Tag: Rainy Season

the divine smile on the face of the enlightened one

By jvalamalini on Wed, 18 Mar, 2015 - 19:02

Did you never observe how in moments of happiness a person’s features change and become bright with joy? Did you never notice how joy rouses people to noble aspirations and deeds, exceeding your normal capacity?

Sympathetic joy gives to equanimity the mild serenity that softens its stern appearance. It is the divine smile on the face of the Enlightened One, a smile that persists in spite of his deep knowledge of the world’s suffering, a smile that gives solace and hope, fearlessness and confidence: “Wide open are the doors to deliverance” thus it speaks.
Nyanaponika Thera

Bristol Buddhist Centre

Day 5: Mudita & Amoghasiddhi

By jvalamalini on Wed, 18 Mar, 2015 - 18:58

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By jvalamalini on Wed, 18 Mar, 2015 - 18:58We’ve had a wonderful sunny spring day today in Bristol, perfect for us to dwell in what Sangharakshita has described as the bright dancing colours of mudita.

Ratnavandana talked about mudita as a natural response that happens often, but which we don’t always recognise. She suggested consciously appreciating moments of gladness in our lives, particularly when it connects us to others - for example she enjoyed seeing three small girls with mother’s day bouquets in the street at the...

Bristol Buddhist Centre

The Suffusion of the Divine Abidings (Brahma Viharas)

By Centre Team on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 18:40Some reflection verses from the retreat to help dedicate your intention…

To download, read the document in full screen mode and choose ‘download’ from the sharing options (top right of the navigation panel).

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Bristol Buddhist Centre

Day 3: Notes on Love - Approaching the Metta Bhavana

By Centre Team on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 17:29

Some lovely, personal notes on the core practice in the Brahma Viharas sequence - the cultivation of loving kindness (metta), which is said to glow, shine and blaze forth like the sun… From Rumi and Subhuti to the Itivuttaka, we hear about how love transforms both self and world in ways extraordinary and everyday.

The short guided meditation and initial notes are by Ratnavandana. The main talk is by Jvalamalini.

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Bristol Buddhist Centre

Day 4: Karuna & Amitabha

By jvalamalini on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 14:57

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Day 4: Karuna & Amitabha

By jvalamalini on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 14:57After days of gloom outside it’s wonderful to have spring sunshine today as we move into contemplating karuna - which Sangharakshita has described as like metta with a shadow over it.

Ratnavandana says:
It is good to reflect on our attitudes to suffering, whether it’s physical or emotional. I know for a long time I had this a sense that somehow suffering was wrong, that I shouldn’t be suffering, so there was a feeling of failure there which was...

Bristol Buddhist Centre

compassion acting on sympathetic joy

By jvalamalini on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 14:36

Compassion prevents love and sympathetic joy from turning into states of self-satisfied complacency with a jealously-guarded petty happiness. Compassion stirs and urges love to widen its sphere; it stirs and urges sympathetic joy to search for fresh nourishment. Thus it helps both of them to grow into boundless states.
Nyanaponika Thera

Bristol Buddhist Centre

not mere luxuries

By jvalamalini on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 14:33

Compassion and love are not mere luxuries.As the source both of inner and external peace, they are fundamental to the continued survival of our species
Dalai Lama

Bristol Buddhist Centre

only one brahma vihara

By jvalamalini on Tue, 17 Mar, 2015 - 14:31

In a way there is only one Brahma Vihara and it’s the Metta Bhavana, but when you, with your metta, happen to come into contact with pain and suffering, the metta automatically, or rather spontaneously, becomes transformed into Karuna. When it comes into contact with the joy of others, it automatically becomes transformed into sympathetic joy. And similarly when your metta is extended equally towards all there is equanimity. So YOU look after metta and the other three will look after themselves. You don’t have to think about them. They depend on circumstances.
Sangharakshita

Bristol Buddhist Centre

Day 2: Living in the Mandala (With Guided Meditation)

By Centre Team on Mon, 16 Mar, 2015 - 23:13

In her second talk of the 2015 Rainy Season Retreat, Ratnavandana embarks on a personal sharing of how her life has been transformed by deciding to go and live in the mandala of the Brahma Viharas and the Jinas themselves. Her deep love of the practices represents both an inspired and eminently practical vision of how to orientate yourself on the great map of the way…

Includes a guided meditation practice to help you find your feet wherever you...