Introduction To Buddhism

Completed First Run Of Course

Rick Bateman — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:20:53 +0000

The first run of my five day Buddhism For Beginners course was a major success as far as I am concerned. Those who attended the majority of classes were very satisfied.

In the spirit of “If you want to learn something, teach it,” I have learned more about Buddhism in the past six months preparing and teaching this course than in the ten years of study and practice that preceed it.

It has been wonderful to teach, something that I decided I wanted to do more of as I find it enlivening and it has been wonderful to make new connections to kindred spirits.

Rick

New Secular Buddhism Site

Rick Bateman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 05:31:52 +0000

To help provide a resource for developing Secular Buddhism I have created a new site to that end. The essential ideas are there now and over time I will add more content.

Please visit

http://secularbuddhism.com

Excellent class with Beth Trotter and Misha Gitberg

Rick Bateman — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:55:26 +0000

Two guests and five students attended this class. It was a rare and valuable experience to have the time and teachings of two highly qualified psychotherapists who also have many years of experience with Buddhist related practices.

Vipassana teacher Beth Trotter and Mindful Yoga teacher Misha Gitberg each provided insight into their own paths and how they felt the two disciplines complimented each other.

Beth’s emphasis was on how psychotherapy can help remove blocks from one’s spiritual path and how eastern practices do not provide these approaches. In turn, mindfulness as practiced in the Vipassana tradition, can provide a sense of boundaries, a container, to help an individual undergoing psychotherapy not be overwhelmed by the process.

Misha emphasized the ability of Yoga to reconnect one with one’s physical body, since we in the west tend to be so “in our heads”. Reconnection to our bodies, and awareness of its states and sensations, can help us become aware of our feelings and emotions, thus enabling the psychotherapy work. Also, the Mindful Yoga which Misha teaches, is deeply rooted in Buddhist meditation practices including the Four Foundations of Mindfullness (body, feelings, consciousness, thoughts) and the Four Immeasurables (Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy and Equanimity).

Beth’s and Misha’s teachings and approaches are very closely related and there is less separation between the two than this write up might suggest. For example Beth emphasized how Loving-Kindness meditation towards one’s self can help with related psychotherapy work.

Our class concluded with a brief review of the final three steps of the Eight Fold Path: Right Livelihood, Right Action and Right Speech.

New weekly meetings of the Victoria Secular Buddhists group

Rick Bateman — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:29:42 +0000

Hello all. In case any of you are interested I thought I would make you aware that I have secured space and scheduled weekly meetings of the new Victoria Secular Buddhists group. If you think you might be interested in what that group has to offer I suggest you visit the groups Meetup site to find out a bit more about us. See http://www.meetup.com/Victoria-Secular-Buddhists-Meetup-Group

If you are interested please go to the site and join that group so you will automatically be included in their regular communications.

Here is the info about the meetings…

The second meeting of the new Victoria Secular Buddhists group is scheduled for next Monday, July 19th, from 7pm to 9pm at the “The Church of Truth – Community of Conscious Living” in James Bay (on the corner across from the entrance to Fisherman’s Wharf).
Here is a link to a map and directions: http://cot.rd123.ca/?page_id=49
If you have any questions please contact me rather than the church.

This will now be a weekly meeting repeating every Monday night. Where scheduling conflicts arise with other groups renting space in the building we will make other arrangements.

As we are paying to rent this space I ask that attendees please make a donation at the meeting if possible.

Chairs will be provided.

The format of the meeting will be:

• 30 minutes teaching about Buddhism. Subjects – not necessarily in this order – will include Mindfullness, the Eight Fold Path, the Four Immeasurables (Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity) and other similar core Buddhist concepts. I can also include other subjects from my Buddhism For Beginners course – see http://buddhismcourse.com
This list is enough to keep us learning and practicing for a very long time.

• 20 minutes question and answer period about anything to do with Buddhism

• 20 minute social break

• 20 minute Meditation teaching (how and why regarding each of three kinds)

• 20 minute meditation period

This format is will provide structure for us to get started however over time reality will show us what the best format for this group is.

Again, if you are interested please go to the site and join that group so you will automatically be included in their regular communications.

Kind regards,

Rick

First Secular Buddhists Meeting Went Well!

Rick Bateman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:59:33 +0000

Four others and myself attended this first meeting of the new Victoria Secular Buddhists group. Most of the evening consisted of sharing the idea behind the group. At the end, we decided to find another location (so we can spend some time meditating) and to start meeting weekly on Monday evenings. Each meeting will include meditation, teaching, Q&A and social time. I will book the next meeting here as soon as I secure the space (I have one in mind already). More info at

VictoriaSecularBuddhists.com

New Local Buddhist Resources Site

Rick Bateman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:45:26 +0000

Created a new directory of all Buddhist resources in Victoria and the islands. Includes listings of practice groups by region and type, events, Buddhism related counesellors, local blogs, books, supplies, restaurants and other related spiritual centers.

BuddhismVictoria.com

New Video On Life Of The Buddha

Rick Bateman — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 14:18:14 +0000

Added new resource under Lesson One:

New: The Buddha – The Story of Siddhartha
Just released in April 2010, a two hour PBS documentary on the life of The Buddha. Parts 1 & 2 on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQBQBUFBqEE and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGxO2Kx2_5A

First Class Went Well

Rick Bateman — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:45:42 +0000

The first of the five classes in the Buddhism For Beginners went well. Seven people showed up, some who had registered, some not. The room is very nice. We sat around the fireplace (electric and working) in a semi-circle and I started through the workbook while taking questions. The upholstered chairs are very comfortable. Even though it was a somewhat daunting situation to be willing to take any and all questions about Buddhism, a vast subject, I managed to stay present and calm by practicing Buddhism the whole time!

My mind was extremely busy afterwards however, reviewing everything I had said and getting caught up in doubt and worry, two of the five hinderances. So I sat in meditation (counting breaths) for twenty minutes and by the end of it I had let go of monkey mind.

Guest Speaker Wayne Codling Confirmed

Rick Bateman — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:44:34 +0000

The third of our guest speakers for this course, Wayne Codling, is now confirmed. He will speak about Zen and his current meditation teachings.

Wayne will join us for the July 21st class. Students are welcome to bring a friend to this class and members of our Meetup group are also welcome.

Wayne Codling holds a BA in Buddhist Studies and is a lineage holder in the Soto Zen school as founded by Shunryu Suzuki-roshi.

A Zen monk for more than 3 decades, he has lived many years in the monastic communities of this lineage. He currently teaches Zen meditation at various locations in Greater Victoria, including a youth correction centre and Queenswood.

Please visit his website.

Booked First Meetup!

Rick Bateman — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:32:44 +0000

The first meeting of our Victoria New Buddhist Meetup is scheduled for Monday July 5th at 7pm at the James Bay Coffee & Book shop. Please see

http://www.meetup.com/Victoria-New-Buddhists-Meetup-Group/calendar/13932356/

for more infomation and to register if you would like to join us.