Ashtree Sangha
Statement of Purpose
Ashtree is a Sangha – i.e. a community of people who support one another as they investigate their experiences in daily life and meditation within the framework of the Buddhadharma.
Ashtree is a Sangha – i.e. a community of people who support one another as they investigate their experiences in daily life and meditation within the framework of the Buddhadharma.
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2018 Dharma Talks
Anna will introduce a small topic each month, either from the Buddhas teachings or a topic that has arisen from discussion in our groups. In this way she can tailor talks to suit people’s interest and needs. Anna will begin with a talk and discussion around the topic of “What is Secular Buddhism?”. This will be in the February meeting for Ashtree Sangha (and the first meeting in February 12th for Goolwa Dharma Group). She will introduce the “Ten Theses of Secular Dharma” by Stephen Batchelor and use these as points of discussion. You can access them here: http://secularbuddhism.org/2015/11/23/batchelors-ten-theses-of-secular-dharma/ |
Ashtree Sangha meets on the second Sunday of every month from February to December, upstairs at the Hatha Yoga Shala, 172 Hutt Street, Adelaide. Sangha meetings run from 3 to 5pm. **there will be no meeting in January but we will resume in February 11th 2018**
We start with a 45 minute meditation and then an invitation for people to share some of what they remember of that meditation, with the possibility of some questions or discussion afterwards. Then people are invited to share or bring up discussion points, celebrations, difficulties or questions that have arisen from their practice over the last month or so.
Ashtree Sangha hopes to function as a support group for people's practice so this could be a time to offer that support amongst ourselves. The Buddha spoke of spiritual friendship (Kalyana Mitta) as being THE most important part of dharma practice. One's practice in daily life, or how our meditations and understanding of the teachings affect our interaction with our world and others, is a major focus of our group.
Then we spend some time on a text, which hopefully offers food for thought and support for practise over the month. We are now working through the book Unlearning Meditation by Jason Siff. We pass around the book, reading a paragraph each and then stop when the time is ripe for discussion.
As Jason Siff is one of my main teachers, my approach to meditation is quite open and in alignment with Jason’s emphasis on curiosity, permission and gentleness in meditation. People who attend the group can use any meditation technique they wish but will be invited to reflect on what occurred afterwards, with the aim of taking up the Buddha's invitation to use our experience as a basis for practise. This is how understanding is fostered and wisdom arises.
In terms of teachings, our interest lies in the early teachings of the Buddha as found in the Pali texts.
Anna Markey
Teacher
Subscribe to the Ashtree Sangha.
We start with a 45 minute meditation and then an invitation for people to share some of what they remember of that meditation, with the possibility of some questions or discussion afterwards. Then people are invited to share or bring up discussion points, celebrations, difficulties or questions that have arisen from their practice over the last month or so.
Ashtree Sangha hopes to function as a support group for people's practice so this could be a time to offer that support amongst ourselves. The Buddha spoke of spiritual friendship (Kalyana Mitta) as being THE most important part of dharma practice. One's practice in daily life, or how our meditations and understanding of the teachings affect our interaction with our world and others, is a major focus of our group.
Then we spend some time on a text, which hopefully offers food for thought and support for practise over the month. We are now working through the book Unlearning Meditation by Jason Siff. We pass around the book, reading a paragraph each and then stop when the time is ripe for discussion.
As Jason Siff is one of my main teachers, my approach to meditation is quite open and in alignment with Jason’s emphasis on curiosity, permission and gentleness in meditation. People who attend the group can use any meditation technique they wish but will be invited to reflect on what occurred afterwards, with the aim of taking up the Buddha's invitation to use our experience as a basis for practise. This is how understanding is fostered and wisdom arises.
In terms of teachings, our interest lies in the early teachings of the Buddha as found in the Pali texts.
Anna Markey
Teacher
Subscribe to the Ashtree Sangha.
