Sangha Festival Night And Mitra Ceremony

All members of the Sangha are invited to come to a Festival Night celebration of the important link between us and the Mahasangha of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.


On the full moon night in October, Friday October 26 at 6:30 we will gather for a festive puja, a mitra ceremony for Abbey Stevens and a pot luck dessert. It is traditional on this date for existing mitras to have the opportunity to reconfirm their commitment as well, though, as with all forms of practice, is not required.

Red is the traditional color of the sangha, representing the metta that flows among us. If you wish, wear an article of red clothing or bring an offering of red flowers or candles. You are also encouraged to bring pictures of buddhas, bodhisattvas or regular human beings with whom you experience Sangha as a refuge to place upon the shrine.

Hope to see you all there!

If you have any questions or would like to help out with the shrine, cleaning or other things, please call Varada at 675-8978

Sangha Night

The first Wednesday of every month is led by Sarah. On those Sangha Nights we will be spending part of the evening listening to a talk by an Order Member in the Western Buddhist Order, then we will reflect quietly in meditation followed by a period of open conversation. Please come and share in the beauty of shared practice.
This particular Wednesday evening program is most appropriate for newcomers to meditation, buddhist practice or the FWBO. But please feel free to attend any Wednesday of the month.

The following Wednesday Sangha Nights of the month are lead by Chris. These evenings will continue with a study of Reginald Ray's Secret of the Vajra World until October 17th. The group will then commence with a 4 week meditation intensive, starting Oct 24, that will focus on reinvigorating our practice. We will then begin a study of Mark Epstein's book Open to Desire.

Sangha Nights are each Wednesday from 7 to 9pm at the Center (540 South 2nd West).

INTRO TO BUDDHISM CLASS

Cheryl McMillan will be teaching an "Introduction to Buddhism" class, Thursdays 7-9pm, beginning September 27th and continuing through October 25th. It will be held at the Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center (540 South 2nd Street West).
Anyone with an interest in learning more about Buddhism is welcome to attend. And please feel free to pass the word to other folks who may be interested. A $50.00 fee is suggested for the class, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
For further information, please contact Cheryl at 728-5882.

NVC practice night

The June 21st NVC practice is canceled.
This will be offered again Tuesday, July 24th from 7-9pm. Hope to see many of you there.
Cheers, Sarah.

Vajrasattva Puja

Vajrasattva Puja

Purification, Death, and Five Syllables of Laughter!

Please join us for an evening puja to Vajrasattva, a beautiful and powerful figure.

Vajrasattva is traditionally invoked to assist us with the purification of negative actions and with death. He is a friend and protector associated with the 'journey home,' the re-uniting with our own essential nature from which we are estranged. His purity is potent: a completely unadulterated consciousness. He holds a vajra to his heart and accepts everything for what it is. There is also laughter in his mantra!

Friday, June 8 at RMBC

7 PM

More details to follow. . .

Non Violent Communication (NVC) practice nights

NVC once-a-month practice night

May 24th 7-9pm, June 21st 7-9pm

We will start each evening with a short meditation and then please bring questions or requests for clarification about your process with NVC or just come to check in or learn something new.
I hope to see as many of you there who feel they would benefit from this evening of NVC.

Led by Sarah B.

Suggested $5 donation.

Introduction to Meditation Class

Introduction to Meditation

A five-week class on Tuesday evenings
april 24 - may 22
7-9 pm
Taught by Sarah B.

Buddhism acknowledges that meditation is an essential practice for those striving to develop personally and spiritually. It is one of the main practices emphasized by the Buddha, although one does not need to be a Buddhist to benefit from it.

Two traditional meditation practices are taught and practiced at the Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center: the Mindfulness of Breathing, which helps bring about calm and concentrated states of mind, and the Metta Bhavana, which helps develop emotional positivity and confidence. Our meditation classes are open to everyone, regardless of religious background and belief.

For more information or to register, please call 728-9232 or visit http://www.fwbomissoula.org/
____________________
Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center
540 South 2nd West
Missoula, MT 59801
406.728.9232
enquiries@fwbomissoula.org

Morning meditation

Starting on Monday April 2nd, 2007, morning meditation is up and running at the center again.
Meditation will
run from the usual 7:15 to 7:50 am. Satyaloka will be leading on
Mondays and Thursdays, Alysha will be leading Tuesdays and
Fridays and Cheryl is doing Wednesday.

Does you practice need a little spring cleaning? Then please come and
join us -- it is always nice to sit with other people. And this time
of year mornings get easier and easier as it is no longer as dark and
cold.

NVC class

Inner voices: How to listen with empathy and begin to find kindness for ourselves

This class will explore the Non-Violent Communication (NVC) model developed by Marshall Rosenberg. We will learn the basics of the model and learn to use it in conjunction with other self reflective practices, such as formal sitting meditation. Each night will begin promptly at 7pm with a period of sitting meditation, followed by discussion.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

7-9 PM

MARCH 7th? APRIL 4th

COST: Suggested $40 donation

LEADER: Sarah B.

Dhammarati's visit

Dhammarati is coming for a visit and his schedule is as follows:

Wednesday July 5th Talk on Asanagas "Bodhisattava Ethics" with meditation at RMBC 7-9pm Cost $5-$10.

Saturday July 8th Continuation of discussion of Bodhisattva Ethics as it relates to our own practices with an emphasis on meditation and reflection 9-4pm at RMBC (please bring your own lunch) Cost $20-$30.

Sunday July 9th Order Member-Mitra day with Dhammarati 10-2 at RMBC Please RSVP Varasuri as soon as possible so we know how many are coming.

As many of you know Dhammarati is an engaging and informative dharma teacher. His talks are always quite lively and thought provoking and are not to be missed. I hope we see as many of you as possible and please pass on the word to others who might be interested as well.

Thanks and see you next week!
Sarah Brown

Mitra Ceremony & Puja

Wednesday, June 7
7-9 pm


Please join us this Wednesday as we celebrate Wesak (a little late), and welcome Holly Montgomery into the Mitra Sangha. Holly has been a Friend of the Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center for nearly ten years (or more?) and we are excited to honor and witness this committment ceremony as she takes this step on the Buddhist path.
Please help us make this a special occasion by bringing something to eat,drink, flowers, gifts.....whatever you feel inspired to contribute. All are welcome.

See you there!

Nurturing Mind and Body: An Open Buddhist Meditation Retreat

More details on our upcoming retreat...

Start and End Times, and Food
The retreat will start Thursday, May 25 at 8:00pm (with registration beginning at 7:00pm). No dinner will be served Thursday evening, a snack will be available. Food on the retreat will be simple, with snacks available and light evening meals. *If you have any dietary restrictions please let Ann know as soon as possible. The retreat ends Tuesday at 11 am, with the option of leaving on Monday (if you are planning to leave Monday please let Ann know as soon as possible). Retreatants do a small amount of cooking and/or cleaning each day, which is an opportunity to practice mindfulness through work (a traditional Buddhist practice).

What to Bring
Camp Child is somewhat rustic in that you need to bring all your own bedding (including pillow), towel, shampoo, soap, etc. There are rooms with beds in the main lodge, as well as bunk-type beds in cabins. There is also the option of camping. The weather is unpredictable this time of year so bring enough warm clothes, rain gear and sunscreen to be prepared for whatever weather conditions might come up. It could be warm and sunny or coldy and rainy. Snow is still a possibility this time of year.

Location and Ride-sharing
Camp Child is a 90 minute drive east of Missoula. Car-sharing will be arranged a few days before the retreat.



Cost, Registration and Payment
The cost of the retreat is $200. If you need a reduced rate, please contact the Center and arrange it before the registration deadline.

Deadline for registering is Friday, May 19. Please register as far ahead of time as you can to help us with planning. To reserve your place on the retreat, mail payment (or a $25 deposit) with your name, address, phone number, email address, yoga and meditation experience and the retreat name to the address below:

RMBC Retreat Registration (write check to 'RMBC')
540 South 2nd West #1
Missoula, MT 59801

Please call or email the Center if you have any questions.
406.728.9232 or enquiries@fwbomissoula.org

Nurturing Mind and Body Retreat

Nurturing Mind and Body
An Open Buddhist Meditation Retreat with Hatha Yoga
Open to men and women & all levels of experience

shrine from last year's May retreat at Camp Child

May 25-30
(Thursday eve to Tuesday afternoon, with the option to stay through Monday the 29th)
Camp Child



No matter how long you've been meditating, practices such as Hatha yoga, walking, or just listening help all of us into the gentle repose of sitting meditation. This retreat offers these preparatory practices including an optional session per day of Hatha yoga, as well as a precious chance for us to practice and cultivate compassion together in a simple, healthy, and beautiful environment. Led by Suvarnaprabha, at Camp Child on the Little Blackfoot River near Elliston, MT.

Yoga led by Suzy Wiseheart.

COST: $200 includes food and lodging for 5 nights

To register or for more information please call 406.728.9232 or email enquiries@fwbomissoula.org

Introduction to Meditation

Introduction to Meditation

A five-week class on Thursday evenings
april 20 - may 18
7-9 pm

Buddhism acknowledges that meditation is an essential practice for those striving to develop personally and spiritually. It is one of the main practices emphasized by the Buddha, although one does not need to be a Buddhist to benefit from it.

Two traditional meditation practices are taught and practiced at the Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center: the Mindfulness of Breathing, which helps bring about calm and concentrated states of mind, and the Metta Bhavana, which helps develop emotional positivity and confidence. Our meditation classes are open to everyone, regardless of religious background and belief.

For more information or to register, please call 728-9232 or visit http://www.fwbomissoula.org/
____________________
Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center
540 South 2nd West
Missoula, MT 59801
406.728.9232
enquiries@fwbomissoula.org

Intersangha Meditation

Intersangha Meditation

Sunday March 12, 2006
10 am - noon and
every 2nd Sunday of the month at
The Open Way Mindfulness Center
702 Brooks, Missoula
(Next to the Rose Garden)

Each month a different Sangha will lead practice in their tradition.
All are welcome to join in for a morning of meditation and sharing.
For details, call 251-3090

Intermediate Study Group

Suffering as a Path to Faith
~Moving from Dukkha to Shraddha~
March 20 - May 22, 2006
Mondays 7 - 9 PM
A 10 week intermediate level course*
Led by Varasuri

Today my birth is fruitful. My human life is justified...[just] as a blind man might find a jewel in heaps of rubbish, so too this Awakening Mind has somehow appeared in me.
-Bodhicaryavatara

Within each of us lies the potential for unbound wisdom and love for all beings. But life hands each of us some unpredictable times of pain, grief and despair--- and even a few joker cards--- that can make us feel trapped and lost. Buddhism teaches us that embedded in the very pain and confusion of our lives is the door to our innate faith (shraddha), the first step towards true wisdom. We all have the capacity for faith, love and peace; we just need to know how to free them from the inevitable rubbish of life.

Buddhism begins with the First Noble Truth, that life is suffering (dukkha). What does this really mean? What is dukkha anyway? And is life really just suffering?
Together, we will explore the depth of what dukkha means and, from our own experience, examine what our individual responses are to suffering.

The Buddha has also said that it is in dependence on suffering that faith arises; that dukkha is a condition for the emergence of shraddha.
On the surface this may not appear to be our most obvious nor spontaneous response. But it is the challenge and mystery of how to move from suffering to faith that leads us to liberation.

I have learned, and hopefully you will too, how shraddha is alive in each of us, how it can inspire and motivate our spiritual journey, and how it enables us to discover the depth and beauty of our Awakened Heart. This will not be an abstract study course, but an exploration of how to bring the Dharma alive as a new way of viewing our lives and the world. We will explore, through readings, discussion, inner contemplation and outer application how to make this a working model for our spiritual lives.

* To get the most out of this course, it is recommended that you have some meditation experience and at least a familiarity with some basic Buddhist concepts (who is the Buddha, the 4 Noble Truths, conditionality). Don't hesitate to come if your knowledge is only cursory; there will be ample opportunity to delve deeper using your own experience. Most essential is life experience and a desire to make the Dharma come alive for you personally.

You are welcome to come to the first session and see if it is for you.
And feel free to call me beforehand if you have any questions.
Varasuri
543-1158

Intersangha Meditation

Intersangha Meditation


Sunday February 12, 2006
10 am - noon
and every 2nd Sunday of the month
at
The Open Way Mindfulness Center
702 Brooks, Missoula
(Next to the Rose Garden)

Each month a different Sangha will lead practice in their tradition.

All are welcome to join in for a morning of meditation and sharing.

For details, call 251-3090

Website Updates...

After a long hiatus, the website is back up. Sorry about this delay. We ran into some trouble with a host change and then some sangha in the East bought our domain name! Look for updates to the site soon. Cheers,
Nick

Conditionality: Fear or Freedom? Opening to our immediate experience

Conditionality: Fear or Freedom?
Opening to our immediate experience~

Tuesdays, October 11 to November 15, 7 to 9 PM
Each session begins in silence, with a period of reciting the refuges and precepts followed by a short meditation (please be on time so the rhythm of practice is not disturbed). Led by Dharmacharini Varasuri.

This will be a six-week, intermediate level Dharma course. It is best if you have at least a familiarity with some basics of Buddhism (what are the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, the four Noble Truths or the Eight Fold Path, the basic precepts, and some experience of meditation). It does not matter if you are relatively new to Buddhism or have been practicing for years; the Dharma brings clarity and awareness to us wherever we are. There is no pre-requisite of profound knowledge or insight! (although they are most welcome)

The teaching of conditionality (conditioned co-production) is the most fundamental of all Buddhist teachings; it is a description of the true nature of existence. All other expressions of the Dharma can be related back to it in some way, and we will also explore some of those. While we will be learning what this basic teaching is, our time together is intended to be a highly experiential approach to study. We will each draw on our own experience of life as a means to understanding conditionality. We will be using selected (short) readings, meditation, reflection, and any creative exploration you prefer (journaling, writing, making art, movement, being in nature, silently gazing out the window, etc) as means to opening to our experience with new eyes and bringing the Dharma to life for us.

The short introductory reading for the first session will be sent out by email within the next week; if you need a hard copy, call Varasuri at 543-1158

Suggested dana for this course is $50, or a new monthly pledge of your choice. Dana goes to the Center. Please do not hesitate to come if the cost is a problem for you; the Dharma is free. Give what you can to support the center.

Vajrasattva Puja

A Vajrasattva Puja

Wednesday

July 13

7 - 9 pm

 

Tomorrow is our monthly puja.  We will focus particularly on the fold in the puja dealing with confession of faults.  This is a point in the act of deepening our commitment to spiritual practice when we come across actions of body, speech and mind that are not in accord with the higher ideals of compassion and wisdom embodied in the Buddha and other transcendental figures such as Avalokitesvara.  Confession, as an act in Buddhism, is about using the kind awareness we have begun to experience in our meditation and daily practices as a means to shine light on those areas of our practice where we act unskillfully.  We use the fire of awareness to purify us and allow us to begin anew in each moment.  Each moment is a fresh start to accept what was in the past and move forward in to the future from the present.  We will begin at 7:15 sharp using the first part of the evening to reflect in silence what we wish to offer as our confessions of unskillfulness during the puja that follows.  Please join us for this joyous event.

Upcoming Events

Happy Summer!

Dear Friends,

I hope this email finds you all well and enjoying your Montana summer. I am writing to let you know about a few upcoming activities and events that you won't want to miss............so get out your calendars and mark these dates!

Sangha Night
Wednesday, July 6
7-9 pm
Saramati is moving to England and he will be giving a talk about his upcoming adventures. You don't want to miss this opportunity to find out more about his plans and say a warm farewell.


Practice/Work Day & Sangha Summer BBQ
Saturday, July 16
12-5 pm
This is an opportunity for practice, work and spending time with good friends. We will start the day with meditation, then spend a few hours mindfully cleaning and gardening together, followed by a Sangha Summer BBQ. We'll provide veggie burgers, buns and drinks. You bring a salad or side dish of your choice.

Planning and Potluck
Wednesday, August 24
7-9 pm
Once again we will gather as a Sangha to discuss upcoming activities and events for the Fall. It will be a dessert potluck (fruit does fall into the category of dessert, by the way). Don't miss this important Sangha meeting.

Big Sky Mind Retreat
September 9-16
Camp Child
led by Bodhipaksa
for more information visit www.rmbuddhistcenter.org

*If you would like to be removed from our email list please reply to this email with 'Remove' in the subject line.

__________________________________________
Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center
540 South 2nd West #1
Missoula, MT 59801
406.728.9232
enquiries@rmbuddhistcenter.org
www.rmbuddhistcenter.org

Change Your Mind Day

Saturday June 4
10 am - 3 pm
Open Way Mindfulness Center
702 Brooks

In 1993 Tricycle created Change Your Mind Day, an afternoon of free meditation instruction, as a way of introducing the general public to Buddhist thought and practice. Tricycle decided to hold the teachings out of doors, as in the time of the Buddha, in the hopes of welcoming people who otherwise might shy away from the formality of a zendo or gompa.

A few hundred people showed up for the first Change Your Mind Day, a pleasant mix of newcomers and seasoned practitioners. Seven Buddhist teachers from different lineages gave instruction. Alan Ginsberg and Philip Glass performed "Do the Meditation Rock." Maggie Newman got the crowd up on their feet to do twenty minutes of tai-ch'i. A lone shakuhachi ended the day as the sun began to set behind the trees.

Change Your Mind Day has since grown into a worldwide event that now takes place every year on the first Saturday in June. Some gatherings are large, attracting thousands of people, while others may consist of just a handful sitting together and reading guided meditations from a variety of Buddhist traditions. But whether attended by many or few, the event is always powerful, connecting thousands of silent sitters around the globe.

This is Missoula's third year participating in Change Your Mind Day. Each hosting Sangha will lead a practice starting on the hour in the following order:
• Open Way
• Ewam
• Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center
• Osel Shen Phen Ling
• Vipassana

If the weather breaks we will be outside near Rose Park next to Open Way, otherwise all activities will be held inside. There will be Tipu's chai and Le Petit scones, as well as other snacks and beverages available. For more information please call 549-7317.

A Fundraiser for Jeremy Glenn

Sunday June 5, 2005
Tipu's
6 pm

Jeremy Glenn is a native Missoulian and long-time member of the Missoula Sangha. He has been asked to be ordained at Guhyaloka in Spain this Spring. Jeremy's has been involved in FWBO activities for 11 years. In autumn of 1993, at the age of 19, he enrolled in an introductory class on Buddhism then being taught by the newly ordained Saramati. Since that time he has dedicated much of his life to the practice of the Dharma and in helping to set up the conditions for others to do so. He set up and lived in several residential communities in Missoula, and worked as a core member of Tipu's with Buddhapalita and others. Jeremy returned to the University of Montana in the last two years where he completed his B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing. Most recently he has been at Guhyaloka working and helping to prepare for this spring men's ordination retreat. The cost of this retreat is expensive and Jeremy needs financial support to attend.

On Sunday, June 5 at 6 pm Tipu's is serving a dinner for anyone who would like to attend to support Jeremy's ordination retreat. The cost is $10 and includes an appetizer, main dish and dessert. The proceeds will go to Jeremy.

Please RSVP at 728-9232.
________________________________________
Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center
540 South 2nd West #1
Missoula, MT 59801
(406)728-9232
www.rmbuddhistcenter.org

Change Your Mind Day

June 4, 2005

Open Way Mindfulness Center
702 Brooks
10 AM- 3PM

Day of Meditation
Free and Open to the Public

Presented by
Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

Hosted by Open Way Sangha, Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center, Osel Shen Phen Ling, Ewam and Missoula Vipassana Sangha

For more information call 549-7313
Visit: http://www.tricycle.com/

________________________________________
Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center
540 South 2nd West #1
Missoula, MT 59801
(406)728-9232
www.rmbuddhistcenter.org

Dharma Study/Practice Group

Dharma Study/Practice Group
The 12 Stages of Healing

Mondays noon - 2:15 pm
May 23 - Aug 22
(no class June 20 & 22)

• What do we do with our suffering?
• How does the process of becoming more aware of ourselves and our world unfold?
• Where do we get stuck in this process and how do we find our way back to those times of clarity, joy, happiness, peace and insight?
• What is 'healing' and how does it relate to practicing the Dharma?

"The Twelve Stages of Healing offers us fascinating insights into the complex relationship between mind, emotions, and body, and shows us how we can use these insights to promote greater health in our bodies and harmony in our relationships."

Any questions, contact Sarvapriya at 542-1748

_____________________________________________
Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center
540 South 2nd West #1
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 728-9232
www.rmbuddhistcenter.org

Intersangha Sunday Meditation

Intersangha Sunday Meditation

May 15, from 10am - 12pm

at the Open Way Mindfulness Center.

RMBC is leading this month's meditation and practice.

Wesak Puja

Wesak in Penang

"The things we make are signs of the things we are, seismographs of our internal state of affairs. If we recognize the parallelism between the structure and the rhythm of our selves and the form and pattern of our images, we will be provided with a revealing display of our inner selves. As Joseph Zinker has pointed out: the creative process is therapeutic in itself because it allows us to express and examine the content and dimensions of our internal lives. We live full lives to the degree to which we find a full range of vehicles which concretize, symbolize, and otherwise give expression to our experiences ." -Peter London, "No More Secondhand Art: Awakening the Artist Within"

On Wednesday May 4th we will be having our monthly puja. This month's puja will celebrate Wesak and will again focus on creatively engaging with puja/ritual by creating several pieces of visual art together in the context of the sevenfold puja. Please bring an open mind and a willingness to explore your artist within. We will start promptly at 7:10pm so please arrive in time to engage in the creative dimension of collective practice/ritual.

Please note that the Wesak celebration date has changed. It will no longer be on May 22nd, but will instead be included in Wednesday's puja.

A Call for Artists

A CALL FOR ARTISTS

WESAK CELEBRATION

Last year for Wesak we had a celebration of visual and performance art in honor of the creative forces that compel us towards Enlightenment. The celebration included watercolor paintings, poetry readings, music and dance. This year's Wesak celebration will follow suit. Once again we are putting out a call for artists and we are interested in gathering as many pieces of art by Sangha members as we can. The definition of 'art' here is broad, so think broad.

Art submission deadline: May 15
Wesak Celebration: May 22

Please call 728-9232 for more information

Wednesday Puja

A SPRING PUJA

Just a friendly reminder that it is the first Wednesday of the month,

which means it's time for a Puja..........

So please join us

Wednesday, April 6

7 - 9 pm

for a Spring Puja led by Sarah Brown

A Reception for Henry

Hello Friends,

This email is to let you know that our good friend Henry was ordained last week in San Francisco. His name is now Priyamitra, which means 'beloved friend'. We are having a reception and puja for him tomorrow Wednesday March 2 from 7 - 9 pm. There will be cake and rejoicing in his merits. Please join us in welcoming Priyamitra into the Order sangha.

with metta,
Ann
________________________________________
Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center
540 South 2nd West #1
Missoula, MT 59801
(406)728-9232
www.rmbuddhistcenter.org

Meditation Workshop Reminder

Meditation Workshops
led by Dhammarati

Sunday
January 30 and February 6

10 am - 4 pm
lunch provided

Sunday January 30 ~ Mindfulness of Breathing
Sunday February 6 ~ Metta Bhavana

Meditation Workshops

Meditation Workshops

 

led by Dhammarati

 

Sunday

January 30 and February 6

 

10 am - 4 pm

lunch provided

 

Dhammarati is a highly skilled meditation teacher who will help guide your meditation practice to a deeper level.  With over twenty years experience, Dhammarati uses gentle guidance of the breath to deepen concentration, body awareness and stillness.  This is a workshop not to miss!  To register or for more information please call 728.9232 or email enquiries@rmbuddhistcenter.org

 

Cost is $25 per workshop or $45 for both.  If money is an issue, please call Ann to discuss alternatives.

Sangha Gathering Reminder

SANGHA MEETING

Wednesday
January 19, 2004
7 - 9 pm

Potluck Dessert

What classes would you like to see at the Center? What would you like to be involved in? Is there anything you would like to lead or facilitate? Bring a dessert to share and join us for this continued discussion on the future of the Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center. For more information or questions, please call 728-9232.

Meditation Workshops

Coming Soon to a Buddhist Center near you...........

Every year we look forward to the visit of our good friend, Dhammarati. This year his visit will span over two weekends -- the last weekend in January and the first weekend in February. This year, Dhammarati will lead two weekend day workshops focusing on meditation and give a talk at Sangha Night February 2 tying the two weekends together. The exact days and times of the workshops are still being worked out, so know that something exciting and worthwhile will be happening on these two weekends, mark it on your calendar and stay tuned for more details.

Dhammarati has been teaching meditation for over 20 years, and was closely involved with setting up the successful meditation teaching program at the London Buddhist Center, one of the largest in Europe. He is now president of Buddhist centers in San Franciso, Seattle, Missoula and his native Glasgow. Born and raised in Scotland, in his twenties he worked as psychiatric nurse and has a degree in graphic design from the Central School of Art, London. He was chairman of the London Buddhist Center from 1985-94, during which time he developed the organization, the teaching syllabus, did a lot of teaching, and lived in various communities ranging from two to twenty-five people. He left to concentrate on graphic design for some years, before becoming president of the above Buddhist Centers. In the late 90's he joined the men's ordination team of the Western Buddhist Order in Birmingham.

SANGHA MEETING

January 19, 2004
7 - 9 pm
Potluck Dessert
Once again, it is time to gather the entire Sangha. We tried a new format this past Fall with no introductory classes, focusing on deepening our practice. We offered one meditation retreat in September and a ten-week intermediate Dharma course taught by Varashuri. We continued the morning meditations during the week, adding Yoga after meditation on Mondays. Sangha Nights flourished with Pat and Tom leading weekly discussions on meditation, and once a month Henry led a Sevenfold Puja.

On Wednesday January 19th, we will gather to report-in on how effective or not the last six months were, and then look to the future. What classes would you like to see at the Center? What would you like to be involved in? Is there anything you would like to lead or facilitate? Bring a dessert to share and join us for this continued discussion on the future of the Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center. For more information or questions, please call 728-9232.

Puja Tonight

Puja Tonight!

Wednesday, December 1
7-9 pm

Just a friendly reminder that tonight at the Center is a dessert potluck followed by a meditation and puja.

This will be the last puja in a monthly series we did this Fall. We will meet as a Sangha in January to decide what we will do for the Spring program, so watch your email for dates. And join us for the winter puja tonight and enjoy the company of good friends and tasty desserts.

Big Sky Mind Retreat

September 10-16 (with a weekend option)
Camp Child Elliston, MT

The practice of mindfulness, in which we observe our experience with acceptance, kindness, and curiosity, can lead not only to stillness of mind but also to a profound change in the way we see ourselves and our relationship to the world. We can come to realize that our normal sense of ourselves, in which we are in some sense separate from the outside world, is but an illusion, and can come to appreciate ourselves as part of a greater, interconnected whole. We can learn to sit like a mountain and to find a deep contentment in having a mind that is as expansive as the sky.

On this retreat, deep in the heart of Big Sky country, we'll be exploring mindfulness and the practice of dissolving the boundaries of the self so that we can expand it outwards until "self" and "other" have little or no meaning. We'll use a variety of forms of the mindfulness of breathing practice and walking meditation in order to stabilize the mind, and we'll use the six element practice in order to let go of our limited ways of seeing ourselves, and to enjoy seeing ourselves as part of an interconnected reality.

The retreat will be conducted mainly in silence, with talking only during meditation interviews and question and answer sessions. Both reading and communication with those who are not on retreat can have an unsettling effect on the mind, and in order to facilitate greater stillness of mind we ask you to leave all reading materials, cell phones, laptops, etc, at home or to check them in on arrival and not to use them until the retreat ends.

Intensive Meditation Retreat

December 5 - 7 at Lubrecht Lodge

Visiting from the Seattle Buddhist Center, Shantinayaka, will lead an intensive meditation retreat based on the Anapanasati Sutta and it's commentary Breath by Breath by Larry Rosenberg.

Cost is $100

To register call 728-9232 or email enquiries@rmbuddhistcenter.org

Send your $25 deposit by December 1st to:

RMBC
540 South 2nd West #1
Missoula, MT 59801

The Great Assembly - Sangha Day Festival Puja

On Sangha Day Buddhists celebrate both the ideal of creating a spiritual community, and also the actual spiritual community which they are trying to create. Sangha Day is a traditional time for exchange of gifts; it has become a prominent festival among Western Buddhists even though it is little known in the East.

Join us Wednesday November 12th 7 - 9 pm For a festive puja led by Buddhapalita

Help the RMBC's Yard Sale!

Help the RMBC's Yard Sale!
It's this Saturday October 11th.

Drop off donations in the foyer or call Satyaloka at 728-3656 to arrange a drop-off time for larger items. If you don't have transport then we'll even come and pick your stuff up! No clothes please. We also need people to staff the yard sale. Call Satyaloka if you are interested in helping out.

See you there!