Ajahn Brahm's Meditation Group in Toronto: 2014

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Second meeting of ABMGT, Sunday, 25th January 2015: From 2.00-4.00 PM

Ajahn Brahm's Meditation Group in Toronto (ABMGT)

Program

1.45 PM- Registration

2.00 PM-2.45PM: Guided Sitting Meditation by Ajahn Brahm using an audio (from the retreat, 18th of October, 2014)

2.45 PM-2.50: Break/Tea/Coffee

2.50 PM -3.45 PM: Watch a Video from Ajahn Brahm on “Introduction to Meditation” (Provided by Buddhist Society of Western Australia)

3.45 PM- 4.00 PM Discussion on book chapters 3& 4, “Mindfulness Bliss and Beyond” by Ajahn Brahm (we will use this book as our meditation guide)

Please bookmark the link below for any updates regarding the meetings in the future.

http://ajahnbrahmsgroupintoronto.blogspot.ca/

Mega Metta.

For Ajahn Brahm’s Meditation Group in Toronto (ABMGT)

Indi and Piyal

Place of the monthly retreat: West-end Buddhist Cultural Center, 3133 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, ON, L5A 2X4, Canada

Contact info: info@westendbuddhist.com (905) 891-8412

(905) 566-9741 http://www.westendbuddhist.org/

What to wear: Please wear comfortable clothing, preferably white. Shoes will have to be removed as you enter the temple and they should be placed in a specified area in the basement.

What to bring: A meditation cushion (if you have one), a blanket or shawl if you need one. We will provide a chair if you want to sit and please let us know in advance

Where to park: Parking is available at the back of the temple. Please car pool if possible.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

The first meeting of ABMGT (November 2015)

Dear Friends,

Today we had the first meeting of the ABMGT. Thank you all for coming. We had a 45 minute sitting meditation and watched a basic introduction video on meditation by Ajan Brahm form a video series form a 9 day meditation retreat in Perth Australia. We hope to continue watching this series of videos in the future meetings afetr the meditation session. The next meeting will be in January as most people will be away in the month of December. Please add any comments or suggestions here or email to buddhistwisdomgroup@gmail.com.
We will appreciate your feedback very much.
Mgga metta
For ABMGT
Piyal

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - Why Practice Self Compassion October 17, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - Introduction to Meditation October 18, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - Final Question and Answer October 18, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - The symbol of the lotus flower October 18, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - What is right livelihood October 18, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - Women and Gender Equality in Threravada Buddhism October 2...

Monday, November 3, 2014

First meeting of ABMGT, Sunday, 30th November 2014: From 2.00-4.00 PM

Preliminary program

Ajahn Brahm's Meditation Group in Toronto (ABMGT)

First meeting of ABMGT, Sunday, 30th November 2014: From 2.00-4.00 PM

Program

1.45 PM- Registration

2.00 PM-2.45PM: Guided Sitting Meditation by Ajahn Brahm using an audio (from the retreat, 18th of October, 2014)

2.45 PM-2.50: Break/Tea/Coffee

2.50 PM -3.45 PM: Watch a Video from Ajahn Brahm on “Introduction to Meditation” (Provided by Buddhist Society of Western Australia)

3.45 PM- 4.00 PM Discussion on book chapters 1& 2, “Mindfulness Bliss and Beyond” by Ajahn Brahm (we will use this book as our meditation guide)

Please bookmark the link below for any updates regarding the meetings in the future.

http://ajahnbrahmsgroupintoronto.blogspot.ca/

Mega Metta.

For Ajahn Brahm’s Meditation Group in Toronto (ABMGT)

Indi and Piyal

Place of the monthly retreat: West-end Buddhist Cultural Center, 3133 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, ON, L5A 2X4, Canada

Contact info: info@westendbuddhist.com (905) 891-8412

(905) 566-9741 http://www.westendbuddhist.org/

What to wear: Please wear comfortable clothing, preferably white. Shoes will have to be removed as you enter the temple and they should be placed in a specified area in the basement.

What to bring: A meditation cushion (if you have one), a blanket or shawl if you need one. We will provide a chair if you want to sit and please let us know in advance

Where to park: Parking is available at the back of the temple. Please car pool if possible.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Let's start our group meditation again!

Now that the retreat is over, we are hoping to restart our monthly meditation sitting. This group was started in 2012, after his three day retreat in Toronto. It was formerly called "Hi-Five Meditation Group." We have now changed the name to "Ajahn Brahm's Toronto Meditation Group."

We are planning to have the first sitting in November, 2014 (the date and time TBA), approximately a month after the October 19th retreat. The goal is to meet once a month for half a day (i. e 2-5 pm ) and practice meditation as a group. We will be using a guided meditation audio/video by Ajahn Brahm from the retreat, at the beginning of each session. We will also be using his book, "Mindfulness, bliss and beyond" as our text guide. We can also watch a videos by Ajahn Brahm related the meditation instructions as given during the retreat to refresh our memory. We believe these group sessions will inspire us to follow the path and encourage our daily meditation practice at home.

The date (usually a Sunday), time and place will at the same venue as the retreat, Mississauga, temple. The general format of the monthly meeting is outlined in the blog (in the right side column). At the first meeting after the sitting meditation we will discuss the first two chapters of of the Ajahn Brahm's guidebook for meditation, "Mindfulness, bliss and beyond."

Joining this group is totally voluntary and is free of charge. Anyone who lives in and around the Toronto area and wishes to join us, can sign up by signing up using a online sign up sheet that will be emailed to you soon. We are hoping to limit this to a small group about 50 so that we can have interactive discussions as a small group.

To join the group please click on the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1o2jdLfPUKD3JzxKiD0wFFkRpRi-PFebe860B617q6zw/viewform

If you have any suggestions to the format please comment here. Also if there are any volunteers who have their own expertise who are willing to help to set up the group please let us know by email at

buddhistwisdomgroup@gmail.com

Metta

Ajahn Brahm's Toronto Meditation Group

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What is Ajahn Brahm's Meditation Group in Toronto (ABMGT)

This meditation group was inspired by Ajahn Brahm's visit to Toronto in November, 2012. The format of the group is to sit for meditation as a group once a month to encourage our daily practice at home. We will be following Ajahn Brahm's "Mindfulness, bliss and Beyond" book (please see the post below) as a study guide to help our practice. The purpose of this group is to further develop our mindfulness practice as a group. Our goal one day is to achieve complete freedom from suffering.

If you are in Toronto and like to join this group please sign up by usng this linkTo join the group please click on the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1o2jdLfPUKD3JzxKiD0wFFkRpRi-PFebe860B617q6zw/viewform

The general format of the meeting.

The following format is suggested:

1. We will get together one Sunday a month in the Mississauga temple.

2. The group will first meditate for one hour.

3. Watch an video by Ajahn Brahm on meditation instructions

4. Two Chapters of the book, "Mindfulness bliss and beyond" will be discussed (Please read before the sitting at home.

5. The group will then share and discuss the difficulties in the book chapters and individual problems during meditation.

6. We will then plan for the next sitting.

7. An email will be sent to the group once a month with the agenda for the up coming meeting.

Please click here for a pdf copy of the first 5 chapters of the book:"Mindfulness bliss and beyond"

Comments on the first meditation session...

“Thank you Indi and Piyal for starting this wonderful meditation sessions. It's very rewarding to be part of such a meritorious act.

Much merit”

“Many thanks for having us over...

...As for meditation, I was happy with myself...I do like the idea of a monthly sit for meditation. It gives me an opportunity of sitting with others, which I have not done since 3 years ago...”

“The evening was so serene and peaceful. An Evening well spent.

Thank you for making the move....May the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem be with you always”

“Congrats on having the first hi-five meditation group meeting... one step at a time! all the best for the future ones!”

I will try to do more in the near future to strengthen the foundation

Thanks”

“this is the way to go.....

this is how kalyana mittas get together to complete the unfinshed business and to lay down that heavy baggage.

with metta “

" I really had a wonderful sitting. I usually take some time

to settle down ( not been practicing meditation in my past lives) but at

your place it came so easily. May be we are taking a different path which

Ajhan Brahm taught. The tape was wonderful since when I heard his voice I

felt though he was sitting in front of us and we are fresh with his voice,

it gave me so much of joy. So much merit to both of you. May be in our past

lives we all would have met and would have had sittings like this.

Let us keep on practicing this wonderful teachings of the Buddha to lay down

the burdens that we have been carrying on for so many eons for no reason but

due to greed, hatred and delusion."

“thank for having me guidance in dahma truly appreciate it…”

Comments on Ajahn Brahm's Retreat and public talks, November 2012

It was quite a success, we had close to 300 people and at least 60 of my students were there, many of them shared with me how impressed they were with the talk. Thanks for arranging it.

Tony Toneatto, PhD., CPsych.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Director, Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Minor Program
New College, University of Toronto

I thoroughly enjoyed the November 8th talk.

Ajahn Brahm is a gift, no doubt about it.

He really is theMonk with Spunk!

Thank you Piyal and Indie for organizing such a

wonderful event. :-)

Linda Cousins

Dear Piyal,

We would like to express our appreciation to you and all of the volunteer who had helped to make the retreat a successful.

We had benefited so much from the retreat. Van could not attend but she had made herself a mini retreat at home and now could listen to all the talk you recorded.

Again thank you very much, may all the merit you have acquired will lead you to the true happiness.

With much metta

Dung & Van

Dear Piyal and Indi,
It is no secret that all who attended the retreat thanked both of you and also gave their blessings. It would not be fitting if we did not. Thus my wife and I wish to take this opportunity to say MUCH MERIT TO YOU for getting down this wonderful teacher. Once I completed the retreat I felt though a huge crane lifted me out of the mud which I was in. I learnt very much about the present moment silent keeping aside the steps of Ana Pana sathi. I believe the beginning is there.
I always was dreaming of getting him down for a good meditation session and as he said he laid the foundation. Above all the pleasant smile of his shows how happy he is.
Finally, much merit to both of you for that wonderful meditation session that you organised. I am sure the merits are huge and cannot be quantified.
Thank you very much for taking that photo and sending it to me.
With metta,
N and R
SABBA DANAM DHAMMA DANAM JINATHI

Dear Piyal,
First of all let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work you put into organizing this retreat, amidst your hectic life, fulfilling duties as a doctor and a householder.
I have been meditating for many years on and off trying many methods. There have been good times and bad times.
On many occasions I am so anxious to get up from the lotus position due to pain and discomfort in my body.
When I sat with Ajahn Brahm on the 6th of November and when he taught us to be kind and compassionate to ourselves first for the first time in my life I experienced the beautiful breath and wanted to be with my breath, not even wanting to get up for lunch.
Since Ajahn left I have been practicing what I learnt and is enjoying my journey with the beautiful breath, happily, calmly and compassionately.
My immense gratitude to Ajahn Brahm from the bottom of my heart for visiting us in Toronto and to you Piyal for taking the time and trouble to organize this retreat making sure you find a place for everyone, without disappointing anybody. May you have the strength to walk the path towards Nirvana in this very life for all the immense good karma you accumulated by organizing this retreat where so many benefitted.
May the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem always be with you and your family

...

Dear Organizing Committe

I am greatly appreciative of the professionalism of the organizing committee and thank you all very much for the email notifications in this regard. Unfortunately I couldn’t attend to the meditation retreat because I became ill and didn’t want to disturb the stillness all other devotees or participants.

However I attended and enjoyed to his talk at Mahavihara in Scarborough. This was my second opportunity to listen to him thanks to Dr. Walpola. He was very practical, jovial and adorable person.

Thank you very much

Anand Kumar

Dear Piyal, Indie & team,

Its with much gratitude that I write this e-mail to thank you for organizing the retreat with Ajahn Brahm. It was such a blessing to have a Ajahn over here in Toronto and to have his guidance.

May the good kamma that you and your team accumulated by organizing this event help you in your own search of Truth !

Metta

Indi and Piyal

my deepest gratitude for

all the planning and hard work for the 3 day meditation

retreat in

Toronto.

I travelled from New York City

to attend. It was the experience

of a lifetime.

I learned so much about life and have many new tools to use in my meditation practice. The temple in Mississauga is beautiful and everyone there is so kind.

I wish that I lived closer so I could visit more often. Thank you to everyone who helped in organizing

this life

changing retreat.

Amanda

1:29pm Nov 12

Indi and Piyal,

you are amazing Sangha builders. (We say this in Thich Nhat Hanh's community - we sometimes use Sangha to

refer to the whole family of

monastics and laypeople,

because we are building

together- we can only build

together!) Really wonderful

and when it is so well done, it becomes

infectious and we just want to

help you and participate

Ajahn Brahm's Meditation Group in Toronto

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Second meeting of ABMGT, Sunday, 25th January 2015: From 2.00-4.00 PM

Sunday, November 30, 2014

The first meeting of ABMGT (November 2015)

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - Why Practice Self Compassion October 17, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - Introduction to Meditation October 18, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - Final Question and Answer October 18, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - The symbol of the lotus flower October 18, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - What is right livelihood October 18, 2014

Ajahn Brahm - Women and Gender Equality in Threravada Buddhism October 2...

Monday, November 3, 2014

First meeting of ABMGT, Sunday, 30th November 2014: From 2.00-4.00 PM

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Let's start our group meditation again!

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto – Guided meditation November 8, 2012

You can listen to them here in a new window (play in a new window). However if you want to download please visit this site: http://www.westendbuddhistmedia.ca/category/ajahn-brahm-in-toronto-2012/

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto – Instruction on meditation November 8, 2012

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto – Guided meditation November 7, 2012

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto – Instruction on meditation November 7, 2012

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto – Public Talk at the University of Toronto: Buddhism and Science November 7, 2012

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto – Samatha and Vipassana meditation November 6, 2012

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto – Instructions on meditation November 6, 2012