The official unofficial newsletter for Dharma Ocean’s sangha in Europe.

(No time to read? Scroll down to events in your country.)

EDITOR’S NOTE

“The spirits of the air live on the smells

Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round

The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.”

Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;

Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak

Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

~ To Autumn, William Blake

Welcome! Meteorologically, autumn is now upon us and our senses turn to lengthening shadows in ever-cooler evenings, a more golden light passing through colour-changing trees, and a harvest of ripening fruits and vegetables. The turning seasons is marked with a host of September ritual gatherings across the northern hemisphere. The largest of these is the Mid-Autumn Festival, colloquially known as the Moon Cake Festival, which is celebrated across China and East Asia. Will you be marking autumn’s return? We’d love to hear about it here.

Voting still open!

In the previous issue of this newsletter, we initiated an online vote to decide on a name for it – some of you voted, and it’s now tied neck and neck! We’re letting the vote continue for another month to give it time to see which way it swings. In case you missed it, here are our two contenders:

• The Little Gap: This refers to the gap in the process of ego where our real freedom is found (Indestructible Truth, p. 385).
• The Strangely Enough: A little inside joke about that phrase Reggie loves to say!
  
• You can either vote for one of these or offer your own suggestion by clicking here!

We’d also love to hear what you think about this recently refashioned newsletter. Feedback and suggestions for improvement, or things you might like to see in the future, are all welcome.

You can get in touch with us at events@dharmaocean.eu .

Wishing you all good practice.

Sacha, Petrina & Josh

CONTENTS

Q&A with Linn Lillsunde

Shrine photo

Upcoming events

ON THE JOURNEY

Q&A with Linn Lillsunde

Q. Where are you from and where do you live?

A. I was born and raised by Buddhist parents in Stockholm, but I have lived and worked as a freelance violinist and violin teacher in Paris since 2013.

Q. I heard Buddhism has been a part of your life since the beginning?

A. I lived parts of my childhood in a Buddhist Centre, and both my parents went through a three-year retreat as I was growing up. My mother taught me how to meditate after a pilgrimage to India when I was 12 years old. It was a simple practice, to count my breaths for seven minutes every evening before going to sleep.

Q. What drew you to Dharma Ocean?

A. When I was 19, I started my Ngöndro, which are the practices you do in the beginning of the Vajrayana journey. Even though I met many teachers, I didn't find my root guru. By 2010, I had finished my Ngöndro, and my mother discovered Dharma Ocean. That winter we went to the Dathün in Crestone, and the first time I saw Reggie, walking into the Shrine Hall to teach, my whole body was on fire. "This is it! It's him, your teacher!" Since then, I go to Crestone about once a year on retreat.

Q. You are now a Dharma Ocean Meditation Instructor (MI) – what was that journey like?

A. I did the MI training in 2015, which I can highly recommend. It's an amazing way to learn how to be with another person, not just your future MI students. It has changed the way I interact with people in my daily life.

Q. Do you have an aspiration for the Dharma Ocean sangha in Europe?

A. I am so incredibly excited that Dharma Ocean is spreading its wings over Europe, and so fast! I hope that in the future the sangha will have grown, and that enough people living in Europe will have become Dharma Ocean teachers, so that there can be an equal opportunity for retreats here as there are in the US. I'm counting on you, guys!

Q. Do you have a favourite quote from CTR or RR that you would like to share?

A. One of my favourite quotes from Reggie is, "reality is not manageable". Every time I'm upset about not being able to control a situation, I remind myself of this, and it helps me relax and let go.

Recommended reading:

The Practice of Pure Awareness

Recommended listening:

The fierce energy of awareness.

Quote of the month:

So even though you have some difficulty in your practice, even though you have some waves while you are sitting, those waves themselves will help you. So you should not be bothered by your mind. You should rather be grateful for the weeds you have in your mind, because eventually they will enrich your practice.

~ Shunryu Suzuki

SHRINE PHOTO

We continue this popular feature again this month with Paul Hartoch’s home shrine in Bristol, UK. We think he’s found an ingenious way of finding the sacred in the profane. What do you think? 

Would you like to share a photo of your shrine? Send us your photos here.

Fashioned from an Ikea bathroom cabinet, this shrine has travelled from house to house with me over the last ten years. Originally and for many years a Shambhala shrine (hence the Shambhala Sun motif on the door), I have only recently repainted it, redecorated it, and included Reggie's picture.  As I have always lived in shared accommodation, the cabinet suits the sometimes space-challenged and multi-functional confines of a bedroom. ~ Paul Hartoch.

 UPCOMING EVENTS

5 night residential retreat: Italian Alps. October 18-23, 2018

This is a peer/self led retreat which will include DO recorded practices and teachings and silent/self led Bodywork and Pure Awareness practices. Nearest Airport is Venice. Cost: 35 euros/£30 per person per night inclusive of food. Minimum 6 people max 14. To book or find out more, please reply by the end of 15th September 2018 to either Matteo at matteo.boninibaraldi@gmail.com or to Mariana Straton at stillness5@icloud.com. More information also available on the Dharma Ocean European Events website.

Weekend retreat: Hirschhorn, Germany. November 2-4, 2018

Practitioners in Germany are still accepting registrations to a long-weekend retreat in November. The retreat is being led by Paris-based Dharma Ocean meditation instructor Linn Lillsunde. Linn will guide a mix of Pure Awareness, body work and bodhicitta practices. The retreat will take place in a three story villa located in a small, medieval village called Hirschhorn – considered the “pearl of the Neckar River” (click here for images of the location). The retreat fee is 200 Euro. For more information, send an email to: dharmaocean.germany@gmail.com. Organisers Dirk Milanowski, Katja Rübsaat and Josh Gale hope this is the first of many retreats in Germany at this location.


3 night residential retreat: Devon, UK. February 8-11, 2019

A deep winter 3 night residential retreat in Devon, UK on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park at Bala Brook House. This is a peer-led retreat where we will include DO recorded practices and teachings and silent/self-led Bodywork and Pure Awareness practices. Max participants 15. Cost is £114 per person  + contribution for food (we will prepare food together). Please note that the £114pp rate is based on minimum 10 participants. If fewer than 10, the cost pp will be slightly higher. To book or to find out more, please contact Mariana at Dharma Ocean Bristol dharmaoceanbristol@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY PRACTICE GROUPS

AUSTRIA, Graz

We are two Dharma Ocean Practitioners happy to share our beautiful Living Room/Shrine Room to practice together. Our Shrine Room can host comfortably 6 to 8 people lying down. We are located in the Centre of Graz, South-East Austria,  a city close to the border of Slovenia and Hungary. So if you are interested in Meditation Evenings on a regular basis or Full- or Half Practice days (being scheduled in coordination with participants) and of course sharing precious time together, please get in contact with us:

Michaela Fuchs

michaela108@me.com

FRANCE, Paris

Dharma Ocean Paris meets about once a month (usually a Sunday morning) in central Paris (in the 2nd arrondissement). Next meeting will take place in September. We usually practice together, listen to a talk by Reggie and have a discussion about it afterwards. The best way to contact me is by email.

Linn Lillsunde

linn@dharmaocean.org


GERMANY, Heidelberg

A new group in Heidelberg is taking shape and has begun sitting on a weekly basis, usually every Wednesday evening. We practice at my home in the yoga and meditation room. We enjoy sharing tea and a chat before or after, and will sometimes practice the 8 Movements of Ch’an beforehand to prepare for meditation. We plan to hold half-day and full-day retreats in the near future. Get in touch via Whatsapp: 004915758932885 or by email: joshgale108@gmail.com.

– Josh Gale

IRELAND

DO Ireland are currently looking to establish a monthly Sunday gathering in Dublin city centre. Please contact us to join us.

Across Ireland, we plan to have day-long or half-day events once per quarter in rotating locations around the country to allow everyone a chance to attend. We’ll listen to teachings, sit together, and just hang out! We’re also in the early phases of planning an annual weekend gathering, open to the whole European sangha.

Do email Sean for more info! We're especially interested in hearing from people outside Dublin who might know of venues in their area suitable for hosting small group gatherings.

Sean Harnett

sean.harnett@gmail.com


UNITED KINGDOM, Bristol

We meet every Saturday 9:45am-11:30am at the Shambhala Meditation Centre, 17 Lower Redland Road, Bristol BS6 6TB to listen to guided meditations, practice, and sharing. The centre has mats, cushions, blankets, yoga mats, chairs, although you’re welcome to also bring your own. There is space for 17 people seated/lying down. The room hire cost of £22.50 is shared between whoever turns up on the day. Email us to let us know you’d like to come and to get further info!

Petrina Yeoh and Jon Young

dharmaoceanbristol@gmail.com


UNITED KINGDOM, Bruton, Somerset

We meet in Bruton, South Somerset every other Sunday 4:00pm-5.30pm for a meditation session followed by tea and sharing. Please contact me for further information.

Danielle Crawshaw

daniellecrawshaw@hotmail.co.uk

UNITED KINGDOM, Devon

I offer a fortnightly practice gathering at 8pm on alternate Sundays in Devon, UK.

Currently we meet on Zoom to practice together, listen to teachings and share together, but my home is also open if people want to come in person.

Julia Collins

juliacollinsconsulting@gmail.com

UNITED KINGDOM, East Sussex

I offer my shrine room in Newhaven for fortnightly practice on Sundays from October 2018 (date tbc). There is space for about 8 people seated/lying down. We have plenty of zafus and yoga mats. There is also an opportunity to connect via Skype for group practice.  

Please contact me for further info.

Alistair Appleton

alistairappleton@mac.com


UNITED KINGDOM, London

Our next practice dates are Sunday 23rd September and Sunday 21st October. Monthly thereafter (dates tbc). We meet 11:00am-1:00pm at The Study Society, Colet House, 151 Talgarth Road, London, W14 9DA - nearest tube is Barons Court. Please bring your own mats and cushions – chairs are available.  Donations to help cover the room hire cost are welcome – we suggest £10 but whatever is ok for you will be gratefully received.

Email us to let us know you'd like to come and to get further important room access info.

Julie Larner and Ian Sturgess

dharmaoceanlondon@gmail.com

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