Do Buddhists Celebrate Christmas? February Retreat and Seasons Greetings

Aro Ling Cardiff
Vajrayana Buddhism

Upcoming events:

• 4th February – Transforming Emotions; 10:00 – 16:00
• 5th February – 3 practice sessions: 10:00 – 11:00 meditation & yogic song, 11:30 – 12:30 Jong Dar, and 13:00 – 15:00 tsog’khorlo rite
• each session is separate – come for any combination, as few or as many as you wish
• requested donations: whole weekend £35; just Saturday £25; Sunday sessions £5 each

Ongoing weekly events on Tuesdays:

• 10:30 – 11:30 Jong Dar, moving meditation  
• 12:00 – 13:00 meditation and song
• 19:00 – 20:30 meditation group

Please note: Aro Ling Cardiff will be closed for 2 weeks for Yuletide, so no sessions on Tuesday 27th December or on Tuesday 3rd January.

 

‘Do you celebrate Christmas?’ is a question that is often asked of Buddhists. It is useful to remember that the celebration of the winter solstice long pre-dates Christianity. The winter solstice is the welcoming herald of lengthening days and the promise of the ending of the deep cold of winter. The word ‘yule’ is derived from old Norse, and you will find the Jul goat for sale in Ikea. So Yuletide is an ancient celebration and certainly Buddhists living in the West are likely to enjoy the festivities of the Yuletide Season.  

Aro Ling Cardiff wishes you the very best
for the Yuletide Season.

The next first-weekend-of-the-month event will be on the 4th and 5th of February.
The topic for the Saturday 4th February Vajrayana teachings is ‘Transforming Emotions’. Full details for this event are on the website.
On Sunday 5th February there will be three practice sessions: meditation and song, Jong Dar, and a tsog’khorlo ceremony.
Please join us for all sessions, a single session, or any combination that suits you. All welcome.

This month Aro Ling Cardiff will donate £60 to the Drala Jong appeal from the donations given by attendees. Thank you all! 

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin

Aro Ling Cardiff meets at 5 Court Close, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1JR. The practice room is on the ground floor with direct access from the street, and is wheelchair accessible.

All classes and groups are led by ordained Buddhists with many years of practice experience.

Donations are requested to cover costs, and so that Aro Ling Cardiff can make donations to the Buddhist charity, Sang-ngak-chö-dzong #1019886.

For fuller details of events at Aro Ling Cardiff, please visit

aro-ling.org/cardiff or meetup.com/arolingcardiff
or text
07875 716644

Jong Dar is a term that covers all the physical practices of the Aro Tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. Each class is 1 hour. The session includes Ying’khor, sKu-mNyé, walking meditation, and standing meditation. The 25 Ying ’khor exercises involve subtle movement in a standing position. Some include visualisation of coloured light energy synchronised with the breath. A few involve sound as vocalised syllables. sKu-mNyé (the ‘s’ is silent) in the Aro tradition is a system of 111 repetitive physical exercises which massage the spatial nerves of the subtle, energetic body – giving rise to extraordinary sensations. In these unusual sensations it is possible to find the presence of non-dual awareness—rigpa—momentary enlightenment. 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.

Meditation group and daytime meditation – beginners and experienced meditators welcome. Short periods of meditation are interspersed with yogic song and chant. Discover emptiness and self-awareness. 

Saturday Teaching Sessions – morning tea break provided; please bring a packed lunch.


The charity of the Aro gTér Lineage in the UK is called ‘Sang-ngak-chö-dzong’ (UK charity number 1019886). This was the name given by Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche. There are also other European charities connected with the Lineage, plus Aro Gar in the USA. Currently we are fund-raising to establish a residential retreat centre in Wales, which will be called ‘Drala Jong’. For information about this appeal, please see http://arobuddhism.org/drala-jong/drala-jong-appeal.html or go to the Drala Jong appeal blog.  

Extracts from Aro gTér Lineage publications appear once a week on a blog called Aro Quotation. If you would like to receive the Aro Quotations by email, please go to the blog and subscribe.

The Aro gTer Lineage also offers a free meditation course. The course is delivered in weekly emails.