Sang-thel) – second week
3) Tse-drub (Jari ma) – third week
4) Chöd (Khadroi Ghe Gyang) – fourth week
5) Zhi-ney – fifth week
6) Du-tri su Drib-jong – sixth week
7) Trul-khor – seventh week
8) Sa-dhak Lu-nyen Chöd-thab – eighth week
9) Jam-ma Nying-thik – ninth week
10) Sherab Mawei Seng-ghe – tenth week.

At the end of the Ngo-zhi practice, we will conclude in the usual way with Yeshe Walmo and Ngo-wa Mönlam.

CONTACT:
Amanda Nyima Lhadron, 01559 372273 or 07815 717848

Jane Pedma Lhamo, 02920 691792 or 07885 319969

Angela, Metok Lhaze, 01639 849541 or 07789 308434


ONE DAY A MONTH PRACTICE - This is held on the second Sunday of each month

VENUE: Silver Horse Tibetan Buddhist Temple, 105 Sway Road, Morriston. SA6 6JD unless alternative arrangements are made. Please contact the organisers to confirm.

TIME: 9.30 to 4.30 p.m. From morning to lunch Dzogchen Ngondro will be practised and is open to all. After lunch Jinpa Namzhi will be practised and this will be for practitioners who have received the loong (transmission) of the foundation practice of Dzog-chen Ngondro.

CONTACTS: as above.



MONTHLY GROUP DZOGCHEN NGON-DRO PRACTICE DAYS WITH TSHOG OFFERING

The Dzogchen Ngondro practice day starts at 9.30am, ending about 5pm. Bring your own lunch, folders and equipment. This day is open to all including public.

This Group Practice day is free and donations are collected to cover the cost of the days venue.

Contacts: as above

Saturday, 2 August 2014

Dharmavajra Kadampa Buddhist Centre, Swansea

Springfield House

Founded by the modern-day meditation master Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in 1993, Dharmavajra Kadampa Buddhist Centre exists to help people discover their own experience of inner peace through meditation and putting Buddha’s teachings into practice.

Buddhism has a timeless and universal relevance, and can be practised by anyone in any culture, regardless of race, gender or age. Through training in meditation and other Buddhist practices we can improve the quality of our lives by developing inner peace, compassion and wisdom.

Drop-in meditation classes in Swansea (Monday lunchtimes, Wednesday evenings, Family and Saturday mornings), Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend and Carmarthen will restart on Monday 1st September. There are also a variety of Free Public Talks and Day Courses and Meditation Workshops throughout the Autumn, plus a free Open Day on Saturday 13th September. You can stay in touch with the Centre with the monthly e-newsletter, on the Facebook page or by visiting Reception on Wednesdays from 12noon to 2pm.

Open day

Enjoy the Grade-II listed building, gardens, shop and Buddhist features on this special Open Day.

Feel free to explore the building and find out about its changing uses over the past 150 years and how it is now used to help people develop inner peace.

This event is free, with refreshments costing £1 each.

Saturday 13th September, 12noon to 4pm

Guided tour of Springfield House: 1pm to 1:30pm

Taster meditation session: 2pm to 2:30pm



Autumn 2014 Meditation Workshops & Day Courses

Saturday 27th September: Overcoming Anger Day Course

Learn meditation techniques to overcome anger and experience a lightness of body and mind..

11am to 4pm with registration and morning coffee from 10:30am.
£20 per person including lunch and refreshments.

Saturday 4th October: The Power of Mantra Workshop

An inspiring introduction into the practice of mantra and the many benefits it brings to our life.

10:30am to 1:30pm, with registration and morning coffee from 10am.
£10 per person including refreshments.

Saturday 29th November: Death and Dying Day Course

Learn how to prepare for death and help those who are dying or have recently died.

11am to 4pm with registration and morning coffee from 10:30am.
£20 per person including lunch and refreshments.

Saturday 13th December: Refuge and Bodhisattva Vow Ceremony

A Bodhisattva is a person who, motivated by great compassion, has developed a spontaneous wish to attain enlightenment for the sake of all living beings. By taking the Bodhisattva Vow he or she undertakes to follow the Bodhisattva's way of life by practicing the six perfections of giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom.

10:30am to 4:30pm, with registration and morning coffee from 10am.
£25 per person including lunch and refreshments.

Thursday, 31 July 2014

Film night at Cardiff Buddhist Centre - Samsara

Film Night at Cardiff Buddhist Centre. Friday, 1st August, 18:00 hrs — Samsara

Samsara of course refers to the ever turning wheel of life, and Ron Fricke’s film captures the interconnections that link our existence by capturing sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites, and natural wonders. Like Koyaanisqatsi (see Film Night on 2nd May) before it, Samsara dispenses with dialogue and conventional narrative, and leaves it up to the viewers to draw their own interpretations. Join us for what promises to be a breathtaking non-verbal, visual guided meditation.

The film starts at 19:00, with supper beforehand (bring a dish to share) from 18:00.