Toowoomba Buddhist Centre
   NEWSLETTER MARCH 2010

                                                                        4-6 Cress Street                                                                                                                                   tbc@fwbo.org.au
                                                                        www.fwbo.org.au/toowoomba
                                                                                           

Dear Friends,

    On sitting down to write this editorial, with only a vague idea of what to write, and having earlier been  somewhat distracted, ‘guarding the gates of the senses’ seems to be a timely topic.  This topic arose from recent reflection on the adverse effects of too much talk  - how both listeners and speaker are exhausted and diminished by the speaker’s lack of mindfulness of not only the other person, but also of whether it is an appropriate topic, time or place.  But this is only one example of an unguarded sense, and hearing is only one of the senses to be guarded.  What is going on when, for instance, one is making repeated visits to the fridge or apparently distracting oneself in some other way before getting on with an activity more conducive to one’s spiritual development? 
    In a seminar on Chapters 14 and 20 of the Dhammapada, Sangharakshita1. speaks of the Buddha’s emphasis on guarding the gates of the senses; how the Buddha advised a monk, as soon as becoming aware of impressions likely to lead to unskilful thoughts, to at once divert the sense organ (eye, ear and so on), from those impressions and become recollected.  This was at a time when, relative to today, life was simpler and there were fewer distractions to be guarded against.  A sole ‘guard’ at a ‘city gate’ today would be quickly overwhelmed with the thousands of ‘people’ all clamouring for attention at the same time.  So if we react without thought and awareness to the mass of impressions, which is our daily fare, we allow unskilful mental states to arise.  With awareness of the nature of the ‘clamour’, whether it be noise, food, TV etc., we can set up the conditions by which we restrict the flow of impressions.  We can simplify our lives in many ways.  By being open to our experience and recognising our habitual reactions as we practise, we can train ourselves to let in only those impressions which give rise to skilful mental states. [Janet]

1.  Pali Canon - Dhammapada Chapters 14 and 20, p25, by Sangharakshita, source: www.freebuddhistaudio.com,

STUDY:
This month we are continuing to draw upon “The Essential Sangharakshita”(1)  as the source of our study.  Both sessions will be taken from the section, The Path to Enlightenment.  On March 4, we shall learn more about what the Dharma is, what contributes to spiritual development, through the Buddha’s answer to his aunt and foster-mother, Mahapajapati.  On March 18, we look at what it means to follow the Buddhist path.  Why not come along and join the study sessions where you may find pleasure, challenges and inspiration?

(1) Urgyen Sangharakshita, ed Karen Stout, 2009, “The Essential Sangharakshita - a half century of writings from the Founder of The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order”, Wisdom Publications, Boston

EIGHT WEEK COURSES:
The Introduction to Traditional Buddhist Meditation course started on Monday night 15th February with 16 recruits and the Introducing Buddhism course on Tuesday the 16th February with 8 recruits.

CLEANING AND MOWING ROSTER:
Thank you to those two people who have offered to take responsibilities for mowing - Sadhu!  We still need volunteers to help with cleaning the cottage (roster on kitchen wall).  Please let us know if you can help.

BLANKETS
While we have plenty of cushions for meditation at the TBC, we are a little short in blankets to use as mats and to wrap up in during cold weather.  People often bring along their own meditation gear to sessions, of course, but we would be very grateful for any donations of blankets or throws suitable for meditation if, in preparing for winter at home, you find you have a spare.

SECURING THE TBC:
The management team is still in the process of negotiations to secure the lease and premises at Cress Street. We will keep you updated.

PROPOSED WEEKEND RETREAT IN JUNE:
On the first weekend in June, 4th to 6th, we are planning to hold a weekend retreat at Le Grezze, near Highfields.  It is hoped that the retreat will be led by Satyagandhi, a Western Buddhist Order Member, from Naganaga Vihara near Kempsey in NSW.  The theme for the retreat will be available soon but meanwhile pencil in those dates if you are interested in attending; 13 people is the maximum number of participants.

WEBSITE
We are having trouble uploading to our website at the moment – working on it.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:

185      “Not to speak evil, not to injure, to exercise restraint through the observance of the         (almsman’s) code of conduct, to be moderate in diet and to occupy      oneself with higher      mental states - this is the ordinance (sasana) of the Enlightened Ones.

186      Not even in a shower of money is satisfaction of desires to be found.  ‘Worldly pleasures   are of little relish, (indeed) painful.’  …..”

“Dhammapada the way of truth”,  transl. Sangharakshita, 2001, p68, Windhorse Publications

Sunset at the Site of the First Council following the Buddha’s
Parinirvana, Rajgrih, India