Namo Buddhaya
In the western sky is the great sun disc
Across its face are bands of cloud
Original nature is dark and light
And I myself fall prey to ill
Tai Shih Chih aid me now
The Dharma may be summarised
As good and purity of heart
But I have never mastered all
The precepts or samadhis
Tai Shih Chih aid me now
By my own power I am betrayed
By Buddha’s power I am redeemed
The glory of the clouds on high
Comes from the hidden sun beyond.
Tai Shih Chih aid me now
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THE SCALES OF KARMA & THE LOVE OF BUDDHA
According to some teachings, those who slander the right Dharma and those who commit grave sins cannot enter the Pure Land of Amitabha or of other Tathagathas. However, in countless cycles of rebirth, we have surely all done both of these things many times. Even in our present existence, we have had many crazy ideas and done many stupid things. Yet Buddha does not abandon us. We may have built great obstacles for ourselves, but Buddha's hand is always open and always reaching out to guide us. If we think that karma is a profit and loss account, then, if we look honestly, we see that we are always deeply in the red. There is no way that we can pay off our debt. Yet the Buddha accepts us just as we are - that is the nature of Buddhahood. Although we reject, judge and criticise, Buddha goes on loving. It is faith in this fundamental truth that cuts through all our karmic debt. It is as if when we put all our heavy folly in the scales, the Buddha puts a single feather of love in the other scale and the balance tips. Just have faith in this deep truth and you can live a natural life without fear and without self-righteousness.
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READINGS FROM THE COMMENTARY
ON SUMMARY OF FAITH & PRACTICE
Priti Vaishnav & Dharmavidya
These reading recommence weekly on Thursdays from 8th September at 16:30. Summary of Faith & Practice is a text by Dharmavidya based on the Ishimai Kishomon of Honen Shonin. The Commentary is an extensive explanation of this short text providing insight into the whole range of Pureland Dharma. Each week we study a short section.
New code: https://bit.ly/3T9tX0x
Meeting ID: 871 8967 0352 -:- Passcode: 732590
22-23rd October 2022
"ENCOUNTER & PATH"
OCTOBER BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY WEEKEND
Online
Theme:
Therapy as a Spiritual Path for Client & for Therapist. A presentation of the application of Buddhist psychology in a number of dimensions; a forum in which to reflect upon the spiritual path from a psychological point of view and the psychological work from a spiritual perspective.
Content:
talks, seminars, master class demonstration, groupwork, "Dharma à Deux", case
presentation and discussion. Theoretical material will be presented and there will also be experiential workshops so participants should be willing to
share material about personal life and agree to respect the
confidentiality of others.
Suitable for: The weekend is open to anybody interested both in understanding their own life and relationships better and in the therapeutic process and how this relates to the spiritual path in a Buddhist approach.
Tickets <
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/globalsangha>
8-11th December 2022
"HEALING THE HEART"
SHAKYAMUNI ENLIGHTENMENT RETREAT
Online
On 8th December we celebrate the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha. On the three days following we shall have periods of practice and presentations of applications of Dharma faith and practice. The theme of "Healing the Heart" invites us to consider both the transformation of the practitioner on the bodhisattva path and also the need for healing of our world and our planet.
21-22nd January 2023
JANUARY BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY WEEKEND
Online
Details to be announced. A good preparation for new students planning to join the Buddhist Psychology Diploma programme on 1st February and a valuable experience for students already on the programme. Also open to all.
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BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY DIPLOMA
EXISTING STUDENTS: REGISTER FOR AUTUMN SEMESTER
If you are a student already on the programme and have completed the first semester, please now get your ticket for Semester Two, Classrooms 5 to 7.
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/globalsangha
NEW STUDENTS: REGISTRATION FOR 2023
The next intake is for 1st February 2023. You can register now.
1st February 2023 to 30th April 2025
If you register now, you can attend seminars through this autumn from the date of registration. The course proper commences 1st February 2023
“DIPLOMA IN BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY”
A FOUR SEMESTER PROGRAMME
A unique and in many cases life changing opportunity to work with a highly talented team, to develop skills and knowledge and to contribute to the on-going development of applied Buddhist psychology.
Theme: Dharma as therapy and therapy as a spiritual path for client & for therapist. This unusual programme, that has been run in Korean, Spanish and English, based primarily upon the work of Dr. David Brazier, has been developing over three decades. The programme is continuously revised and updated in the light of changing circumstances (covid, etc.), student experience, and new research and studies. The programme presents Buddhist teachings as a psychological medium. This is not a course on using Buddhist methods in a framework of Western values, but rather an in-depth examination of Buddhist wisdom applied as psychology: the spiritual path from a psychological point of view and psychological work from a spiritual perspective.
Format: The programme consists of
study material is presented in 48 lessons organised into four and a half semesters, Material is presented on dedicated web pages with associated experiential exercises for students to perform and report back on
co-operative learning - students see and comment on each other's work.
seminars by zoom every two or three weeks led by staff with time for student inter-action.
individual tutorial sessions.
peer learning and practice groups and pairings.
three on-line weekend workshops per year with lectures, case presentation, experiential groupwork and topic discussions.
The study materials introduce the major Buddhist teachings common to most schools of Buddhism presented as psychology, showing their applications in personal practice, interpersonal work, psychotherapy and society. The material is quite extensive and requires a minimum of three hours per week.
Suitable for: This is a programme for therapists who want to deepen their understanding of the Buddhist perspective, for Buddhist practitioners wishing to learn a therapeutic and inter-personal way of applying the Buddhist teachings, and for all wishing to deepen their insight into their own lives and relationships with others.
Staff:
Dr David Brazier, psychotherapist and Buddhist teacher, author/editor of 15 books including Zen Therapy and many other writings. Co-editor of the Oxford Manual of Meditation. English living in France.
Dr. Iris Dotan Katz, clinical psychologist with a private practice in Tel Aviv has many years of experience in Zen and Pureland Buddhism and in socially engaged action and peacemaking.
Dr. Yaya de Andrade, retired psychologist now with the Red Cross, with special interest working with indigenous, refugees, and other groups. She has worked extensively with populations recovering from major disasters around the world.
Kimiko Nita, clinical psychologist, specialises in work with children and young adults, has a private practice for adult clients in Tokyo, and a special interest in Naikan therapy.
Dr. Priti Vaishnav, from India, who has extensive experience in working in areas of social distress around the world, will participate and also offer administrative support
Fees: In line with Buddhist principles of dana all the staff give their time and expertise freely and voluntarily. Funds raised are used to support Buddhist inspired projects. The suggested contribution is £200 per semester. Other donations are gratefully accepted.
To book:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/globalsangha============================================================