Three Rafts for Crossing the River: Buddhists Paths and Practices

Intro: Video Reminder! Tomorrow’s retreat is at St. Ambrose Church Retreat begins at 8:45am. Aim to be there a few minutes early. From Kipling Station: 123c Shorncliffe Little Buddha Assignment is due: Wednesday April 15 th.

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Theravada Buddhism: Meditation Practice In Buddhism the person meditating is not trying to get into a hypnotic state or contact angels or any other supernatural entity. Meditation involves the body and the mind. For Buddhists this is particularly important as they want to avoid what they call 'duality' and so their way of meditating must involve the body and the mind as a single entity. In the most general definition, meditation is a way of taking control of the mind so that it becomes peaceful and focused, and the meditator becomes more aware. (from bbc)

All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. Dhammapada Chapter 1:1-2

Theravada Buddhism: Meditation Practice Our mental state is key! If we are consumed by craving or aversion, we will experience the world very differently from the way we will experience it if we are overflowing with generosity and kindness. (from bbc)

Theravada Buddhism: Methods of Meditation 1. Counting breaths (concentrative) 2. Meditation Candle (concentrative) 3. Loving Kindness Meditation (generative) Zazen “just sitting” meditation (receptive) 5. Theme meditation (reflective)

Theravada Buddhism: Zazen Meditation The key Zen practice is zazen. This involves sitting in one of several available positions and meditating so that you become fully in touch with the true nature of reality. Lotus Postion

Theravada Buddhism: Koan Meditation Koans are questions or statements, often paradoxes, that provoke spiritual understanding. They are often used by masters as a way of teaching pupils, and also to test enlightenment. Koans don't have a right answer. Western pupils often find this very frustrating, since most westerners are used to trying to get the right answer to a problem. For the same reason, the truths of Zen can't be learned just by reading a scripture or getting a solution from a teacher or a text book. The best way to work with koans is with a teacher. Without a teacher it can be too easy to fool yourself into thinking that you've solved a koan.

Theravada Buddhism: Koan Activity Choose a koan from the bin at the front of the class. Contemplate it. Find the other person in the class with your koan. Try to solve it together.

Vajrayana Buddhism: Mudras What are Mudras? Mudras are symbolic gestures, used in Buddha images and in practice to evoke particular ideas during meditation or ritual.Buddha imagesmeditation (Religion Facts) Examples of Mudras:

Vajrayana Buddhism: Mandalas A mandala is a symbolic picture of the universe. It can be a painting on a wall or scroll, created in coloured sands on a table, or a visualisation in the mind. The mandala represents an imaginary palace that is contemplated during meditation. Each object in the palace has significance, representing an aspect of wisdom or reminding the meditator of a guiding principle. The mandala's purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones and to assist with healing.

Making Mandalas Explanation of the Wheel of Life 5 Mandalas in 9 Minutes Creation of a Sand Mandala

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala The first step in how to draw a mandala is to measure out your paper into a square shape. The square can be as big or as small as you like. The bigger the square, the more room you will have for putting in lots of detail and color. Next, use your ruler and a pencil to draw a dot in the very center of the square.

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala The next step in how to draw a mandala is to draw a series of circles around this dot. Once you've drawn the dot in the center of your square, one easy way to draw circles is to use a compass. If you don't have a compass, don't worry. Using your ruler, measure out 1/2" (or more or less - depending on your preference) from the center dot. Make a mark 1/2" above, below, to the left and to the right of the center dot.

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala Next, measure out another distance from the center dot. I chose 1.5" from the center dot. Using the same process as before, make a mark at this same distance on top, below, to the left and to the right of the center dot. You can continue making as many rows of these dots as you like. The important thing is to make sure that the dots you make are all equidistant from the center dot.

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala Now that you've drawn your dots, it's time to connect them. Draw a straight vertical line connecting the dots that go up and down, and a straight horizontal line connecting the dots that go one either side.

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala Next, draw another series of dots at the same distances from the center as your first series of dots. The yellow arrows point to where the new row of dots will be located. Try to make them at a 45 degree angle to the perpendicular lines. Draw four rows of dots, making a large x shape.

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala Next, draw another series of dots at the same distances from the center as your first series of dots. The yellow arrows point to where the new row of dots will be located. Try to make them at a 45 degree angle to the perpendicular lines. Draw four rows of dots, making a large x shape.

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala Next, use your ruler to connect the dots you just made.

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala Now you'll want to connect the dots into circles. To do this, start at one dot, and draw a curved line to the next dot, and so on. Just make sure you draw lightly enough that you can easily erase any mistakes.

Mandala Assignment: Steps to Make a Mandala Now that you've drawn the basic outline for your mandala, you can begin drawing designs in your mandala! You can start from the center, or you can start from anywhere where you feel inspired to make some marks.

Make Your Own Mandala Assignment You will have two class days to complete your Mandala project- it is due on Friday April 17 th.

Sources: customs/meditation_1.shtml customs/meditation_1.shtml mudras.htm#sthash.ZoZ6uA6e.dpuf mudras.htm#sthash.ZoZ6uA6e.dpuf customs/mandala.shtml customs/mandala.shtml mandala.html mandala.html