Vesākha May 2018
You are warmly invited to two days of activities at the Manchester Centre for Buddhist Meditation to celebrate the full moon of Vesākha Page 1
Vesākha 2018 Pro This year the full moon of May occurs during the a5ernoon of Tuesday, 29th. Monday, 28th May is a bank holiday so there will be events at the Manchester Centre on both days to celebrate Vesākha. You are invited to join in whichever events you wish or to use space at the Centre for personal pracEce during Monday’s events.
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Monday 28th May
A day for families, meditaEon & Dhamma 10 am to 12 noon - Family Eme, for children of all ages with parents, grandparents, and family friends. 2 to 5pm - MeditaEon classes, open to all, including newcomers and those who have already started pracEce. 7 to 10pm - MeditaEon pracEce, dhamma talks and discussion.
Tuesday 29th May
A day of meditaEon & Dhamma discussion 7 to 8am - Morning pracEce To take part in the day of pracEce: arrive around 8:30 am for a 9 o’clock start . We will finish with a5ernoon tea around 5 pm. 9 am to 5pm - Those who wish can devote some Eme to contemplaEon, chanEng, meditaEon and reflecEon. Lunch will be provided. The final pracEce of the day will include the Eme of the full moon at 3.19 pm. If you would like to join in with this pracEce, please arrive by 2.30 pm. Page 3
The coming full moon of Vesākha in May is a Eme for turning towards the truth which frees the mind; for turning the mind towards awakening, as if rising from a dream. The full moon of Vesākha marks three moments in the life of the Buddha: his human birth as SiddhaZha Gautama; his awakening to the noble truths and his final passing into complete enlightenment. You could say he was born as a Buddha when he realised truth - Dhamma. He then spent the rest of his life teaching Dhamma to those who wished to culEvate their minds. Those of his followers who had realised that same truth for themselves (Sāvaka Sangha) joined him in teaching. When the Buddha passed into final nibbāna, this well established Sangha conEnued to teach Dhamma. The Buddha’s final words were: “PracEce to decrease what’s not skilful Develop and culEvate the skilful Purify the mind of both This is the teaching of all Buddhas” The full moon of May is a Eme to bring to mind the Buddha, his teaching and his lineage.
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