Covid-19 Notice
Covid-19 Notice
for June 15, 2020
Classes
Avalokiteshvara Kadampa Buddhist Centre will open for classes on Wednesday 17 June. Following the Ontario and Wellington County guidelines, we are permitted to open to 30% of our capacity to allow for social distancing. Our Wednesday and Sunday classes will be also be offered online via live-stream, and everyone is welcome to join from the comfort of your home.
Because we have limited availability for classes, we ask that you RSVP online or by texting 226.486,2417 (please state your name in the text) at least 2 hours before class starts to reserve a seat. Currently we offer two classes a week: Sunday 2:30 – 4pm and Wednesdays 7 – 8:30pm. However if there is a lot of interest in attending the physical class, we will add evening classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays to accommodate everyone. Please stay tuned for more information on additional classes. We will update this covid-19 notice regularly, so please check back to keep up to date!
To attend our classes in person:
You must not:
- Be feeling unwell. Please do not attend if your have a fever, cough, cold etc
- Not have had contact with someone diagnosed with covid-19 in the past 21 days
- Not have travelled outside Ontario
You will be required to:
- Give your name and telephone number
- Sanitize your hands upon entry to the Centre
- Wear a face mask while at the Centre
- Observe social distancing (chairs are spaced to help with this)
The Centre will be sanitized thoroughly before and after class.
These conditions have been put in place to provide the best possible conditions for our meditation classes. If you cannot meet any of these conditions right now, you are welcome to join us via live-stream for our Sunday and Wednesday General Program class, our Tuesday meditation class, and our half day courses and full day retreats.
Prayers
Prayers will no longer be live-stream from the Centre and you are welcome to attend our daily chanted prayers in person if you can meet the above conditions. If you are unable to attend Centre prayers, you are welcome to attend the live-stream prayer sessions from Kadampa Meditation Centre Canada in Toronto or at any Canadian or international Centre of your choice.
Thank You
We would like to thank all our members and students for your support over the past few months. We are very thankful of our Kadampa community in Guelph and other cities Ontario who have been attending our classes and supporting the Centre through these interesting times.
Please keep in your heart the advice we received from Venerable Geshe-la in April:
Dear everybody,Although we can see an unusual situation which is causing people to be worried and to suffer, I would like to suggest that through using our wisdom we try to make ourself happy and everyone happy; which means we should stop worrying. I will personally pray for you all and your families.with much love and blessings,
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Why Meditate?
The purpose of meditation is to cultivate positive states of mind, conducive to peace and well-being, and overcome negative habits of mind. If we examine our life, we can see that most of our time and energy is devoted to seeking material and emotional security. Although these things can make us happy for a short time, they are not able to provide the deep, lasting contentment that we long for.
Happiness is a state of mind; therefore the real source of happiness lies in the mind, not in external situations. If our mind is peaceful, we will experience happiness, regardless of our external circumstances. But if our mind is not peaceful, we will never find happiness, no matter how successful we are in improving our external conditions. When we meditate we are making our mind peaceful. We can carry this peaceful mind into our daily life.
About Our Classes
Suitable for everyone, these drop-in meditation classes are part of our General Program. These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our lives and develop inner peace. Each classes focuses on using Buddhist understanding to help us solve our daily problems, let go of negative minds and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Each class includes breathing meditation, teaching and guided meditation on topic. There is also an opportunity to ask questions. Although taught as a series, each class is self-contained and can be attended individually. Please feel free to drop-in on a class-by-class basis, or enjoy the full series. These classes are suitable for both beginners and those with more experience.
The classes will allow you to unwind your mind and return home relaxed and refreshed. They will provide you with new tools for dealing with stress, anxiety, and problems. They will also help you to overcome negative states of mind such as anger and jealousy, and to cultivate positive minds such as patience and love.The talks and guided meditations will provide you with the foundation for developing a powerful meditation practice which has untold benefits. Meditation helps us to develop clarity and perspective so we can solve problems and deal with difficult situations in a positive and constructive way.
Please feel free to drop in on a class-by-class basis. No pre-registration is required. Classes are held every week unless otherwise stated.
No special clothing is required. We offer chairs to sit on but you can bring your own cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor.
This practice involves prostration and meditation, is one of the most powerful Buddhist methods for purifying our mind of all negativity. With the prayer booklet, The Bodhisattva’s Confession of Moral Downfalls, we request these Buddhas to witness our confession and dedication of merit, and we prostrate in their presence.
This practice includes physical prostrations to the 35 Confession Buddhas, meditation and prayer.
This practice is done at 7am on the 15th of each month.
