At the next meeting of the Theravada group on Thursday 15th June we will continue with the third in the series of talks by Bhante Bodhidhamma on the First Noble Truth this time focussing on the Three Characteristics of dukkha- unsatisfactoriness, anicca - change, and anatta - insubstantiality.

On Thursday 4th May the Abbot of Cittaviveka Monastery, Ajahn Karuniko, will be leading the Theravada meeting. We will start with chanting, meditate for about 30 minutes and then listen to Ajahn's talk. He will have just returned from a pilgrimage in Japan, so question-time will be an opportunity to learn about Buddhist practice there.
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If you are new to meditation, Ajahn Karuniko will give guidance during the session. 

You can download the latest newsletter here:

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PLEASE NOTE that we are now fully booked for this retreat. We are however operating a waiting list so you are invited to register your interest at the email address below if you haven't already done so. We will be confirming attendance of those already registered and any places freed up during this process will be offered to anyone on the waiting list. This process will take place in early September.
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The Theravada Group of the Hampshire Buddhist Society warmly welcomes you to a Day Retreat at the Hamblin Trust on Sunday 17th September. Ajahn Karuniko, the Abbot of Chithurst Monastery, will be leading the day.
 
The retreat will start at 10.00am, but we recommend that people arrive at 9.30am. The day will end at 5.00pm.
 
The retreat will consist of dhamma teaching, sitting & walking meditation, and question opportunities. The purpose of the day is to become acquainted with key aspects of the Buddha’s teaching through the practice of meditation. The programme will be suitable for newcomers as well as established meditators.
 
Please bring your contribution to a ‘pot-luck’ vegetarian shared lunch. Tea, coffee and water will be provided. Chairs will be available, but you might like to bring your own meditation cushion.
 
There is no fixed charge for this retreat, but there will be a bowl available for contributions towards the cost of the day including a gift to the monastery.
 
If you are interested, please e-mail the following address: hbs-day-retreats@gmx.co.uk 

The Hamblin Trust can be found at: www.thehamblintrust.org.uk 

Robert Elliot was Secretary of HBS and leader of the Theravada Group for many years. He died last year and a tree was planted in his memory at Chithurst Buddhist Monastery.
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On Saturday 6th May there will be a further ceremony at Chithurst in his memory. There will be a Dana blessing for Robert at the midday meal at 11:30 and afterwards a memorial stone will be placed by Robert's tree and Ajahn Karuniko, the abbot, will give a blessing.

For the Theravada Group meeting on Thursday 20th April, we will be showing slides of a pilgrimage undertaken by one of our members some years ago to the Buddhist holy sites in India and Nepal.

By Ros Dean

On Thursday April 6th, we will be looking at a few of Thich Nat Hanh's 'Ultimate Poems.'

Thay says that 'when we look for God, or nirvana, or the deepest kind of peace, we are concerned about the ultimate.' 
In other words, these ultimate poems try to express the inexpressible - that dimension of life which goes beyond human concepts. Whilst we see Thay, the scholar, in these poems, we still catch a glimpse of Thich Nhat Hanh, the man, the person whom we met in his 'Historical Poems' last year. 

Om shanti,
Ros 

By Ros Dean

​On Thursday 26th March, the Theravada Group will play an audio-talk given by Tenzin Peljor who is German by birth. 

Tenzin gave the talk at Margaret Richardson's house on 29th January this year. It is both incisive and pragmatic, yet his delivery is both warm-hearted and playful.

The full talk with questions and answers lasted about 90 minutes, so unfortunately, we won't have the time to listen to the whole of the recording, however, I am happy to send it by e-mail to whomsoever would like it. 

Ros