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APRIL NEWSLETTER

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL MEDITATION CLASSES WILL RECOMMENCE THE WEEK BEGINNING 27TH APRIL

2-Day Silent Retreat:

I have to submit final numbers for the 2-day Retreat very soon, so I will be collecting names and deposits after the holidays.

The 2-day silent retreat this year will be held at the beautiful and peaceful Govinda Valley Retreat Centre, Lot 1 Lady Carrington Rd Otford.

The dates are from 3 pm on Friday 31st July to 3 pm on Sunday 2nd August. Retreatants must arrive at 3pm Friday. No late starters. Retreatants must be able to attend both days.

You should be in bed by 9 pm and will rise at 6 am each day. Six meals will be fully catered for with morning and afternoon tea.

The price is $218 for the whole weekend including shared accommodation (4 single beds to a room or 3 bunk beds to a room) and the six meals. Communal Ladies and Gents bathrooms. Maximum sleeping Retreatants is 58.

Price for Yrs 11 & 12 students: $109;
Price for other students studying full time: $165.00. Other people who are not able to pay full price are to contact me personally.

Bookings are essential. A non-refundable deposit of $50 must be paid by all Retreatants at the time of booking as a $500 non-refundable deposit has already been paid by Meditation in the Shire to secure our booking.

Deposits can be paid in cash or cheque at class or by forwarding a cheque to me at the above address. Please note that cheques to be made payable to Linette Lo Monaco.

You can do an electronic transfer to: Account Name: Linette Lo Monaco; BSB: 804 050; Account Number: 10125971. If using this method, please put your name as the reason for the Transfer and then email me with your name, address and telephone number. A receipt will be supplied

Balance of your fee will be payable no later than 1st July 2009. Moneys will only be refunded if any one cannot attend the Retreat because of an emergency.

Govinda Valley is 4 minutes' walk from Otford Railway Station, however, car pools can be arranged if requested.

A letter giving more details will be forwarded to those Retreatants once the deposit has been paid, however in the meantime, please contact me if you require further information.

HAPPINESS CONFERENCE:
Details for this international conference run by the Vajrayana Institute to be held at Darling Harbour in May can be found on the Website for the Conference www.happinessanditscauses.com.au
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THURSDAY MEDITATION STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO CLASSES (CHILDREN INCLUDED) ON THURSDAY 14TH MAY AS I WILL BE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE

Volunteering for the Happiness Conference:
Helen at the Vajrayana Institute is now co-coordinating the volunteers and she can be contacted by email on helen@vajrayana.com.au or by telephoning Helen at the VI on 9798 9644. Those who would like to volunteer and have forms, please submit them to Helen immediately. The VI is still looking for volunteers for the conference in May so those interested please contact me immediately.

Workshops coming up ……..

“Dealing with our Emotions”, Sunday 31st May from 10 am to 4 pm,

“Four Noble Truths”, Buddha’s First Teachings, Sunday 21st June from 10 am to 4 pm,

“Buddhism for Children”, a Workshop for Children from 5 yrs, Sunday 23rd August 2 to 4 pm

“Going for Refuge”, Is it necessary to become a Buddhist to follow Buddhism? Sunday 20th September from 10am to 4 pm

“All About Buddhism” Is it a philosophy or a religion? Sunday, 25th October from 10 am to 4 pm

Details of these Workshops are on my Website – no bookings necessary

Contribution by way of Donation

DHARMA TALKS FOR CHILDREN

Commencing Sunday, 30th August


These are usually held at every Buddhist Centre Worldwide and we have decided to start our own, so I am looking forward very much to ours.

They will be run every last Sunday in the month from 10 to 11 am and will be for all young school-aged children at Yarrawarrah Community Hall, Cnr Old Bush Road and Princes Highway Engadine. Families are welcome to meet in the adjoining room and have a cuppa. An outdoor play centre is available for the littlies with parental supervision only. (The Sandpit is OFF BOUNDS).

The children will be taught the philosophy of Buddhism (Dharma), will be introduced to the Buddhist religion and there will be other activities as well. Your child can stay for 10 minutes or the whole hour. Contribution is by way of donation.

GENERAL NEWS:
The affects of meditation are enormous, provided one meditates! The trouble is that one wants to see the affects of meditation after just one go and I am afraid this is not possible. We all want a “quick fix” but one meditation will not improve your health or well being at all. Only 25% of students who come to meditation, come back and only a handful of those, have been meditating with me regularly for 5 years. These people would be only too happy to discuss with you the benefits of regular meditation. Meditation has changed their lives, their attitude to life and those around them and most importantly of all – changed their minds. But they themselves have put in a lot of work with discipline and perseverance.

Some people come to meditation for a few weeks “until they feel better” and then stop. “If you take molten lead away from the flame, it will harden again”. It isn’t long before they are right back where they were before and have to start all over again.

One does not have to meditate a long time – 10 minutes twice a day will do but Meditation must be a lifetime commitment, making it part of your daily routine for the rest of your life. A lifetime commitment!!!!!! Oh no, I couldn’t do that! That’s what most of us think. However, if your doctor said to take off weight for your health and keep it off, you would. Meditation is also for your health. Your mind controls your body. How you think is how you act, so isn’t it wise to take care of our mind too?

Meditation is not hard but you have to learn to do it – just like everything else – and that takes time – just like everything else. The hardest part of meditation is actually doing it.


“Let Us Be Kind to One Another”