Regrettably the staff of the Gold Coast Dharma Realm have decided to pause our weekly Sunday morning meditation class. The risk of infection by the Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) is greater than expected and has only begin to unfold. We will assess the situation in July and post news of when the class can resume.
We hope to post a weekly meditation podcast that will keep our group focused on the practice of meditation. Please check below for the files.
In the meantime meditation is a fine activity well-suited for any periods of quarantine! Keep sitting!
Blessings,
Rev. Heng Sure
Resident Monk
Gold Coast Dharma Realm
13th March 2020
We hope to post a weekly meditation podcast that will keep our group focused on the practice of meditation. Please check below for the files.
In the meantime meditation is a fine activity well-suited for any periods of quarantine! Keep sitting!
Blessings,
Rev. Heng Sure
Resident Monk
Gold Coast Dharma Realm
13th March 2020
2nd August 2020 Rev Heng Sure 1st Buddhism Online Class
We have just completed our series of podcast on Meditation Handbook. From this week, Rev Heng Sure is compassionately agree to offer a weekly online Buddhism course : Buddhist Wisdom and Compassion.
The topics in this first class including:
Namo bhagavate bhaiṣajyaguru
vaiḍūryaprabharājāya tathāgatāya
arhate samyaksambuddhāya tadyathā:oṃ
bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā Oṃ
The topics in this first class including:
- What is special about the Mahayana teachings?
- What is Buddha Dharma?
- Stories of Prince Siddhartha and Buddha’s awakening path
- Buddha Dharma is orthopraxic, not orthodoxic
- Song of Yashodhara
Namo bhagavate bhaiṣajyaguru
vaiḍūryaprabharājāya tathāgatāya
arhate samyaksambuddhāya tadyathā:oṃ
bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā Oṃ
| meditation_handbook_ebook.pdf |
26th July 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 44 of Meditation Handbook):
Dear all Dharma Friends,
This week the podcast on the last topic in the Meditation handbook : Meditation in Action (pg 44).
Song shared in this podcast as below:
Empty Cloud Wakes Up
Melody: Rev. Heng Sure
Chinese verse: Chan Master Xu Yun 1895
English translation: Rev. Heng Sure 2006
The cup hit the floor with a ringing sound,
That echoed in the air,
Empty space, too, broke to bits,
And my mad mind stopped right there.
Chorus:
Beizi pu luo di, xiangsheng ming lili
Xukong fensui ye, kuangxin dangxia xie
Burned my hand, shattered my cup,
Broken for good, my mind,
Like my family it's lost, the people are gone,
Words are hard to find.
Chorus:
Spring is here, the flowers breathe,
Their fragrance to the sun;
Mountains, rivers, the earth itself,
Are just the Thus Come One.
Poems in Chinese:
杯子撲落地。響聲明歷歷。
虛空粉碎也。狂心當下息*。
燙著手。打碎杯。家破人亡語難開。
春到花香處處秀。山河大地是如來。
Keep meditate!
This week the podcast on the last topic in the Meditation handbook : Meditation in Action (pg 44).
Song shared in this podcast as below:
Empty Cloud Wakes Up
Melody: Rev. Heng Sure
Chinese verse: Chan Master Xu Yun 1895
English translation: Rev. Heng Sure 2006
The cup hit the floor with a ringing sound,
That echoed in the air,
Empty space, too, broke to bits,
And my mad mind stopped right there.
Chorus:
Beizi pu luo di, xiangsheng ming lili
Xukong fensui ye, kuangxin dangxia xie
Burned my hand, shattered my cup,
Broken for good, my mind,
Like my family it's lost, the people are gone,
Words are hard to find.
Chorus:
Spring is here, the flowers breathe,
Their fragrance to the sun;
Mountains, rivers, the earth itself,
Are just the Thus Come One.
Poems in Chinese:
杯子撲落地。響聲明歷歷。
虛空粉碎也。狂心當下息*。
燙著手。打碎杯。家破人亡語難開。
春到花香處處秀。山河大地是如來。
Keep meditate!
12th July 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 42 of Meditation Handbook):
This week, Rev Heng Sure podcast focus topic on Integrity (Meditation Handbook pg 42).
It covers:
- How we deal with desire that seem never been content?
- How we find the balance of sufficiency ?
- Anger arise from unsatisfied desire
Rev shared a passage from The Sutra of Flower Adornment : The Ten Grounds (Chapter Twenty-Six) -which explaining 2nd ground of Bodhisattva practices, related to integrity and explain on the causes and effects.
"The offense of greed and desire also causes living beings to fall into the three evil paths.If they are born among people, they have two kinds of retribution: one, their minds will never know contentment; two, they will have much desire which will never be satisfied."
Song for this week topic:
'I HAVE ENOUGH'
I have enough,
I am grateful,
Share the blessings,
Hallelujah!
May all be fed,
May all things flourish,
May all awaken!
Bodhi Svaha!
(Notes: Written by Rev. Heng Sure for the founders of VegSource.com, Jeff and Sabrina Nelson, and inspired by the author and visionary John Robbins, in his prayer: “May all be fed, may all be healed, may all be loved.” Hallelujah means “Praise!” in Hebrew; “Bodhi Svaha!” means “Awakened -- How Wonderful!” in Sanskrit.)
Confucius describes his gradual transformation of desire in The Analects of Confucius which bring up the principle of contentment:
子曰：Confucius says of himself:
“吾十有五而志于学，At fifteen I set my heart upon learning.
三十而立，By thirty, I planted my feet firmly upon the ground.
四十而不惑，At forty, I no longer suffered from delusions.
五十而知天命，By fifty, I knew the Way of Nature;
六十而耳顺，At sixty, my ears were tuned to the Way
七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。By seventy, I could follow my own heart; because my desires no longer wavered from righteousness.”
5th July 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 40-41 of Meditation Handbook):
This week, Rev Heng Sure podcast focus topic on Diet (Meditation Handbook pg 40-41), introducing the harmless diet / plant-based diet. http://www.gcdr.org.au/-sunday-guided-meditation-class.html
“Meditation quite naturally fosters compassion because it dissolves the artificial boundaries between self and others , the human world and the natural world.
Others’ well-being becomes the same as our own well-being; others’ suffering becomes our own sufferings. Thus, as our compassion opens, we discover how mediation seamlessly carries over into all aspects of one’s life. A positive first step in this direction is to change to a plant-based diet.”
Sharing in this podcast include:
• Stories on Engine 2 Diet.
The Engine 2 Diet, which was created by firefighter, former professional athlete and medical scion Rip Esselstyn, is a low-fat, “plant strong” plan that aims to prevent or even reverse diseases that are linked to the Standard American Diet: heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and cancer.
• Myth of the meat protein.
• The China study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health is a book by T. Colin Campbell and his son, Thomas M. Campbell II. No osteoporosis in China in the early days.
• A Californian Buddhist changing diet story from 3 steps one bow pilgrimage journey.
• Rev first vegetarian diet experiences in Zen Monastery in Japan
“Meditation quite naturally fosters compassion because it dissolves the artificial boundaries between self and others , the human world and the natural world.
Others’ well-being becomes the same as our own well-being; others’ suffering becomes our own sufferings. Thus, as our compassion opens, we discover how mediation seamlessly carries over into all aspects of one’s life. A positive first step in this direction is to change to a plant-based diet.”
Sharing in this podcast include:
• Stories on Engine 2 Diet.
The Engine 2 Diet, which was created by firefighter, former professional athlete and medical scion Rip Esselstyn, is a low-fat, “plant strong” plan that aims to prevent or even reverse diseases that are linked to the Standard American Diet: heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and cancer.
• Myth of the meat protein.
• The China study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health is a book by T. Colin Campbell and his son, Thomas M. Campbell II. No osteoporosis in China in the early days.
• A Californian Buddhist changing diet story from 3 steps one bow pilgrimage journey.
• Rev first vegetarian diet experiences in Zen Monastery in Japan
30 June 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 38-40 of Meditation Handbook):
21 June 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 36 of Meditation Handbook):
This week Rev Heng Sure podcast topic : Special states
The ancient’s texts on meditation are quite clear about this: neither seek for nor cling to any altered state of body or mind. They are all illusory and empty: like dreams, illusions, bubbles and shadows.
If you can view them as illusory and neither fear nor anticipate any mental state, and always return to your meditation topic, then your practice will be unhindered and highly beneficial.
Meditation is its own reward.
Read further on 50 skandhas stages could happen in meditation mentioned by Rev Heng Sure http://www.cttbusa.org/shurangama/shurangama33.asp
Also, the lyric of the song for our dedication of merits:
$20 Bill (for George Floyd) by Tom Prasada-Rao
Some people die for honor
Some people die for love
Some people die while singing
To the heavens above
Some people die believing
In the cross on Calvary hill
And some people die
In the blink of an eye
For a $20 bill
Some people go out in glory
(Yeah) with the wind at their back
Some get to tell their own story
Write their own epitaph
Sometimes you see it coming
Sometimes you don’t know until
You run out of breath
With a knee on your neck
For a $20 bill
O Brother I never knew you
And now I never will
But I make this promise to you
I’ll remember you still
So now let this be our communion
(Take eat, this is the body)
it’s time to break the bread
Do this in remembrance
Just like the good book said
Sometimes the wine is a sacrament
Sometimes the blood is just spilled
Sometimes the law
Is is the devil’s last straw
The future unfulfilled
Like the dream they killed
For a $20 bill
The ancient’s texts on meditation are quite clear about this: neither seek for nor cling to any altered state of body or mind. They are all illusory and empty: like dreams, illusions, bubbles and shadows.
If you can view them as illusory and neither fear nor anticipate any mental state, and always return to your meditation topic, then your practice will be unhindered and highly beneficial.
Meditation is its own reward.
Read further on 50 skandhas stages could happen in meditation mentioned by Rev Heng Sure http://www.cttbusa.org/shurangama/shurangama33.asp
Also, the lyric of the song for our dedication of merits:
$20 Bill (for George Floyd) by Tom Prasada-Rao
Some people die for honor
Some people die for love
Some people die while singing
To the heavens above
Some people die believing
In the cross on Calvary hill
And some people die
In the blink of an eye
For a $20 bill
Some people go out in glory
(Yeah) with the wind at their back
Some get to tell their own story
Write their own epitaph
Sometimes you see it coming
Sometimes you don’t know until
You run out of breath
With a knee on your neck
For a $20 bill
O Brother I never knew you
And now I never will
But I make this promise to you
I’ll remember you still
So now let this be our communion
(Take eat, this is the body)
it’s time to break the bread
Do this in remembrance
Just like the good book said
Sometimes the wine is a sacrament
Sometimes the blood is just spilled
Sometimes the law
Is is the devil’s last straw
The future unfulfilled
Like the dream they killed
For a $20 bill
14 June 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 34-35 of Meditation Handbook):
Dear all,
This week Rev Heng Sure podcast focus on chapter: Mental Disturbances (pg 34-35 of Meditation Handbook)
How shall with deal with stages arising in the meditation?
Rev Heng Sure shared his meditation experiences from the first meditation retreat in Japan he attended when he was young.
He discusses deeper level of our mind consciousness and how it really work with Karma principles.
Lastly, we transfer the merit and virtue with the song:
BETTER TIMES WILL COME
Words & music Janis Ian
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
When we greet each dawn without fear
knowing loved ones soon will be near
When the winds of war
cannot blow any more
Oh, better times will come
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
Though we live each day as our last
we know someday soon it will pass
We will dance, we will sing
in that never-ending spring
Oh, better times will come
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
Oh, better times will come
This week Rev Heng Sure podcast focus on chapter: Mental Disturbances (pg 34-35 of Meditation Handbook)
How shall with deal with stages arising in the meditation?
Rev Heng Sure shared his meditation experiences from the first meditation retreat in Japan he attended when he was young.
He discusses deeper level of our mind consciousness and how it really work with Karma principles.
Lastly, we transfer the merit and virtue with the song:
BETTER TIMES WILL COME
Words & music Janis Ian
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
When we greet each dawn without fear
knowing loved ones soon will be near
When the winds of war
cannot blow any more
Oh, better times will come
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
Though we live each day as our last
we know someday soon it will pass
We will dance, we will sing
in that never-ending spring
Oh, better times will come
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
Oh, better times will come
6 June 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 32-33 of Meditation Handbook):
Dear Dharma friend, this week Rev Heng Sure podcast will be on the chapter: Alertness Vs Drowsiness (pg 32-33 Meditation Handbook)
We look into : How we deal with Drowsiness? How to keep your mindfulness?
Also don't miss out the brand new song " Light up your mind"
Take care and let's meditate.
We look into : How we deal with Drowsiness? How to keep your mindfulness?
Also don't miss out the brand new song " Light up your mind"
Take care and let's meditate.
31 May 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 30-31 of Meditation Handbook):
Dear Dharma friend, this week Rev Heng Sure podcast will be on the chapter: Patience with Pain (pg 30-31) . Last week was the Part 1 of this chapter and today we have the Part 2 sharing.
http://www.gcdr.org.au/-sunday-guided-meditation-class.html
We look into the questions on how to deal with pain/uncomfort/unsatisfactory in life and meditation.
How we go through the “Pain Gate” in Meditation?
What is “ Samadhi” and different kinds of Dyana in Meditation.
Rev Heng Sure shared some interesting stories and introducing the first ever English language Patience Mantra by Ven Master Hsuan Hua.
Rev sang the song of the The Old Fool to bring forth the principles of practicing patience.
The Old Fool: Maitreya Bodhisattva
The Old Fool wears tattered clothes,
And fills his belly with tasteless food;
He patches his robe to keep out the cold,
And as things come, so they go,
His belly’s big cause he can hold,
Praise so hot and blame so cold,
He splits his face in a smile so full
At the situations he finds laughable,
The jewel of patience, it’s a pearl so rare.
If someone scolds the Old Fool,
He simply agrees,
If someone hits the Old Fool,
He smiles and falls down on his knees
Spit in his face, he lets it dry - -
He’s not upset, and you save your energy,
If you look elsewhere for the Dao,
Who’s the Old Fool anyhow?
The jewel of patience, it’s a pearl so rare.
His belly’s big cause he can hold,
Praise so hot and blame so cold,
He splits his face in a smile so full
At the situations he finds laughable,
Now you’ve heard of his patience gongfu,
Maitreya wants to share it with you,
If you set this aside and go seeking the Dao - -
Who’s the old fool, anyhow?
Take care and let's meditate.
http://www.gcdr.org.au/-sunday-guided-meditation-class.html
We look into the questions on how to deal with pain/uncomfort/unsatisfactory in life and meditation.
How we go through the “Pain Gate” in Meditation?
What is “ Samadhi” and different kinds of Dyana in Meditation.
Rev Heng Sure shared some interesting stories and introducing the first ever English language Patience Mantra by Ven Master Hsuan Hua.
Rev sang the song of the The Old Fool to bring forth the principles of practicing patience.
The Old Fool: Maitreya Bodhisattva
The Old Fool wears tattered clothes,
And fills his belly with tasteless food;
He patches his robe to keep out the cold,
And as things come, so they go,
His belly’s big cause he can hold,
Praise so hot and blame so cold,
He splits his face in a smile so full
At the situations he finds laughable,
The jewel of patience, it’s a pearl so rare.
If someone scolds the Old Fool,
He simply agrees,
If someone hits the Old Fool,
He smiles and falls down on his knees
Spit in his face, he lets it dry - -
He’s not upset, and you save your energy,
If you look elsewhere for the Dao,
Who’s the Old Fool anyhow?
The jewel of patience, it’s a pearl so rare.
His belly’s big cause he can hold,
Praise so hot and blame so cold,
He splits his face in a smile so full
At the situations he finds laughable,
Now you’ve heard of his patience gongfu,
Maitreya wants to share it with you,
If you set this aside and go seeking the Dao - -
Who’s the old fool, anyhow?
Take care and let's meditate.
24 May 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 30-31 of Meditation Handbook):
Dear Dharma friend, this week Rev Heng Sure podcast will be on the chapter: Patience with Pain (pg 30-31) . This would be Part 1 of podcast and Part 2 would be next week.
Patience and perseverance are the keys to transforming pain. By neither fearing pain nor pushing it away, but simply holding steady one’s concentration, all discomfort soon fades away. This is why patience is so highly esteemed and extolled by meditation teachers.
We look into the question : How to go through the “Pain gateway” in meditation?
Rev Heng Sure shared some interesting stories regarding meditation and including a story from his pilgrimage of 3 Steps 1 Bow journey.
Rev Heng Sure led us to transfer the merit to covid 19 pandemic with Medicine Buddha mantra:
Namo bhagavate bhaiṣajyaguru
vaiḍūryaprabharājāya tathāgatāya
arhate samyaksambuddhāya tadyathā:oṃ
bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā Oṃ
Looking forward Part2 next Sunday! Take care and lets meditate.
Patience and perseverance are the keys to transforming pain. By neither fearing pain nor pushing it away, but simply holding steady one’s concentration, all discomfort soon fades away. This is why patience is so highly esteemed and extolled by meditation teachers.
We look into the question : How to go through the “Pain gateway” in meditation?
Rev Heng Sure shared some interesting stories regarding meditation and including a story from his pilgrimage of 3 Steps 1 Bow journey.
Rev Heng Sure led us to transfer the merit to covid 19 pandemic with Medicine Buddha mantra:
Namo bhagavate bhaiṣajyaguru
vaiḍūryaprabharājāya tathāgatāya
arhate samyaksambuddhāya tadyathā:oṃ
bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā Oṃ
Looking forward Part2 next Sunday! Take care and lets meditate.
17 May 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 28-29 of Meditation Handbook):
Topic for this week: Concentration vs Restlessness ( Meditation Handbook pg 28-29)
Rev Heng Sure also share with us latest song from Janis Ian:
BETTER TIMES WILL COME
Words & music Janis Ian
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
When we greet each dawn without fear
knowing loved ones soon will be near
When the winds of war
cannot blow any more
Oh, better times will come
CHORUS
Though we live each day as our last
we know someday soon it will pass
We will dance, we will sing
in that never-ending spring
Oh, better times will come
CHORUS
Oh, better times will come
Rev Heng Sure also share with us latest song from Janis Ian:
BETTER TIMES WILL COME
Words & music Janis Ian
Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come
When we greet each dawn without fear
knowing loved ones soon will be near
When the winds of war
cannot blow any more
Oh, better times will come
CHORUS
Though we live each day as our last
we know someday soon it will pass
We will dance, we will sing
in that never-ending spring
Oh, better times will come
CHORUS
Oh, better times will come
10 May 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 26-27 of Meditation Handbook):
6 May 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 24-25 of Meditation Handbook):
25 April 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 22-23 of Meditation Handbook):
19 April 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 18-21 of Meditation Handbook):
12 April 2020 Podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 16-17 of Meditation Handbook):
4 April 2020 3rd podcast for GCDR Meditation Class (pg 8-15 of Meditation Handbook):
29 March 2020 2nd podcast for GCDR Meditation Class:
22 March 2020 1st podcast for GCDR Meditation Class :
Audio (mp3) and Meditation Handbook (PDF)
Sunday Guided Meditation Class by Rev. Heng Sure
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 2018.Rev 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 2018.Rev 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