Compassionate Ocean Sangha
Sangha Meetings and Classes
Thursday, 19th February, 8pm AEDT
Sangha Group Sharings
You are warmly welcomed to join Faye, Maggie and Sarah for our dharma sharing and meditation session together.
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Faye will open the session with the introduction and personal sharing on emptiness, impermanence and interbeing.
The reflective question for breakout group sharing is –
"In your daily life, when have you noticed something being born and dying in each moment—a feeling, a thought, or a situation? What did you learn from seeing its impermanent nature, and how that feels in your body or heart?"
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After the breakout groups, Maggie will offer a guided meditation for approx. 20 minutes, from the book, 'The Blooming of a Lotus' , reference pg. 145, ex. 24 titled – Everything is impermanent and without a separate self and everything is a continuation.
Our theme for February is
"The Insight That Brings Us To The Other Shore"
Let’s begin by reminding ourselves that it’s not unusual to not understand the teachings the first time we hear them. Thay tells us that when we listen to a Dharma talk we just allow the Dharma (teachings) to penetrate the soil of our consciousness. We try not to think too much. We don’t compare or argue in our minds about the topic. Playing with words is like trying to catch rain in buckets. Just allow your consciousness to receive the rain and the seeds buried deep within will have a chance to be watered (Cultivating the Mind of Love Ch1).
There are many teachings in this Prajnaparamita Sutra - The Insight That Brings Us to the Other Shore. Let’s take our time. Let’s not pressure ourselves but enjoy the music of the words. If we hear one thing that we feel will be helpful for our daily practice, that’s enough.
What is the insight that brings us to the Other Shore?
We have insight when we understand that everything is empty of a separate self. Thus we can’t describe anything as permanent, pure or having a self. And they also cannot be characterized as being impermanent, impure or lacking a self. This is considered to be the highest wisdom, it has gone beyond conventional wisdom and thus is called ‘prajnaparamita’ and leads us to the other shore (Red Pine, The Heart Sutra, pp30-31). Or, as Thich Nhat Hanh would teach, to be or not to be, that is no longer the question. The question is one of interbeing (The Other Shore, p28).
Friday, 20th February, 8pm AEDT
Sitting and Walking Meditation
You are warmly welcomed to join Daya, Ana-Maria and Eva-Maria for another lovely Friday evening/day/morning depending upon where you are sitting
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We will all enjoy a silent sitting meditation, followed by walking meditation and then conclude with a reading by Ana-Maria from 'The Art of Living' p 12-17 (parts).
Our theme for February is "The Insight That Brings Us To The Other Shore".
Let’s begin by reminding ourselves that it’s not unusual to not understand the teachings the first time we hear them. Thay tells us that when we listen to a Dharma talk we just allow the Dharma (teachings) to penetrate the soil of our consciousness. We try not to think too much. We don’t compare or argue in our minds about the topic. Playing with words is like trying to catch rain in buckets. Just allow your consciousness to receive the rain and the seeds buried deep within will have a chance to be watered (Cultivating the Mind of Love Ch1).
There are many teachings in this Prajnaparamita Sutra - The Insight That Brings Us to the Other Shore. Let’s take our time. Let’s not pressure ourselves but enjoy the music of the words. If we hear one thing that we feel will be helpful for our daily practice, that’s enough.
What is the insight that brings us to the Other Shore?
We have insight when we understand that everything is empty of a separate self. Thus we can’t describe anything as permanent, pure or having a self. And they also cannot be characterized as being impermanent, impure or lacking a self. This is considered to be the highest wisdom, it has gone beyond conventional wisdom and thus is called ‘prajnaparamita’ and leads us to the other shore (Red Pine, The Heart Sutra, pp30-31). Or, as Thich Nhat Hanh would teach, to be or not to be, that is no longer the question. The question is one of interbeing (The Other Shore, p28).
Saturday, 21st February, 8pm AEDT
Saturday Sangha
You are warmly invited to join Lena, Tim and Debbie for another lovely Saturday Sangha.
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After an opening and introduction from the facilitator, there is usually time for whole sangha sharing plus a guided meditation to finish.
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For this session, we will create the sharing circle for the group sharing, with the question being: "What has the practice awoken in you?"
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Our theme for February is "The Insight That Brings Us To The Other Shore"
Let’s begin by reminding ourselves that it’s not unusual to not understand the teachings the first time we hear them. Thay tells us that when we listen to a Dharma talk we just allow the Dharma (teachings) to penetrate the soil of our consciousness. We try not to think too much. We don’t compare or argue in our minds about the topic. Playing with words is like trying to catch rain in buckets. Just allow your consciousness to receive the rain and the seeds buried deep within will have a chance to be watered (Cultivating the Mind of Love Ch1).
​
There are many teachings in this Prajnaparamita Sutra - The Insight That Brings Us to the Other Shore. Let’s take our time. Let’s not pressure ourselves but enjoy the music of the words. If we hear one thing that we feel will be helpful for our daily practice, that’s enough.
​
What is the insight that brings us to the Other Shore?
​
We have insight when we understand that everything is empty of a separate self. Thus we can’t describe anything as permanent, pure or having a self. And they also cannot be characterized as being impermanent, impure or lacking a self. This is considered to be the highest wisdom, it has gone beyond conventional wisdom and thus is called ‘prajnaparamita’ and leads us to the other shore (Red Pine, The Heart Sutra, pp30-31). Or, as Thich Nhat Hanh would teach, to be or not to be, that is no longer the question. The question is one of interbeing (The Other Shore, p28).
Sunday, 22nd February, 8pm AEDT
Total Relaxation
Dear Friends, please feel welcome to join COS as we gather for another joyous 'Be In' led by Jan, Liz and Adam.
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It will be a good, old-fashioned Be-In with no particular theme. Just us. Just being.
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In the spirit of Thích Nhất Hạnh and the Plum Village tradition, a Be-In is a joyful, relaxed communal practice where we gather to share songs, poems, stories, reflections — or simply our quiet presence.
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Over the years, our Be-Ins have bloomed with creativity and warmth: songs that made us sway, bush poetry that made us laugh, skits about interbeing, spontaneous dances, and tender Dharma reflections. Love letters to this life, this practice, this moment - Just being.
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This Sunday, you might like to:
* Offer a song, poem, story, or artwork
* Share a brief reflection from your practice
* Revisit a favourite Be-In memory
* Or simply come, breathe, and enjoy the community
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A Be-In nourishes deep listening, loving speech, and the simple joy of belonging. We'd love to see you there.