Sunday Guided Meditation Class by Rev. Heng Chih , Rev. Heng Sure and other experienced meditators
At Blessing Hall, GCDR Shurangama Monastery
Every Sunday morning at 8 am-10 am
In this fast-paced world, where everyone suffers from overflowing email inboxes, information overload and intense deadlines, stress, anxiety, and pressure to succeed are on the rise across all age groups and professions. The antidote to this scattered, sometimes frantic, state which helps you return to the present moment so you can be fully aware, and appreciative of joy, beauty, and peace in our everyday life is having a Mindfulness meditation practice.
This Sunday morning meditation class has been offered free to the public since three years ago at the Gold Coast Dharma Realm Buddhist Monastery which has been started serving the community since 2000.
The meditation class meets on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. People at all levels of experience in meditation are welcome to attend. We don’t charge but donation is welcome.
During the weekly two-hour classes, periods of silent sitting will be followed by discussions led by by two of our senior monastics, Rev Heng Sure and Bhikshuni Heng Chih or other monastics/experience meditators experienced meditators monastics . The discussion periods will provide opportunities for practitioners to share their experiences and insights in a group setting while engaging in open-ended question-and-answer discourse.
Through intervals of silent sitting, participants will discover more about themselves, relieve stress, and rejuvenate their vitality; intervals of instruction will help participants gain insight into how to apply concentration and wisdom as they move through their daily lives. What happens in stillness can influence how we handle ourselves in movement; what happens in movement can be reflected upon in times of stillness.
Currently we are having Rev Heng Sure leading the session until June 2016. Heng Sure was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1976. For the sake of world peace, he undertook an over six hundred mile pilgrimage from South Pasadena to Ukiah, repeatedly taking three steps and one bow to cover the entire journey. In the entire two years taken to make the pilgrimage, he observed a practice of total silence. Rev. Heng Sure has an M.A. in Oriental Languages from UC Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He serves as the Managing Director of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery and teaches on the staff at the Institute for World Religions. He lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at the Berkeley Monastery every Saturday evening. He is actively involved in interfaith dialogue and in the ongoing conversation between spirituality and technology. Currently he is a Professor in Buddhist Philosophy at Bond University in Australia.
.
For inquiries, please contact putiyeputoye@gmail.com or drop in your message here.
We don't charge but donations are welcome.
You can also RSVP us on http://www.meetup.com/Gold-Coast-Dharma-Realm-Sunday-Guided-Meditation/
Do I need to bring my own meditation cushion?
No, cushions are provided for each participant. If you have your own cushion, feel free to bring it
Every Sunday morning at 8 am-10 am
In this fast-paced world, where everyone suffers from overflowing email inboxes, information overload and intense deadlines, stress, anxiety, and pressure to succeed are on the rise across all age groups and professions. The antidote to this scattered, sometimes frantic, state which helps you return to the present moment so you can be fully aware, and appreciative of joy, beauty, and peace in our everyday life is having a Mindfulness meditation practice.
This Sunday morning meditation class has been offered free to the public since three years ago at the Gold Coast Dharma Realm Buddhist Monastery which has been started serving the community since 2000.
The meditation class meets on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. People at all levels of experience in meditation are welcome to attend. We don’t charge but donation is welcome.
During the weekly two-hour classes, periods of silent sitting will be followed by discussions led by by two of our senior monastics, Rev Heng Sure and Bhikshuni Heng Chih or other monastics/experience meditators experienced meditators monastics . The discussion periods will provide opportunities for practitioners to share their experiences and insights in a group setting while engaging in open-ended question-and-answer discourse.
Through intervals of silent sitting, participants will discover more about themselves, relieve stress, and rejuvenate their vitality; intervals of instruction will help participants gain insight into how to apply concentration and wisdom as they move through their daily lives. What happens in stillness can influence how we handle ourselves in movement; what happens in movement can be reflected upon in times of stillness.
Currently we are having Rev Heng Sure leading the session until June 2016. Heng Sure was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1976. For the sake of world peace, he undertook an over six hundred mile pilgrimage from South Pasadena to Ukiah, repeatedly taking three steps and one bow to cover the entire journey. In the entire two years taken to make the pilgrimage, he observed a practice of total silence. Rev. Heng Sure has an M.A. in Oriental Languages from UC Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He serves as the Managing Director of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery and teaches on the staff at the Institute for World Religions. He lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at the Berkeley Monastery every Saturday evening. He is actively involved in interfaith dialogue and in the ongoing conversation between spirituality and technology. Currently he is a Professor in Buddhist Philosophy at Bond University in Australia.
.
For inquiries, please contact putiyeputoye@gmail.com or drop in your message here.
We don't charge but donations are welcome.
You can also RSVP us on http://www.meetup.com/Gold-Coast-Dharma-Realm-Sunday-Guided-Meditation/
Do I need to bring my own meditation cushion?
No, cushions are provided for each participant. If you have your own cushion, feel free to bring it
Weekly Wednesday Unguided Silent Meditation 7pm-8pm
Improve your meditation through constant sitting in a group. This is weekly Wed sitting
Letter to Gold Coast Dharma Realm by Fiona Howlett
I became interested in Buddhist Philosophy as an 18 year old, after reading a book on Zen wisdom. At the age of 25 I travelled through Thailand and Vietnam, and visited some of the Buddhist temples in Bangkok and Hanoi. The experience stayed with me, and that interest in Buddhist Practice and Philosophy remained at the back of my mind waiting for the right time to explore it.
I became quite sick with an auto-immune disease after the birth of my second child, after treatment and a third baby the disease returned and I was left feeling tired and unwell. Motherhood was really emotionally and physically draining, and I was also struggling with trying to teach my children good morals and guide them positively in a world so focused on how material items, new toys and gadgets measured a person’s happiness.
It was around November 2013 that I jumped online and was lead to the Dharma Realm at Bonogin. They had information on their website about meditation classes on a Sunday morning. I contacted the organisation and asked whether I could attend the next session. I was greeted with such warmth and encouragement to attend. My first meditation session was definitely an experience, I found it very difficult to sit quiet and still for 30 minutes, whilst my mind raced and my knees ached. I thought that I could never get through the meditation without the circulation being completely cut off from my knee to my ankle. I suddenly felt my foot itching terribly, but I didn’t want to move. After what felt like 5 hours the bell rang and the 30 minute meditation session was over. I’m glad to report that the wonderful Dharma Teacher Rev Heng Chih explained that meditation takes practice, and it was normal to feel some pain and racing thoughts. Meditation aims to slow down the mind, and allow the chi energy to flow throughout the body.
I kept attending, every Sunday, and every Sunday it started to become easier and easier to calm down my mind, the pain started to lift and I began to understand the power of meditation. I also became engrossed in the Buddhist teachings that would follow the meditation session and have felt privileged to listen to Rev. Heng Sure, Rev. Heng Chih and Jin He speak about Buddhist Philosophy.
I continued to read more books about Buddhist Philosophy, including books by Ajahn Brahm and Thich Nhat Hanh. I was able to use the teachings at the Dharma Realm, and all the books I was reading to start really making changes in my life. Incorporating mindfulness, the six guidelines given by Master Hsuan Hua, the 5 precepts and the noble path I started to really discover that life didn’t need to be dominated and controlled by what capitalist society dictated to individuals through mass marketing and media. My children are also benefiting from these teachings, as we talk about Karma and how to be a good, compassionate person. We also appreciate all the life around us, the environment, the animals, plants and people who are all equally valuable and worth our time and care.
I recently decided to take Refuge and start my spiritual path through the teachings of the Dharma. I can’t speak highly enough of the Dharma Realm and the wonderful community of Monks and Nuns who have opened their home, hearts and wisdom to me. As a newcomer to Buddhism, I have felt at times unsure of the correct customs and ceremonies, but everyone has been so kind, patient and caring, and has really nurtured and guided me. I would recommend anyone wishing to explore this beautiful, peaceful and wise philosophy of Buddhism to not hesitate or wait, as the benefits it has to offer are boundless. To date my autoimmune disease has not returned, I am happier, calm and more accepting of everything in life. I feel my children are really benefiting from my new outlook on life, and their interest in Buddhist practice is beginning to grow. Thanks to everyone at the Dharma Realm for welcoming me.
Fiona Howlett
I became quite sick with an auto-immune disease after the birth of my second child, after treatment and a third baby the disease returned and I was left feeling tired and unwell. Motherhood was really emotionally and physically draining, and I was also struggling with trying to teach my children good morals and guide them positively in a world so focused on how material items, new toys and gadgets measured a person’s happiness.
It was around November 2013 that I jumped online and was lead to the Dharma Realm at Bonogin. They had information on their website about meditation classes on a Sunday morning. I contacted the organisation and asked whether I could attend the next session. I was greeted with such warmth and encouragement to attend. My first meditation session was definitely an experience, I found it very difficult to sit quiet and still for 30 minutes, whilst my mind raced and my knees ached. I thought that I could never get through the meditation without the circulation being completely cut off from my knee to my ankle. I suddenly felt my foot itching terribly, but I didn’t want to move. After what felt like 5 hours the bell rang and the 30 minute meditation session was over. I’m glad to report that the wonderful Dharma Teacher Rev Heng Chih explained that meditation takes practice, and it was normal to feel some pain and racing thoughts. Meditation aims to slow down the mind, and allow the chi energy to flow throughout the body.
I kept attending, every Sunday, and every Sunday it started to become easier and easier to calm down my mind, the pain started to lift and I began to understand the power of meditation. I also became engrossed in the Buddhist teachings that would follow the meditation session and have felt privileged to listen to Rev. Heng Sure, Rev. Heng Chih and Jin He speak about Buddhist Philosophy.
I continued to read more books about Buddhist Philosophy, including books by Ajahn Brahm and Thich Nhat Hanh. I was able to use the teachings at the Dharma Realm, and all the books I was reading to start really making changes in my life. Incorporating mindfulness, the six guidelines given by Master Hsuan Hua, the 5 precepts and the noble path I started to really discover that life didn’t need to be dominated and controlled by what capitalist society dictated to individuals through mass marketing and media. My children are also benefiting from these teachings, as we talk about Karma and how to be a good, compassionate person. We also appreciate all the life around us, the environment, the animals, plants and people who are all equally valuable and worth our time and care.
I recently decided to take Refuge and start my spiritual path through the teachings of the Dharma. I can’t speak highly enough of the Dharma Realm and the wonderful community of Monks and Nuns who have opened their home, hearts and wisdom to me. As a newcomer to Buddhism, I have felt at times unsure of the correct customs and ceremonies, but everyone has been so kind, patient and caring, and has really nurtured and guided me. I would recommend anyone wishing to explore this beautiful, peaceful and wise philosophy of Buddhism to not hesitate or wait, as the benefits it has to offer are boundless. To date my autoimmune disease has not returned, I am happier, calm and more accepting of everything in life. I feel my children are really benefiting from my new outlook on life, and their interest in Buddhist practice is beginning to grow. Thanks to everyone at the Dharma Realm for welcoming me.
Fiona Howlett
