May 2015
From the Editor
This article has been resonating with me for the past little while, I hope you will find merit in reading it as well.
“Where’s my reward for practice?” is a legitimate, yet difficult question. Take a moment to reflect where else in your life you’ve asked, “Where’s my reward?” Maybe it’s for being a good person, being unselfish and sharing, or taking care of your family. The practice itself is the reward. It’s a rare thing in life when we get to live our values, and when we’re privileged enough to be a part of a community that supports us. To have the opportunity to choose right speech, right action, right livelihood, and to be mindful is in and of itself a reward.” - Phillip Moffit
May the information in the newsletter be of benefit to your practice!
— Lee Anne Smith
Vesak in Vancouver
Vesak, the annual commemoration celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha is practiced all over the world by Buddhists in every tradition.
Vesak and Social
Saturday, May 30, 6:00 pm
St. Mark's Church, 1805 Larch St, Vancouver
Join the BCIMS board and other sangha members for an early evening of celebration with stories, chanting, renewal of precepts and sharing food. Come and help us appreciate and celebrate all West Coast Dharma and BCIMS volunteers and participants. Please bring finger food to share and your own mug and utensils. Children welcome.
...
Vesak 2015 For World Peace
Saturday, May 16, 1:00 to 7:00 PM
Italian Cultural Society, 3075 Slocan St, Vancouver
This year for the first time in BC, the United Sangha (community of Buddhist monks and nuns from the different traditions) will celebrate the Vesak together. It is our hope that the United Saṅgha will bring peace and harmony to the Buddhist Community and the Canadian society at large by introducing Canadians to the richness of Buddhist philosophy and practices. For more information click here.
On the Cushion
Begin, support, or deepen your meditation practice
 Family Practice Time
with Rachel Lewis, CDL and Lee Anne Smith
Sunday, May 31, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
The Hub, 251 E 11th Ave, Vancouver
This practice time is open to all families. Rachel and Lee Anne will share simple and child-friendly meditation activities with the whole family. Donations for the space are accepted; no suggested minimum. There are a few meditation props available at this space, please bring a yoga mat and cushion if you can.
For more information, please contact Rachel at rachel.lewis@gmail.com
...
Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation, West End, Vancouver
with Adrianne Ross and Santa Aloi
5 Tuesdays, Tuesday, June 9 to Tuesday, July 7, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
St. Paul's Anglican Church, Chapel Meeting Room, 1130 Jervis Street, Vancouver
Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation is designed for those new to meditation or those who would appreciate an opportunity to review the basics of Vipassana Meditation. In this series we will work from a place of relaxed awareness of breath, body, feelings, thoughts, and mind states.
Instruction in sitting and walking meditation will be given in a supportive context that will include discussion how mindfulness can be applied in everyday life.
Cost: $25.
To register, please contact aloi@sfu.ca.
Residential Retreats
Metta Retreat
with Adrianne Ross, assisted by Rachel Lewis, Community Dharma Leader
Friday, May 8, 7:00 PM to Sunday, May 10, 4:00 PM
Westminster Abbey, Mission
The annual Metta Retreat will be held at Westminster Abbey this year starting Friday evening and ending Sunday late afternoon. The retreat is suitable for both beginning and experienced meditators. The cost is $150. The retreat is full but there is a wait list.
For more information please contact the registrar directly, by email at retreatmetta@gmail.com or by phone at 604-789-5626.
For additional information, please view the flyer.
...
Awareness: Vipassana Retreat
with Steve Armstrong
Saturday, August 29, 3:00 PM to Saturday, September 5th 12:00 PM
Bethlehem Retreat Centre, Nanaimo
Having the dhamma come alive in our life is more than practicing a technique or following a schedule. It rests on a willingness to bring dhamma understanding that flows from our hearts into all our activities with awareness.
Steve will offer complementary teachings and instructions from various Buddhist meditative traditions emphasizing 'wise understanding' and 'skillful attitudes for practice' along with pragmatic guidance in 'awareness of mind in all activities.'
There will be periods of sitting, walking, instructions, group check-in and readings from Sayadaw U Tejaniya. Suitable for beginning or experienced students. For more information contact the registrar, Denis, at denis.retreat@gmail.com or call 604-886-2262.
Mail your registration with payment to:
Denis Fafard
1640 Gower Point Road
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V5
For additional information, please view the flyer. $675 for residential, $445 for commuters. Scholarships available.
...
Practicing for Balance
with Jayantā (Shirley Johannesen)
Sunday, Sept 13, 5:30 pm to Thursday, Sept 17, 1:00 pm
Rosemary Heights Retreat Centre, Surrey, BC
Cost: Single room $450 for members or $475 for non-members, some shared rooms and scholarships available.
This 5 day Vipassana retreat will also include a 25th Anniversary Memorial Celebration to honour Anagarika Dhammadinna, the first Theravada Buddhist nun in Canada.This event is for all interested in Anagarika's legacy with regard to the transmission of Theravada Buddhism in Canada, or who were touched by Anagarika in some small or profound way. For more information or registration email dhammabuddhistsociety@gmail.com or
dbsregistrar@gmail.com.
...
Salt Spring Vipassana Society Residential Retreats
Thursday, May 14 to Sunday, May 17
METTA / Kindness & Friendliness Retreat with Heather Martin
Saturday, August 1 to Saturday August 8
Summer Vipassana Retreat, with Howie Cohn and Heather Martin
Info & registration for both retreats at Summer Vipassana Retreat.
...
Westcoast Dharma Residential Retreat
Thursday, August 13 to Wednesday, August 19
with Michele McDonald and Jesse Maceo Vega-Frey
Sea to Sky Retreat Centre, Whistler. BC
Six-Day Intensive Vipassana residential retreat. Retreat Information here.
Non-Residential Retreats
 Day of Mindfulness
with Karen Lawrie, Community Dharma Leader and Pari Ruengvisesh
Saturday, May 9, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Mountain Rain Zen Community Space, 2016 Wall Street, Vancouver
A Day of Mindfulness is a great opportunity to support your practice with others through sitting and walking meditation as well as a dharma talk in the afternoon. Please come join us.
To register, please e-mail Karen at karenlawrie77@gmail.com.
...
Transforming Self, Transforming Society: A Day Long Retreat
with David Loy, Buddhist scholar
Saturday, May 16th 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Mountain Rain Zen Community Space, 2016 Wall Street, Vancouver
The theme of this daylong is “Transforming Self, Transforming Society”. To register or for more info: www.DavidLoy2015.eventbrite.ca
...
Equanimity: Resting in the Eye of the Storm
with Brian Dean Williams and Kyira Korrigan
Sunday May 31, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Vital Health Clinic, 1855 West 4th, Vancouver BC.
A day long meditation retreat for healthcare providers, educators, volunteers, activists, or others providing service. Wheelchair accessible. For more information or to register go to www.FourSustainingAttitudesSeries.eventbrite.ca
UBC Retreats with Westcoast Dharma
For information about the following retreats, click here.
June 19 - 21
“Developing Samadhi and Liberating Insight” Vipassana nonresidential retreat with Tempel Smith.
August 21 - 23
Vipassana nonresidential retreat with Michele McDonald and Jesse Maceo Vega-Frey.
October 16 – 18
“Fully Present: Working with the Difficult Stuff with Compassion” with Diana Winston.
...
Victoria Non-Residential Retreats
For information about the following retreats, click here.
May 23 - 24 2015
Ajahn Sona, abbot of Sitavana Birken Forest Monastery will lead a non-residential weekend retreat on the theme "The Art of Opening Garden Gates". Online registration opens April 27th.
June 12 - 14 2015
Ayya Medhanandi Bhikkhuni, founder and guiding teacher of Sati Saraniya Hermitage will offer a daylong retreat on the theme "Freedom to Breathe" - The Buddha's Instructions on Breath Meditation. Online registration opens May 25 2015.
July 18 - 19 2015
Ajahn Tiradhammo, a senior monk, originally from BC, ordained with Ajahn Chah in Thailand and was then asked to help establish Thai Forest monasteries in England. He has been the abbot of monasteries in Europe and New Zealand. Now free of abbot duties he is often in remote areas continuing his training as a bhikkhu. Online registration opens June 22.
Aug 22 - 23 2015
Thanissaro Bhikkhu, known as Ajaan Geoff, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery, will return to Victoria to offer teachings on Karma. This is a study weekend with short periods of meditation. There are opportunities throughout the weekend to ask questions about the teachings of the Buddha and meditation practices. Online registration opens July 27.
EarthLink
The budget just released by the Conservative government has significant implications for the environment. For information about the budget and other environmental issues go to the West Coast Environmental Law website.
Dharma Stream
Teachings from the worldwide Sangha
"Overcoming Obstacles to Concentration" with Shaila Catherine starts May 3, 2015 and is a 3 month course with audio lectures, guided meditations, sutta readings and discussion. To register visit www.bodhicourses.org.
The BCIMS Newsletter does its best to be accurate but locations and dates may be subject to change.
We’d like to hear from you! Please give us your feedback and suggestions for what you would like to see in the newsletter. Email Lee Anne by the end of the month.
If you feel inspired by this newsletter, please consider making a donation to BCIMS by mailing a cheque to 1853 East 11th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5N 1Y9. BCIMS is a non-profit society, and a registered charity. Income Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more.
  
 |
