Lamrim Buddhist Centre, South Africa
corner Kite & First streets, Vrededorp, Johannesburg
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LAM RIM BUDDHIST CENTRE SPIRITUAL PROGRAMME
Hall and Other Activities
Monday & Wednesday 18:00 Tai Chi. Please contact Cynthia on (011) 791
3183
Thursday 18:00 Yoga. Please contact Paul on (011) 794 7637
Saturday 09:30 Heart Yoga. Please contact Adam on 072 424 7240
or Vera on (011) 782 8581
Last Saturday of the month 14:00 - 15:00 Jumble Sale.
Please contact Vera on (011) 782 8581.
Please remember to donate unwanted items for
inclusion in the Jumble sale goods.
For General Enquiries Contact:
Erica: 082 565 6135; Vera: (011) 782-8581
or Philip: 083 255 6089
For Interviews with Geshe-la Contact: Neil: 082 467 5735 or Philip: 083
255 6089
Should you wish to contact Lam Rim Johannesburg, e-mail
[email protected]
Should you wish to receive our LAM RIM newsletter/updates, kindly forward
an
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use 'Subscribe' as the Subject.
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MOTIVATION - THE THREE SCOPES
The Lam Rim, or the Graduated Path to Enlightenment, is in three main sections, or scopes. All beings seek happiness. These scopes reflect three levels of Buddhist aspiration or motivation based on how this happiness is perceived. Beings of all these scopes realise that life is unsatisfactory and that we are continually born into unpleasant conditions through the cyclic process of birth and death, known as samsara. There are greater- and lesser-suffering realms in samsara. The motivation of the being of lower scope is to obtain rebirth in the three upper realms of samsara, where there would appear to be pleasure with little suffering.
The being of the middle scope understands that the nature of all samsara is suffering and that the comfort of the upper realms will eventually come to an end. Therefore, the motivation is to achieve freedom from samsara entirely and achieve the liberated state of nirvana.
The being of higher scope realises that the personal happiness of nirvana is not complete without considering the happiness of others, because it would still hold to some notion of an independently-existing 'self' - the root cause of all suffering.
The being of higher scope seeks the liberation of all sentient beings as equally important. An individual immersed in the sea of samsara has little power to help others, but the perfect enlightened state of Buddhahood is far more effective. Thus Buddhahood is sought, for the benefit of all sentient beings. This motivation unites wisdom and compassion to achieve the Bodhicitta mind. The Lam Rim provides a method
to develop this mind for the happiness of ourselves and others.
LAM RIM - THE PRELIMINARY PRACTICES
All undertakings require appropriate preparations. The Lam Rim preliminary practices are designed to prepare the mind before beginning a meditation session. Firstly, we clean our room (helping cleanse our mind of
defilements) and arrange symbols of the Buddha’s enlightened body, speech and mind (a focus for our practice). We make offerings reminding us of the value of what we seek to achieve. Adopting a comfortable sitting posture and developing a pure motivation, we request help in our practice from the 'merit field' - a representation of the good qualities of the fully-enlightened state. Following this is the sevenlimbed puja (a seven-part chanted prayer: prostration, offering, confessing, rejoicing, requesting, entreating, dedication) and
a mandala offering (a 'world' offering to benefit all sentient beings). After some further requests, we begin the actual practice - the Lam Rim meditations.
"If you do not do at least one meditation session on
impermanence in the morning, I think you will devote the
whole day to this life". Geshé Chaen Ngawa
*************
The Spiritual Programme will be adjusted to satisfy the needs of the majority of the people attending our activities.
COSTS: Teachings are given free of charge, however we do have to cover overheads & maintenance of the Centre & we would suggest a +/-R15.00 donation when attending a programme. However, if you have financial difficulties we understand and please feel free to join us.
DANA FOR GESHE PHENDE: if you would like to give Dana to Geshe Phende there will be a box available specifically for this in the Meeting room.
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