November Newsletter – Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre

Aro Ling Buddhist Centre

35 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1DB  07875 716644

November Newsletter 2015

Yeshé Tsogyel - the female tantric Buddha

The autumn term has got off to a good start with many new people finding their way to Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre. Unfortunately—despite the best laid plans of mice and men—we are not able to continue with the Thursday evening meditation group at the moment. Due to changes in their circumstances, Ngakpa Samten and Ngakma Ta’tsal are no longer living close to Aro Ling and so are not available to lead the session. It did seem helpful to be able to offer two evening meditation sessions a week however, so we are looking at ways to continue.

We would welcome your feedback on the possibility of a Wednesday evening session instead. Would 6 pm be too early? Would Wednesday be convenient?

Our first Saturday only event—Myriad Meditations—was a great success. Three people came from Cornwall and one from Bristol, plus a few local people. Two more one day retreats are scheduled up till the end of the year:

November 28: Liberating Emotion

December 12: Dignity & Heroism

 

Weekly schedule
Tuesdays:
sKu-mNyé 10:30; Meditation & Song 12:00; Meditation Group 19:00 – 20:30
Wednesdays:
sKu-mNyé 14:00; Meditation & Song 15:15; Siop Siarad 16:15; sKu-mNyé 17:30

Monthly schedule:
First Saturday of month: Discovering Spaciousness of Mind  10:00 – 12:00; an introduction to the Aro gTér Lineage and its practices, and to the Nyingma school of Buddhism; £5 donation requested.
Retreat days – one Saturday a month as advertised, 10:00 to 19:00; £20 in advance, or £25 on the day. Concessions available on application and if paid in advance.

November 28: Liberating Emotion
​Every emotion that we experience, however distorted it may be, has a connection with our enlightened nature. We can familiarise ourselves with the five distorted patterns and the five enlightened patterns connected with the elements earth, water, fire, air and space. Weave an amulet to influence elemental patterns for the benefit of ourselves and others. Everyone will have the opportunity over the weekend to weave their own amulet to take away with them.
There will be a small extra cost for materials.

December 12: Dignity & Heroism
Aspire to awaken and discover the Buddha within. Discover beginningless enlightenment. The practices of Natural Heroism enable us to communicate openly and honestly, allow us to be dignified and honourable people, and to liberate joy and good humour. This weekend will introduce the principles of Natural Heroism and how to embrace them: politeness and honour; everyday creativity; our physical presence in the world; the natural dignity of the dancing of the Jane Austen era.

sKu-mNyé is a physical yoga practice. It offers a range of movements, from simple and gentle to demanding and vigorous – so there is something for everyone. All are welcome whatever age or level of fitness. A wonderful form of exercise that is refreshing and invigorating. Each class is 1 hour and a donation of £3 is requested.

Meditation groups and daytime meditation – beginners and experienced meditators welcome. Short periods of meditation are interspersed with yogic song and chant. Discover emptiness and self-awareness.  Daytime £3, evening £5 donation requested. Introductory session every first Saturday of the month – £5 donation requested.

Siop Siarad is hosted by Aro Ling and is a gathering for those learning Welsh through ‘Say Something in Welsh’. Games and activities.

For all details of events at Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre, please visit

aro-ling.org/cardiff
Meetup.com/aro-ling-cardiff

Shi-nè meditation practice at Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre

The primary meditation practices at Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre are the Four Naljors of Dzogchen Sem-dé. The first of these Four Naljors is called shi-nè. This is a practice of letting go. We let go of our involvement with the content of mind. We do not force anything, we just let go. This is where we start, and we commit to this practice until we have gained experience of emptiness, né-pa. Shi-nè is simple and direct. It is not a glamorous practice, but it is most effective in revealing the nature of our confusion and learning to let it go, so that we can rest naturally in the present moment.

The Aro gTér Lineage offers the facility of signing up to receive a regular quotation via Aro Quotation. Here is an example of a recent post:
 
 ‘Shi-nè equates to the path of renunciation, because one renounces attachment to that which arises in mind. It also equates in Sutra with the path of compassion, because one is also compassionate with regard to that which arises in mind. It is not that I sit there and kill all that arises. If it arises, I allow it to arise. And if it remains, I allow it to remain. If it dissolves, I allow it to dissolve. So I have in this practice endless accommodation for that which arises; I do not stop it from arising; I do not protract it either; I do not become attached to it; I do not contain it; I do not control it. I allow it to perform.’ Compassion, Ngak’chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia
 

Yeshé Tsogyel

Yeshé Tsogyel

Born on 11th October, Yeshé Tsogyel (ye shes mTsho rGyal) is the primary figure of devotion and inspiration in the Aro gTér lineage of the Nyingma tradition. Padmasambhava is no less important in the Aro gTér lineage than in the other lineages of Nyingma – but in the Aro gTér lineage it was Yeshé Tsogyel from whom the gTérma was received by Khyungchen Aro Lingma. Yeshé Tsogyel’s equality with Padmasambhava in the Aro gTér is displayed through her adoption of the identical physical position of Padmasambhava, as well as the adoption of his implements and ornaments: the khatvangha (which symbolises Padmasambhava as her ‘inner method-display’); the dorje (rDo rJe); and, the kapala (skull bowl).

[See Aro Encyclopaedia]