The Three Jewels

Sheffield Buddhist

Centre

Centre Team updates

Update 22nd July

We are pleased to return to using our original website! For all the latest updates and our online and ‘real-life’ programme of events, visit https://www.sheffieldbuddhistcentre.org/.

Weekly Update – Friday 10th July

After the celebrations of the Dharma Day festival at the weekend, the beginning of a new Sangha night theme and the easing of lockdown restrictions across the country, we are looking forward to providing more opportunities to engage deeply with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

As well as our online activities continuing, the blessings of lush spacious gardens and a large shrine room, there are now more ways to come together in person. Many people have been meeting under the coverings / gazebos (which endured a thorough testing by wind and rain) and we have two outdoor covered spaces remaining that are free to use. Do come and visit!

If you would like to help prepare the building for its reopening you can sign up for one of the Sangha works mornings.

Missing meditating together with people? As well as Friday night meditations which continue online each week, you can now come to morning meditations in the Great Hall (Monday to Friday) and on Sunday mornings. More details and zoom links found below.

Yours in the Dharma,
Aryadasa

 

Weekly Update – Friday 19th June

As the restrictions of lockdown are gradually lifted we are starting to plan how we might be able to gradually open the Centre building to the Sangha.
The bad news is that we are unlikely to be able to hold any large events for many months, perhaps until the end of the year or longer. This is because we need to follow social distancing protocols and make sure we are doing what we can to limit the spread of the virus. 

However, it would be great to see Sangha members enjoying the garden and the building and we hope that we can find ways for Sangha members to safely use the Centre. So we are inviting you to use the garden to meet with your Sangha friends and there are a couple of gazebos set up for when we need protection from the elements. The garden is looking beautiful but it needs continual work so if you are free, please come and do some work in the garden on weekday mornings. Just email Helen at the Centre first so that she can keep an eye on what work is being done and let you know the safety protocols. 

We are also hoping to open for private meditation in the Great Hall from next weekend. This will probably be a weekly session on a Sunday morning but we are still confirming the details. Then we aim to start running small courses for Newcomers at the Centre from late July if that is safe. 

We are considering how the loosening of regulations might allow us to open up Sangha night. We can only fit around 15 people in the Great Hall with 2m social distancing measures in place, so Zoom will continue to be the main platform for Sangha night for some time, but we might be able to welcome a few people into the Great Hall for Sangha night in the next few months.

Of course quite a few Sangha members will continue to be shielding and self-isolating so we will continue to make sure that Sangha activities are available online. Hopefully over the next few weeks we will become clearer about what is possible and we will let you know the plans. 

Wishing you all an enjoyable and nourishing week, 

With love 
Satyajyoti 
Chair of Sheffield Buddhist Centre

Weekly Update – Friday 12th June

The news and social media these last few weeks have been full of images of protest in response to the death of George Floyd. I have been reflecting on how I, both personally and in my role as Chair of Sheffield Buddhist Centre, will respond to the underlying issues of systemic racism and other inequalities in our society. My views at the moment are that it is important to take time to reflect carefully and to be willing to challenge assumptions and un-thought-through beliefs that we may have.

I have found the thinking of Dr Ambedkar very helpful. Dr Ambedkar is the great Indian reformer who transformed the lives of so many people, the so called Untouchables, whose lives were (and still are) destroyed by the Caste system. If you are interested in finding out more I would highly recommend reading more about Dr Ambedkar’s thoughts, for instance in the Mitra Study module Dr Ambedkar and Buddhism, especially week 3. This quote is from this module:

The Dharma is concerned with transformation of mind, and it is only by transforming the mind that we can challenge the deeper divisions in society and create something new from a foundation of ethics, love and wisdom. Dr Ambedkar said of the Buddha, “The greatest thing that the Buddha has done is to tell the world that the world cannot be reformed except by the reformation of the mind of humans and of the mind of the world.” Perhaps this is why with many political and economic reforms we find the old problems resurfacing.

Without the deeper transformation of mind, we might have a positive democratic system and find that system is used to recreate old divisions, there is always a “monster crossing your path”. For example the rise of white supremacism taking place within Europe and North America. Ambedkar himself certainly found this. Although he was the main architect of the Indian Constitution, and he based the Constitution on the values of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’, values he said he derived from the Buddha, he knew that without a change in the people themselves, the Indian political system would be open to recreating problems already existent in society. 

Reflecting on these issues and what action needs to be taken will be a continuous process, framed within our aspiration to make the Dharma available to all beings.

I’m very grateful to the team at the Centre who continue to co-ordinate our online programme. I wish you all a healthy and happy week,

with metta Satyajyoti

Weekly Update – Friday 5th June

Dear Sangha Member,

Welcome to the Centre’s weekly email update. I’ve been reflecting on how my ethical practice is so important in these confusing and sometimes distressing times and how the support of my friends in the Sangha is vital in helping me to have clarity about that ethical practice. Just seeing everyone on our online Sangha night helps me to remember the principles that I want to live by and I’ve also been very inspired by hearing short talks from Sangha members. I’m looking forward to some more short talks this coming Tuesday on Sangha night.

We are running some events for newcomers online, including an Introductory Day: ‘Courage in an uncertain world’ on Sunday 14th June 10am-3pm led by Achara and a drop in meditation on Thursdays at 1pm led by Sanghagita which is great for new and experienced meditators. Please do tell any friends or family members who might be interested.

Amoghavamsa writes below about the sad death of Vajrasadhu. Back when I was a new Mitra I supported Vajrasadhu to lead a weekly drop-in meditation class at lunchtimes. He was a big character and I gained a lot from working with him.

Wishing you all health and happiness, 

Love Satyajyoti, 
Chair of Sheffield Buddhist Centre

Dear Sangha Member,

Welcome to the Centre’s weekly email update.

I hope this email finds you well. If you missed this week’s Sangha Night talk, it was a inspiring talk on virya given by Satyajyoti and will be available on YouTube to catch up on.

If you find yourself missing the Centre this week, don’t forget the ‘News and Updates’ section on the new website where you can find ‘Sheffield Sangha News’, ‘Centre Team Updates’ and even ‘Online Dharma Resources’! Many jewels to be enjoyed.

We are planning to continue our online programme throughout June and July so do keep checking the new website which lists online events, news and updates. It also includes a section on Sangha News which is updated regularly. http://sheffieldbuddhistcentreonline.org/ 

With metta

Aryadasa

Date for your diary – Dharma Day Festival 5th July

Drop-in Meditation Every Thursday 1pm 


Online drop-in meditation sessions suitable for all, including newcomers. Every Thursday from 1pm – 1.40pm.

Please arrive a few minutes early so the session can start promptly at 1pm.

Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86513920807

Introducing Buddhism and Meditation

Whilst the Buddhist Centre is closed we are looking for ways to make contact with people who in the future may become part of our Sangha. Let your local friends and family know about these events coming up.

Introductory Day 14th June 10am – 3pm

A day introducing basic Buddhist principles and meditations.
Email the office at info@sheffieldbuddhistcentre.org for more details.
Booking Essential.

Weekly update – Friday 15th May

Dear Sangha member, 


Welcome to the Centre’s weekly email update.

I really enjoyed Buddha Day and was delighted with the sense of connection I felt with our Sangha. Many thanks to everybody who made it happen, including the wonderful choir, the men’s community and Vicki and Edward who put the video together. Many people commented on the beautiful mantra which you can hear again on the Sheffield Buddhist Centre Online website.You can also watch the video of “What the Buddha Means to Me”, starring many familiar faces from the Sangha.

This week we are introducing a new online drop-in meditation on Thursdays at 1pm starting on May 21st. There’s a couple of events coming up this weekend that sound very intriguing and are making imaginative use of meeting online: Create a Personal Shrine Day on Saturday May 16th and Are Your Things Holding You Back? on Sunday 17th and 24th of May. And of course Sangha night will be on Zoom on Tuesday evening. This week we will be hearing from five Sangha members abut how they are practising in this pandemic.

I hope you all are well this week and look forward to connecting with you.

With love, Satyajyoti


Chair, Sheffield Buddhist Centre 

 

Celebrating Buddha Day 2020

In the morning, sangha members got together to build their shrines. As well as the men’s community adorning the Buddha in the Great Hall, people from across the city decorated their homes with their favourite images of Enlightenment. Having draped fine silks, arranged flowers and offered candles, the scene was set for the big Buddha Day puja.

Arriving into the Zoom event our ears were met with the beautiful sound of the Shakyamuni mantra, chanted by Sanghagita, Ella and Vicki at the women’s community. Imaginatively ascending the stairs of the Great Hall and entering into the stillness of that space, the ‘Zoom’ puja was a first time for the Sheffield sangha and from the appreciative feedback it was a success.

Despite the lockdown over 75 people came together to evoke the beauty of the Buddha and collectively express our desire to move towards limitless awareness and compassion for all beings. Highlights of the event included Vadanya reading out epithets of the Buddha and a video of different sangha members saying ‘What the Buddha means to me’. 

Together we brought the Buddha clearly to mind and perhaps now, like Pingiya, it’s easier to say “There is no moment for me, however small, that is spent away from Gautama, from this universe of wisdom, this world of understanding”

Watch the video from the day herehttps://youtu.be/snvVVtboiYI

Sangha Night Online

Sangha night continues to thrive with around 90 people joining the Zoom meeting each week. This Tuesday Maitridasa gave a powerful talk about Kshanti, the Bodhisattva’s quality of patience. Recordings of the talk and the meditation can be found on our YouTube channel. 

Next week we’ve got five different sangha members lined up to give short talks about their practise during the pandemic, going live from their own homes via Zoom. One not to miss!

Join us from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start by clicking this link – https://zoom.us/j/487910136 – (also found on the website) to be transported into Sangha night.

 

News and Opportunities from across the sangha

Tune in to Bodhinaga on BBC Radio Sheffield
Bodhinaga will be giving an interview on the Sunday Breakfast show just after 7.30am to reflect on how Buddhists celebrated Wesak during the lockdown and what the situation is at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre at the moment. Listen live here or tune in at 88.6FM / 104.1 FM. 

Call to Artists: Submissions Wanted!
Sangharuci is now looking for artists, musicians, dancers, poets, writers, arts therapists and other creatives of different kinds who are involved in the Triratna Buddhist Community to send him details of their work to be featured in a The Triratna Arts and Culture Catalogue 2021. The work does not have to be explicitly Buddhist and you do not have to be a professional artist.
Sangharuci is hoping to compile this catalogue in the next couple of weeks so if you are interested fill in the questionnaire (which only takes two minutes) as soon as you can!
The Triratna Arts and Culture Catalogue is an initiative to document every four years, for 40 years, a selection of Art and Culture that represents the unfolding exploration of how to convey the Dharma into a globalised culture and so form the aesthetic foundations for a society based on caring for all that lives.
https://thebuddhistcentre.com/news/triratna-arts-and-culture-catalogue-2021

New ‘home’ retreat starts today: Turning Arrows into Flowers

https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/flowers/

  • Daily, specially recorded teachings
  • Related Dharma resources
  • Support, perspective and inspiration all week long from our team on the Community Toolkit.
  • Live Home Retreat events
  • And a chance to connect with the retreat leader to ask questions about your practice.

Whether you have the time to engage with a full-on, urban-retreat style week at home – or are super occupied already with kids or work and just want some useful structure to book-end your days with a little calm and inspiration: this is for you.

 

Weekly update – Friday 17th April

Dear Sangha member,

Welcome to our weekly update email as we prepare for at least another three weeks of lockdown. I’m pleased that we are building up a programme of online events, the highlight of which is Sangha night every Tuesday.  I also very much enjoyed doing the Metta Bhavana with Jayagupta last Friday, which is an ongoing event now every Friday at 7:30 pm. Then last Saturday I had my assumptions about the nature of consciousness challenged by Advayacitta. The second part of Advayacitta’s ramble will be on Zoom next Saturday 25th April.

Much of the pleasure of these online events is seeing Sangha members in the little Zoom boxes and I look forward to seeing you in one soon!

Please do keep checking the new website which lists online events, news and updates. It also includes a section on Sangha News which is updated regularly. http://sheffieldbuddhistcentreonline.org/

Love, Satyajyoti

Chair
Sheffield Buddhist Centre

A Date for your Diary: Sunday 10th May – Buddha Day

Sangha Night Online

This Tuesday about 90 people came together to listen to the Dharma, join discussion groups and create a brilliant sangha atmosphere in our fourth Sangha night online. Satyajyoti gave a great talk on ‘Facing Fear’ as part of our series on ‘Dharma for Difficult Times‘ and Maitrivasin led us in the Mindfulness of Breathing meditation. Recordings of the talk and the meditation can be found on the Sheffield Buddhist Centre YouTube channel.


Next week on Tuesday April 21st there will be a talk from Moksatara on ‘Doing Without’. Join us from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start by clicking this link – https://zoom.us/j/487910136 – (also found on the website) to be transported into Sangha night.
Online Programme Updates

Friday night meditation
Weekly on Friday. Join from 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start. 
Dayarakshita and Jayagupta will be leading a Zoom meditation night on Friday nights. Please note that the format will be different to the usual silent sits. This week will include a short reflection on the Four Immeasurables followed by a led meditation.Join other sangha members in this meditation from the comfort of your home by following this link: https://zoom.us/j/502388354

Gender Diverse Group 
Saturday 18th April 7 – 9.30pm by Zoom online.
An opportunity for connection and discussion with a Dharmic focus. For anyone in the Triratna community who identifies as gender diverse (e.g. nonbinary, gender-fluid, trans, intersex, gender questioning).
Please email Kamalanandi for a link to join the meeting (kamalanandi2013@gmail.com)

The ‘Hard Problem’ of Consciousness
Saturday 25th April, 2 – 3pm; Join Zoom from 1:50 pm. 
Advayacitta will explore what has been called the ‘hard problem’ of consciousness, and why it cannot be solved by materialist philosophy or by physical science. Join this second part to explore evidence that contradicts the materialist position on consciousness. In particular, Advayacitta will be exploring ‘near death experiences’ and the evidence of children who describe previous lives.
Open to all.

Click this link to join the Zoom meeting 

Families Group Activities
Sunday 26th April 3 – 4pm
The Families Steering Group have agreed to send out Dharma activities for children of the Sangha to complete every 2 weeks, with a fortnightly Zoom Meeting to allow us to share the activities, read a story and chant. This aims to support families at home by keeping connected, giving another option of activities to do and allowing parents to share there practice with their children.

We are following the theme of 5 Buddha Manadala over 10 weeks. Liz will be sending out the next suggested activities for families on the weekend of the 25th and 26th April, on the theme of Ratnasambhava and Earth Metta, culminating in a Zoom meeting to share our efforts at 3pm on Sunday 26th April.

News and Opportunities from across the sangha

Volunteer Counselling with Achaladeva
Achaladeva (a longstanding Order member who has recently moved to Sheffield) is currently volunteering for a charity that supports NHS staff with a free 30 minute counselling phonecall or online video session. He would like to offer the same opportunity to Sangha members (including their friends and family) who feel in need of some counselling at this time. These free sessions would be a one off but would include the possibility of continuing sessions at a reduced rate / dana depending on the individual’s circumstances. Get in touch to find out more. 07706605076 aburrell.counselling@gmail.com

The Sangha Phone Tree
Thanks to everyone who has got involved in creating the phone tree, a network of phone calls reaching out to connect sangha members old and new. We’ve had some great chats already. Everyone is welcome to participate, especially if you don’t feel that you know others well enough to ask for their number. To join in, emai info@sheffieldbuddhistcentre.org or phone the office on 0114 234 9994.

Staying in Touch

We want to do everything we can to support the sangha, even more so during this lockdown period.

  • Do get in touch with the centre and update us if you need any practical help , are self-Isolating or your Situation changes.
  • Keep an eye on our new website for highlights from across the sangha, including personal contributions and content by different people in Trirtan
  • Have a look at the websites of other Buddhist centres for more talks and online content. London, Manchester and the retreat centres are good places to start.
  • Join in with sangha night – this week we had 88 people online for the talk and 66 people talking dharma together online – how amazing!

Weekly Update – Friday 3rd April

Dear Sangha member, 

I’m finding that each week of this time of pandemic is bringing new challenges and also new joys. For those of us working at the Centre there have been the challenges of learning new technology and finding out how to work together from our different homes. There have been many joys as well, such as seeing familiar faces at Sangha night and experiencing the generosity and willingness to contribute of our Sangha. I have also experienced a sense of gratitude for my practice in these times and the gift of the Dharma and the connections in the Sangha.

We have a plan to email a weekly update of online activities to the Sangha from now on, though of course as we all know sometimes events get in the way of plans. 

Please do keep checking the new website at http://sheffieldbuddhistcentreonline.org/  which lists online events, news and updates. It also includes a section on Sangha News which is updated regularly.

This email includes news on Sangha night, some great new additions to the online programme, an idea about how to keep in touch using a phone tree, a request to keep supporting foodbanks and a couple of generous offers from Windhorse Publishing. 

I hope that everyone is keeping well. Please do let the centre know if you need any help as we have lots of volunteers very willing to do what they can. 

With much metta,

Satyajyoti 

Sangha Night Online

This Tuesday over 100 people came together for our second Sangha night online. Sadly our current Zoom package only allows 100 people to participate so about 15 people were excluded. Our apologies to you! Please come back next week as we will have a new Zoom up and running which will allow more people to access it. 

Vadanya gave a great talk on ‘The Uses of Adversity’ as part of our series on ‘Dharma for difficult times‘ and Maitridasa led us in the Mindfulness of Breathing meditation. Recordings of the talk and the meditation can be found on the Sheffield Buddhist Centre YouTube channel 

Next week on Tuesday April 7th there will be a talk from Maitridasa on Creating Compassion. Join us from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start by clicking this link – https://zoom.us/j/487910136 – (also found on the website) to be transported into Sangha night.

 

Online Programme updates

Friday night practice night

Weekly from 10th April. Join from 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start. 

Jayagupta and Dayarakshita are leading the weekly practice night online from 10th April. A chance to meditate together with 2 un-led sits of 40 minutes each. For those who are familiar with the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana practices.  https://zoom.us/j/502388354

The ‘Hard Problem’ of Consciousness

Saturday 11th April 2 – 3pm; Join Zoom from 1:50 pm. 

Advayacitta’s rambles, Part 1 of 2

Advayacitta will explore what has been called the ‘hard problem’ of consciousness, and why it cannot be solved by materialist philosophy or by physical science. Open to all. https://zoom.us/j/437829267

Families Group Activities 

Saturday 11th April 3 – 4pm

The Families Steering Group are sending out Dharma activities for children of the Sangha to complete every 2 weeks, with a fortnightly Zoom Meeting to allow us to share the activities, read a story and chant. This aims to support families at home by keeping connected, giving another option of activities to do and allowing parents to share their practice with their children. We are following the theme of 5 Buddha Mandala over 10 weeks.
The next day is 11th April,  with activities on Aksobya emailed in advance and a Zoom meeting at 3-4pm. Anyone interested in joining in who isn’t already on the families email list get in touch with Liz (lizzijlstra@yahoo.co.uk)

 

Gender Diverse Group 

Saturday 18th April 7 – 9.30pm by Zoom online.

An opportunity for connection and discussion with a Dharmic focus. For anyone in the Triratna community who identifies as gender diverse (e.g. nonbinary, gender-fluid, trans, intersex, gender questioning).

Please email Kamalanandi for a link to join the meeting (kamalanandi2013@gmail.com)

News and Opportunities from across the Sangha

The Sangha Phone Tree

You’re invited to join a network of phone calls reaching out to all members of the sangha. A 10 – 15 minute chat can make a huge difference to someone’s day and their sense of being part of the sangha.

Everyone is welcome to participate, especially if you don’t feel that you know others well enough to ask for their number. If you think someone you know would like to be involved, you could suggest they get in touch too (perhaps they don’t use much online technology).

Everyone has the option of just receiving a call at a time that suits you as well as phoning another sangha member. Contact Edward and the Thursday Team volunteers (Cesca, Michal, Jon, Jack, Pretti and others) by emailing info@sheffieldbuddhistcentre.org or phoning 0114 234 9994.

 

Foodbanks – A message from Khemasuri

Sheffield Buddhist centre has been supporting food banks for several years now, and they really make a difference to people – I have witnessed it! Last week official government statistics said that there were 14 million people in the UK on the breadline. I find this shocking and it will only get worse over the coming months. When you give to a food bank you are sustaining someone you will never know or see… truly open-handed generosity. As we are no longer able to give food by collection, I am encouraging you to do give a regular amount of money if you are able to. The easiest way to do this is at http://www.sheffieldfoodbank.org.uk/ 

Thank you! Khemasuri

 

Windhorse Publishing: 2 offers 

FREE THE DHARMA: For as long as it’s needed, Windhorse Publications will give away a free eBook each week. We’d like to do what we can to make the Buddha’s teachings available whatever your situation. Learn how to navigate the stormy seas of the current situation with this week’s free eBook, ‘Sailing the Worldly Winds’ by Vajragupta. https://buff.ly/3bgcf4o

STAY AT HOME SALE: One third off selected paperbacks and free shipping on all orders. Five books that can help us slow down and engage at a more integrating pace. https://buff.ly/2X20zP0

Sheffield Buddhist Centre Online

Thursday 26th March

Dear Sangha member, 
We now have a new website!  
http://sheffieldbuddhistcentreonline.org/ will list online events, news and updates while the building remains closed. Our old website also has a link that will redirect you. 
Check this website for details about the upcoming events and other initiatives to keep the Sangha connected. 

Sangha Night Online
This week 88 people came together for our first successful Sangha Night Online!
Next week we will be starting a new theme, ‘Dharma for difficult times‘, with an introductory talk from Vadanya entitled, ‘The uses of adversity’.
Join us from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start by clicking this link – https://zoom.us/j/487910136 – (also found on the website) to be transported into Sangha night.
We are continuing to use Zoom as our online platform – simple instructions on how to download can be found here.

With Metta,
Aryadasa

Virtually Together Again – Sangha Night Online

Friday 20th March

Dear Sangha member 

Thanks to the wonders of technology, we still have an opportunity to connect with each other online regularly. Instead of being together in a physical place, we’ll be hearing, discussing and practising the Dharma in a virtual one. Next week we’ll begin moving our events online using Zoom – a fantastic program that allows us to keep a connection each other online (see how to install below).

Please join us for Sangha Night Online

This Tuesday (24th March) after 7.15pm login by simply clicking this link

https://zoom.us/j/487910136

You will be transported into the virtual Sangha night room where you will be able to see and hear one another. We will then begin with a talk at 7.30pm.
 
How to install Zoom

  1. Before Tuesday night download Zoom to your computer, tablet or phone: You can be this by following the link https://zoom.us/ or use your Android or i-phone store.
  2. Sign up with your email address and name (you can use the free version)
  3. They’ll send you an email and you need to click a link on this to verify your email address.
  4. When you open the application a box will appear. Click ‘use computer audio’.

 
 Top Tips:

  • Check the strength of your internet connection, try and sit somewhere that gives you the strongest signal
  • You might need to charge your device part way through, have a charging cable handy.
  • Your sound and video may be muted. If so click the microphone icon and the video icon at the bottom of your screen
  • Eat a Jacket Potato at 6.30pm

 
I also wanted to let you know about https://thebuddhistcentre.com, a fantastic online resource for dharma talks and online meditations.
You can sign up and join the Sheffield Buddhist Centre community Page using this link https://thebuddhistcentre.com/sheffield?display=latest
 

With Metta
Aryadasa

A Dharmic response to the Coronavirus

Tuesday 17th March

We are entering a very difficult time, as individuals and as a Sangha. We cannot change this situation, but we do have a choice between a negative and a creative response. Tragic as this epidemic is, if we see it from a Dharmic perspective, it could be an opportunity to take our practice – and our Sangha – to a new level.

We all know the story of the Buddha and the Four Sights. Siddhartha Gotama lived a sheltered life in his father’s palace, shielded from the realities of existence. But then, on his chariot rides outside the palace, he saw a suffering sick person, a frail old person, and a dead body. He realised then that Samsara – life as it is normally lived – could not deliver lasting happiness and safety.

This could all sound negative, but Gotama also saw a Fourth Sight – a wandering holy man – and this awoke the realisation that there is a deeper happiness to be found, above worldly circumstances, by fulfilling our spiritual potential, by growing towards a higher level of being. So started his ‘Noble Quest’, which led to him becoming the ‘Sugata’, the ‘Happy One’, and to the tradition we call Buddhism, which has brought meaning to millions of lives down through the millenia.

For us, the coronavirus outbreak could be like the first three Sights. Nobody would want this, but many of us will experience sickness. Death will threaten people we know, and perhaps ourselves. In our relationships with older people we will be made very aware of the vulnerability and suffering that comes with inevitable old age. We will be made painfully aware that worldly life cannot deliver lasting happiness and safety.

Luckily we have all seen the Fourth Sight, in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. And having our worldly refuges so roughly taken away from us can be an opportunity to make our Going for Refuge to these far more singlehearted.

 In the Seven Point Mind Training that we recently explored in Sangha Night there is a crucial line – ‘Turn adverse conditions into the path to Enlightenment’. When things get tough, do not shrink back into narrow self-obsession, but use the inevitable dukkha as a tool, both to see through our usual deluded ideas, and to increase our empathy and solidarity with others.

Both can be summed up by seeing the Three Lakshanas more clearly. Through this epidemic, we will be made all too aware of impermanence. We will be brought face-to-face with the unsatisfactoriness of a life lived just for worldly goals. And we can use the dukkha we will all experience as an opportunity to deepen our sense of connectedness with others, which is the other side of nonselfhood. Our own dukkha can be the way we become vividly aware of the suffering of others, so that we know that we are not alone, and awaken our metta. When we feel fear, anxiety, sadness, or grief, we can turn our mind to our friends, and to all others who are experiencing the same or worse, at that very moment, so that our dukkha is transformed into compassion and a sense of solidarity.  We can do this formally in our metta bhavana practice, and at any other time.

And of course we will have plenty of opportunities to express our compassion in these difficult times, especially if we are healthy and at little risk of serious illness – but even if not, by staying in touch with our Sangha friends and giving emotional support.

This epidemic presents us with a life-changing choice. If we respond by shrinking back into our old selves, we will emerge as lesser, more unhappy people, more out of touch with others. If we respond by rising to the challenge, treating adversity as an opportunity to take our practice to a new level, we will emerge as bigger, better people, part of a stronger, more unified Sangha.

Vadanya, March 17, 2020

Closing the Sheffield Buddhist Centre Building

Monday 16th March

Closing the Buddhist Centre Building in response to Government Advice 

Dear Sangha member
Following the advice from the UK government that we should avoid non-urgent contact with others we have very regretfully decided to close the Sheffield Buddhist Centre from Tuesday March 17 until we are advised otherwise.

This will mean no drop-in meditation session or Sangha night tomorrow, and no newcomer’s class on Wednesday night. The Sangha Retreat planned for this weekend will not take place either. 

Even though we need to close the building for now, this does not mean we will be closing the Sheffield Buddhist Centre as our Sangha is so much more than just a building. We intend to find ways that we can continue to communicate with each other and support each other and we will let you know as we develop these plans. It might take us a few days though to work these out.

If you are isolated at home and need anything practical please do get in touch with the Centre. We’ve had a lovely response from Sangha members volunteering to help out so please do let us know if there’s anything you need. 

I’ve been finding the Four Reminder verses from the Morning Puja very inspiring

The Four Reminders 
This human body is precious 
An opportunity to awaken 
But this body is impermanent 
Ready or nor one day I shall die

So this life I must know 
As the tiny splash of a raindrop
A thing of beauty that disappears 
Even as it comes into being.

The karma I create shapes the course of my life
But however I act life always has difficulties 
No-one can control it all 
Only the Dharma can free me and others 
From suffering forever

Therefore I recall 
My heart’s longing for freedom 
And resolve to make use of every day and night 
To realise it

With much metta 

Satyajyoti 
Chair 
Sheffield Buddhist Centre

A Creative Response to the Coronavirus

Saturday 14th March

Dear Sangha members

We are living in unusual times and the Coronavirus is highlighting both the truth of change and of our interdependence, two of the Buddha’s central teachings. We would like to send our sincere well-wishing to all and in particular to those affected throughout the world with this virus. During times of unsettling change our practice becomes even more crucial, as it is through our practice that we can choose to respond to global changes with clarity, courage and kindness, rather than with anxiety and fear.

We’ve been talking at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre about how we can respond creatively to the sometimes confusing situation that we are in and these are our current plans.

1) To support each other in the true Sheffield Sangha way:
Let’s not allow the fear and anxiety of the situation to disconnect from each other but instead let’s build an even more supportive and loving Sangha. So: 

  • Let us know if you are ill or having to self isolate. We would like to help. This maybe in practical ways such as buying and delivering your shopping or it might be that we keep in contact with you by phone or electronic means.
  • Please also get in touch if you know a sangha member who is isolated at the moment and might appreciate support 
  • Let us know if you can help other Sangha members. Maybe you could do some food shopping and deliver it? Maybe you could phone or keep in touch with someone in other ways?
  • It looks like some Sangha members will be working from home during this time so this could be an opportunity to intensify our practice as we do during an Urban Retreat. We could form Dharma Buddy groups, meditate at the same time, set up Whats App groups etc.. If you might be interested in coordinating some Urban Retreat style practice please let us know.

2) We are following the advice of Public Health England so at the moment we are planning for all our activities to continue at the Centre. However as some Sangha members may need to self isolate or not come to the Centre we are exploring how we can live-stream talks and create on line discussion groups, for instance on Sangha night. We will give more information as we have it. If you have have experience of live streaming and can help with this, please let us know. 

3) We would ask you to not to come to the Centre if you have a cough or fever in order to protect more vulnerable Sangha members. We hope that you will still be able to engage with the Sangha even if you are not able to physically attend.

4) We will be using the Centres’ Facebook group more, at least at first,so it might be worth checking that if you’ve limited your Facebook use

5) We hope that we will not need to cancel any events but we may have to, so please check the website before you come to the Centre for an event.

We are closely monitoring the situation and following UK government advice (see government guidance). If anything changes that effects the running of the Centre we will be back in touch.

With much metta,
Satyajyoti 

Chair of Sheffield Buddhist Centre