Annual Bodhi Retreat in Celebration of the Buddha's Enlightenment
A day of reciting, in various ways, the nembutsu. Saturday December 10, 2011 10am - 4pm.
Cost: Suggested $50.00 donation toward Amida India (lunch donated by Prajna and James)
Back to top
Practice and Study Retreat Week
Part of the ethos of the Amida community is living and practicing together; working to serve one another and to deepen in faith and awareness. This week will provide a taste of our religious culture.
Anam Cara (the name of our home) will be open each day from (beginning Monday January 16th, 2012 and ending after evening service on Thursday January 19th, 2012) 10 am to 8 pm for meditation practice, reading, spiritual direction, liturgy practice and services and shared meals. You are welcome to participate in as much of the week as fits your schedule. The idea is to relax into an environment which supports where you are on your journey. The schedule is as follows:
Sunday January 15th
6pm Dharma teaching and discussion followed by
7pm Evening Service
Monday January 16th
10am Morning practice
4:30pm Communal Meal
5:30pm – Dharma teaching and discussion
6:30pm liturgy practice (for those wishing to learn and help facilitate the various part of the liturgy)
7pm Evening Prayer
Tuesday January 17th
10am Morning practice
4:30pm communal meal
5:30pm Dharma teaching and discussion
6:30pm liturgy practice
7pm Evening service
Wednesday January 18th
10am Morning practice
4:30pm communal meal
5:30pm Dharma teaching and discussion
6:30pm liturgy practice
7pm Evening service
Thursday January 19th
4:30pm communal meal
5:30pm Dharma teaching and discussion
6:30pm liturgy practice
7pm Evening service
Conclusion of retreat
There will be a community meal each day at 4:30pm. We will have coffee and tea available throughout the day and there will be space for you to put snacks/brown bag lunch if you wish. Meals will be communal and there will be discussion at that time. We will provide the food for a simple healthy meal but will ask for help preparing it. Also, donations of food would be appreciated. i.e., muffins for snacks, and bread and salad for the dinner.
Cost: It is difficult to know what to ask for a week such as this. It is an experiment and hopefully it will be a positive one that we will want to repeat on an annual basis. As guidelines: a retreat day is typically $80, Spiritual Direction sessions are on a sliding scale (no questions asked) $65-95, and when we gather for a service or book study it is $10. If you are attending the entire day(s) we suggest $90 per day, including spiritual direction. All monies, in every instance, are directed toward the support of the spiritual community. We leave it up to each of you to decide what is an appropriate contribution but ask that you practice generosity, aware that there are costs associated with this work and aware too of the amount of personal time and resources that go into it.
Please consider joining us for all or parts of this week. I trust that this is exactly what is needed for our community at this time and am very much looking forward to sharing anam cara and our practice together.
* Be in touch if you have questions or need points of clarification.
Please let us know if you are planning on being present during this week and especially if you hope to share in the daily meal.
Back to top
Introduction to Meditation & Mindfulness
With Prajna. In mindfulness meditation, we are trying to achieve a mind that is stable and calm. What we begin to discover is that this calmness or harmony is a natural aspect of the mind. This series will introduce the 'right view' for meditation, and offer an opportunity to practice meditation.
1:30pm-3pm Wednesdays February 8, 22, 29, 2012 at the Centre for Activity and Aging Boardroom (next to gym) , Winderemere on the Mount. 1490 Richmond St., London Ontario
Cost: $50.00 for the series
Introduction to the Enneagram: Engaging the True Self
With Miriam Frey. This 6-hour workshop is designed for those new to the enneagram or those who are interested in a refresher. The enneagram is a tool that helps us better understand our motivations and reactions in relationships and spiritual awakening. Handouts are included.
Saturday February 11, 2012 10am - 4 pm
Dr. Miriam Frey (B.A., M.A. D.Min) is a spiritual director and educator who has been working with the enneagram for over twelve years. She delights in watching others come home to the divine within themselves. Currently she is Director of the Ontario Jubilee Program in Spiritual Direction based at Five Oaks Centre in Paris, Ontario.
Cost: $80 (lunch included)
Back to top
Stories of Buddhist Saints and Sages
A day of immersion into the lives of the great Buddhist teachers. Saturday February 25th, 2012 10am - 4pm.
Cost: $80.00 (lunch included)
Back to top
Meditation, Mindfulness & Pureland Buddhism
“Mindfulness practice is simple and completely feasible. Just by sitting and doing nothing, we are doing a tremendous amount.” CT
In mindfulness meditation, we are trying to achieve a mind that is stable and calm. What we begin to discover is that this calmness or harmony is a natural aspect of the mind. This day will introduce the 'right view' for meditation, and offer an opportunity to practice meditation.
Saturday April 14, 2012 10am - 4 pm
Cost: $80.00 (lunch included)
Click here to listen to the Dharma talk from this retreat
Back to top
Living Fully in the Wisdom Years
A day to reflect on the significance and spirituality of the second half of life and to discuss practices that support 'wisdom' living.
Back to top
Living Buddhism Program - The Path of the Bodhisattva
What are the central teachings and practices of Buddhism and how do they inspire us to live more fully, more freely and with a greater sense of purpose and generosity? This program will explore in theory and practice the creative, compassionate and other centered aspects of Buddhism as set out in the Eight Fold path.
Topics include:
"The Bodhisattva as 'Other Centered' "
"Compassionate Care and Sacred Listening"
"Freedom, Creativity and Being Ordinary"
" The wonders of Grace, Love and Gratitude"
"Shakyamuni as Inspiration; Amida as Grace"
and more......
Non-residential retreat weekends:
June 2 and 3, 2012
November 10 and 11, 2012
May 4 and 5, 2013
Study evenings - Tuesdays 7-9pm
September 18, 2012
October 16, 2012
February 19, 2013
March 19, 2013
Spiritual direction
One private session (date to be determined)
One group session January 15, 2013 7-9pm
In addition to attendance, you will be asked to complete a 'Bodhisattva Care' project.
Cost: $625.00 plus texts
Click here to download a poster.
Back to top