What is a mitra?
A mitra is an Indian word for friend. Here, it refers to those who have made a formal commitment to practising within the context of the Manchester Buddhist Centre
More information - What is a mitra? by Padmavajra
Mitra Study
Many mitras are involved in study groups at the Centre
Material for the mitra and foundation study courses can be found on the Free Buddhist Audio website
Mitra Blog
The posts below are from the Manchester Mitra Blog
Anything appropriate to the mitra sangha can be posted there: reports, ads, announcements, requests, humour.
Even if you are not a mitra you are welcome to add comments to any of the posts or add posts yourself. Send them to the Mitra Blog please, not the Centre team!
New Men's Mitra Study Group - next meeting Thu 22 July
Last week's study was about the Buddha's life leading to up his Enlightenment. On Week 3 we had looked at how we might get any sort of idea of what Enlightenment might be like so it was important to also look at how he got there. The two most significant events in the story were The Four Sights and the Going Forth.
We discussed how we came to Buddhism - what were our equivalents of the shock that Siddartha Gautama got from the three sights and the confidence he had that the homeless wanderer offered at solution. We then went on to look at what sort of 'going forth' we had made - this particularly looked at consumerism in our lives and in what ways we countered it.
The next two weeks continue looking at the Buddha with week 5 being about the Mythic Buddha and week 6 being about the Buddha we can contact. We then reach the holiday month of August when we will take a break and then carry on Part 1 looking at going for refuge to the Dharma and the Sangha. In the mean time we can take some time thinking and reflecting on the Buddha and maybe post them to the comment section to these posts. Look forward to next Thursday when I will also have spent a few days away so may look more relaxed. [Link]
New Men's Mitra Study Group - Meeting tonight 15th July
This posting is a bit last minute. I guess I'm still reflecting on last weeks study so don't forget you can post comments here if you want to share your reflections. I had an email from Padmadarshini about study rooms. It seems we have the library for the rest of July but this is an 'introductory offer'. After this we will go onto a rotation with other groups and at some time we will find ourselves in the downstairs tea area. So in a mood of 'Do as you would be done by' we should not go there for a cup of tea during our study period. Instead we should take our mugs with us and go upstairs to 3rd floor to make tea.
Tonight will be Foundation Part 1 Week 4 and we will be delving into the question 'Who is the Buddha?' as a continuation of unpacking the idea of Going for Refuge to the Buddha. Last week we looked at aspects of Enlightenment, hints towards giving us an idea, a feeling of what the experience might be. I think this only makes sense if we realise that the seeds of those aspects are already in us, which allows us to exercise our imaginations on it.
I am/was excited by those aspects, especially the idea of freedom from conditioned thought. However I shared some of the group daunting at the gulf between us and the Buddha. I think this may be one of the three fetters - Doubt, the one I'd forgotten about from the list - we need to stick with these aspects of Enlightenment and gain confidence that we can move towards them. See you tonight. [Link]
New Mitra Study Group - Next meeting Thu 8th July
I guess we'll be the New Mitra Study Group until Arthaketu start his next group. Before then perhaps we can find a name other than Nishpara's group, which this has implications for ego and authority that I don't really want. The group seems to be going well.
Last week we looked at "What is a Buddhist?", a text which introduces the Three Jewels and also the notion of 'conversion', as used by Sangharakshita and implying the start of a spiritual life. We liked the questions suggested by our text but spent some time with "Are we converted?" and "Are we comfortable calling ourselves Buddhists?" The second question generated a lot of heartfelt input based on experience using the term. I think the levels of GFR within the group mean we are all Buddhist but sometimes calling ourselves Buddhist requires care depending on context - this seemed to about it being a label among labels and reactions to the label, out there.
The text for this week can be found here and in case this blog is coming too late for you then the text for next week can be found here as well. Don't forget that each of these blogs has a comment button so that you add questions, challenges and points all, of course, within the guidelines of mitra study. See you on Thursday. [Link]
New Mitra Study Group - next meeting Thu 1st July
The new mitra study group got off to a flying start last Thursday, or at least taxied down the runway. (I was going to say 'kicked off' but thought reminders of the World Cup would cause suffering at some point.) We had Aidan, Alan, Andrew, Paul, Stan and Steve and our first topic was Dharma-Katha - talking the Dharma, which is about the what, why and how of Dharma Study. Our group is a mix of experienced and new Dharma talkers but I think everyone contributed well.
Questions that the group came up with included: Exactly how do we improve life and mental states with Dharma study? How do we reflect on the Dharma? (Paul came up with some points from Ratnaguna's recent talk here) How do we test the Dharma? Given that Dharma is more than just the text, what exactly is the Dharma? And finally, there is a lot of Dharma so how do we get the bigger picture? We had strong input from everyone, and especially on why and how we first came to the centre, Buddhism, the Dharma - the consensus was that it was deep, or even sub-conscious, dissatisfaction with our lives.
As a new study leader at this level I was pleased at the promising start. On reflection I think I could have emphasised more that we were dealing with Dharma study rather than the Dharma itself, which will have a whole study section devoted to it. So I think we missed coming up with more guidelines for Dharma study, such as how we interact in study groups, what habits we might have, any reactive roles we might fall into, and how we might encourage harmony and inspiration in study sessions. This is not too worrying as we acted with patience and courtesy as a group - maybe we were even sangha.
I hope I got over the main point that we prepare for study by reading the text and having enough time for some reflection and then bringing points for our study discussion - our points need to reflect i) what was actually said in the text ii) what we each think was important in the text and iii) what we found inspirational in the text. I hope we have enough time to do this for
this weeks study.
I will send by email the stuff I promised about defining Dharma. Hope to see you on Thursday. [Link]
First Meeting of New Men's Mitra Study Course - 24th June
Arthaketu and Nishpara are convening a new mitra study group on Thursday 24th June - meeting with all the other study groups in the Lotus Hall at 7pm. We aim to follow the full four-year mitra course and will be starting with the Foundation Year, which will cover the basics of Buddhism and be the bedrock, the underlying support (yes, a foundation!) of all subsequent study modules. So it is important study and should always lead to something new or deeper no matter how many times we have studied it before.
The first week we will look at study as spiritual practice and the text can be found here. The first week is important, a foundation of the foundation, in that we will look at the how and why of study and it will be the first meeting of a group of men that will , hopefully, last for quite a while.
There is room for one or two more men on the course so here are a few points for consideration. The study is not academic - it's about understanding the meaning and principle of Dharma and reflecting on its truth within your own life, your own experience - so making it your own and not something just read or heard. You don't have to be a mitra to do the Foundation Year - you may only be weighing up your options yet - but will need to be a mitra for years 2 - 4. The full scope of the mitra study course can be found at this place.
So if you want to be added to the study group please contact me on 07960026143 or via email at nishpara@gmail.com. And if you're already coming please read the study text as soon as possible so you have time to turn it over in your mind and be ready with your questions, objections and insightful asides. See you on the 24th. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Class in March
There has been quite a gap in the blog communication for the Men's Drop-In Class. There is a small reason, if 10lb 5oz can be called small, and this is the birth of Saccacitta's son Joe on 27th January. For the forseeable future Saccacitta will be busy but fortunately I will be able to join Arthaketu soon in providing study for men mitras and men looking to take Dharma study further.
In March there will be drop-in study tomorrow, 4th, and on Thursday 18th. Both Arthaketu and I will be away for 11th March so no drop-in study that week and on 25th March there will be an evening of Mitra Ceremonies. You are all welcome to come and rejoice in the people who are taking this big step in their involvement with Buddhism. More details are available in this month's MBC Newsletter
The study for tomorrow, Thursday 4th March 2010, will be the Foundation Year Part 5 Week 3: The Distinctive Emphases of the FWBO. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07960026143 or email me. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last time we welcomed Derrick to our group and we continued Foundation Course Part 5: Buddhism and the FWBO, Devotional Practice. Week 1: An Overview of the Buddhist Tradition.
Our first study session of the new year is Thursday 7th January 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course Part 5: Buddhism and the FWBO, Devotional Practice. Week 1: An Overview of the Buddhist Tradition. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me.
Update 14/01/10: Sorry haven't written a new post. Meeting tonight as usual carrying on with the study material above. See you there! [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last week we welcomed Arthaketu to our group and we started Foundation Course Part 5: Buddhism and the FWBO, Devotional Practice. Week 1: An Overview of the Buddhist Tradition. We looked at the formation of the two major divisions in ancient Buddhism, Hinayana and Mahayana. We have one more session this year on 17th. After that we will start up again on January 7th when Arthaketu or someone else will be leading the group since I will need to be on baby call...
Our next study session is Thursday 17th December 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course Part 5: Buddhism and the FWBO, Devotional Practice. Week 1: An Overview of the Buddhist Tradition. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last week we welcomed Saccaka from Norwich who was visiting. We looked at the Bodhisattva's struggle to contain the conflict from a trend to withdraw and a trend to help people. We have now finished "The Unconditioned Acting on the Conditioned" and thereby Part 4 of the Foundation Course. Arthaketu will be joining us for several weeks from next week. We will meet on the 10th and 17th but not 24th December.
Our next study session is Thursday 10th December 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course Part 5: Buddhism and the FWBO, Devotional Practice. Week 1: An Overview of the Buddhist Tradition. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Shakyajata in India
Shakyata from Manchester is in India teaching young people (see FWBO News article for details). Her latest update:
Hello everybody,
another 'update' from me....
We are currently in Hyderabad, having survived a rather trying train journey from Bhubaneshwar in Orissa....(our ticket was not confirmed, and by the strange vagaries of the Indian railway system, 2 of us ended up squashed on a single bench with Priyadaka on the floor (and there were MICE!) which was bad enough, but they woke us at 00.40 to tell us our reservation was confirmed and we could stay on the bench where we were...we arrived a bit frazzled)
The situation in Hyderabad could not be more different from Orissa, where there are a bunch of young mitras full of enthusiasm and inspiration; here TBMSG is much more established, and maybe in some danger of losing energy...but we have met some great people and hope to inject some new life through networking with the rest of the sangha in India.
We visited a very famous site, Nagarjunakonda, an amazing place. Up to about the 5th century CE, this remote, peaceful valley of the ancient river Krishna, was a huge Buddhist monastic settlement, with many monasteries, stupas, viharas etc; then as every where in India, Buddhism became overlaid by Brahminism and eventually disappeared. Then in the 1950s it was decided to build a huge dam, for much-needed irrigation for the peasant farmers of a huge area of Andhra Pradesh. The whole valley was set to be drowned; but a remarkable Indian archaeologist completed an excavation of the whole huge area, in just 6 years. (So much must have been lost, or botched.) Now the site is a vast lake (the dam is staggeringly huge) with an island where all the artefacts are displayed in a museum, among beautiful gardens and a setting like a Japanese ink-painting.
The Buddhist artefacts are amazing, not quite like anything I have seen before; including large standing and sitting Buddhas with strong faces of a different ethnic appearance from northern Buddhas, and unusual mudras (hand gestures). The site finds go back to the Old Stone Age, so much to take in...and we only had an hour! The boat which took us, crammed with schoolkids who soon gathered round Padmavir and Priyadaka, sailed across clear green water where fishermen were working from tiny round coracles of the kind once used in the British islands...swallows and sooty terns (sea-swallows) dipped in the water, the sun sparkled flakes of gold....one
of the most beautiful places I have ever been, with a traditional association with the sage Nagarjuna (though this has not been proved.) People in Hyderabad (not just Buddhists) are very proud of this. I know that Vimalanath in Cambridge has plans for a retreat centre here....good wishes to you Vimalanath, for your efforts for a presence in such a mythic setting.
The heroine of this stage of our journey is Jnanajyoti, who is making great efforts to connect and reconnect with women she knows in the Sangha here. I do hope they will continue to be supported in future, by TBMSG abd the FWBO as a whole. Also great thanks are due to Padmavir who is trying to organise good things for us and, it seems, lots of other visitors at the same time! It's great to witness a revival of the ancient Buddhist traditions in Hyderabad, in a new form which will transform the lives of people here.
So much more to say, must stop somewhere! We hope to meet more people over the next two days, and pull together a vision of what can be done here. See you in idyllic Kerala, away from the Indian-city noise, crowds, and terrifying traffic, hopefully...and maybe in a local situation with loads of potential for development.
We are both very well, getting more and more 'Indian filters' in place so we an put up with almost anything, and have a great time too. Any support you can give will be most welcome, on www.justgiving.com/youngindianfutures....and thanks to you all.
much love, Shakyajata [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last week we welcomed Matthew for his first study night and took a break from study to do an evening of meditation. Following on from requests we did the Six Element Practice, which fitted in with the study material looking at the nature of Bodhicitta and consciousness. This week we will continue with the "The Unconditioned Acting on the Conditioned" and we also have a mystery guest from Norwich!
Our next study session is Thursday 3rd December 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course Week 6: The Unconditioned Acting on the Conditioned. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Help Decorate the MBC Office
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th Nov 10am-5pm come and help Doug and Suryaka decorate the centre team office.
As far as i know this is the first time the office has been redecorated since the MBC opened in 1996!
The centre team are committed to the smooth running of the MBC, we have responsibilities for reception/bookshop, finances, publicity, marketing, IT, health and safety, upkeep of the building, event coordination etc etc etc...
If you're handy with a paint brush please come and help spruce up the office and support the centre team by helping improve the office enviroment .
Contact Suryaka if you can help. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last week we continued looking at The Unconditioned Acting on the Conditioned. Furthering the explanation of the Bodhicitta, the study material considered analogies to the "Descent of the Holy Spirit". This got us talking about the nature of consciousness. As counter balance to this very esoteric doctrinal stuff we will have a meditation evening on the Six Element Practice, which I find very informative about how to understand and experience consciousness as an element in the universe.
Our next study session is Thursday 26th November 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course System of Meditation week 2 a bit as preparation for the Six Element Practice meditation. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last week due to lack of space we studied down in the tea-area, watched by the leaving yogi's. We started looking at The Unconditioned Acting on the Conditioned which came down to exploring what a Bodhisattva is. Is it a symbol, is it an archetype, is it a living person, is it a myth? To add to the brain-teasers we also tried to understand what the Bodhicitta was and the five skandhas, ouch!!!
Our next study session is Thursday 19th November 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course Week 6: The Unconditioned Acting on the Conditioned. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last week we had a look at a Zen text about a koan that Alex brought along. This was related to the theme of impermanence we had looked at the week before. Well done for the homework Alex!
Our next study session is Thursday 12th November 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course Week 6: The Unconditioned Acting on the Conditioned. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last week we marveled at Peter's bound compilation of the whole Foundation Course. We completed "Week 5: The Conditioned and the Unconditioned", exploring how the Buddha sees this universe we live in. Most of us have encountered this teaching of the three (or four) laksanas before, but since they point right at the heart of my ignorance, I tend to forget them quickly! So repetition is good for us. So repetition is good for us.
Our next study session is Thursday 5th November 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course Week 6: The Unconditioned Acting on the Conditioned. The full course material is available here at Free Buddhist Audio. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last time we continued a discussion that started the week before on Bhante's letter. Some people had gone to the meeting led by Sona on this topic. One concern was that our Movement might be becoming more restrictive, discouraging views from other Buddhist teachers. A second concern was that there might be too much of a requirement for uniformity, with no one prepared to speak out if they thought different from the "part line". I found these issues useful to reflect upon and the discussions kept us going so we did not do any study.
Since this coming week (22nd October) there is a Mitra Convenor handing on ceremony our next study session is Thursday 29th October 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course The Conditioned and the Unconditioned. Do come along anyway this week to the ceremony where Arthaketu takes over from Mahasraddha. Study is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Men's Drop-in Study Class
Last night's study class looked at the Foundation part 4 week 5 - The Conditioned and the Unconditioned. Well the material has a huge scope and I think we only scratched the surface. We got as far as the descriptions of the three Laksanas or marks of all conditioned, compounded things and Insight (imagine a paragraph only for insight). If anyone wants to join Saccacitta next week to get below the surface then I recommend reading the whole of the text beforehand - it's well worth it.
Next session is Thursday 15th October 2009 7pm. It is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone Saccacitta on 07890073264 or email him. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Last week we met up after the summer break and had a look at the Spiral Path. Great to be studying again. I will be moving house this week so Nishpara will be filling in for me.
Next session is Thursday 8th October 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course The Conditioned and the Unconditioned. It is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me. [Link]
Men's Drop-In Study Class - Update
Yay we are starting study again! Hope everyone enjoyed the summer break and is keen to take up study again.
We start again Thursday 1st October 2009 7pm when we will study the Foundation Course Part 4 week 4 "Spiritual Growth and Creative Conditionality" (which we haven't finished yet). It is open to men who have done Buddhism 2. We meet up in the Lotus Hall at 7pm with other groups to start. It is free, but as a bridging course for mitras we encourage you to financially support the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Contact the MBC Centre Team on how to do this. For other questions phone me on 07890073264 or email me.
PS Just realised that I wasn't at our last meeting so perhaps the Spiral Path was completed and so I will come prepared for The Conditioned and the Unconditioned as well! [Link]
