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This Page details any new courses, changes
to dates of
courses or to themes.
We also
provide travel news etc. and and give information relating to visits and
other events
Dear Friends,
This year La Ville Davy has been less
busy than usual in terms of visits and events. We think that the recession
has had it's effect. Nevertheless it has given us the opportunity to catch
up on some much needed work in the buildings and garden.
Thanks to Matthew for all his hard work in the garden pruning, cutting
hedges and general clearing and to Derek and Veronique for the many hours
they spent weeding and hedge trimming. Thanks also to the Zen International
group who have once again collectively offered days of working meditation (Samu).
Thanks to all who continue to support us in so many ways.
Peter has fitted a woodburner in the meditation hall so this winter will be
warmer than the last and we may not have to have so much clothing under our
meditation clothes. We have made some enquiries regarding the old barn
needing renovation and it's possible it could become a habitation. We are
debating what to do with the building and it presently needs some securing
as the structure is becoming unstable. We are open to ideas and suggestions.
The vegetable garden has provided good crops of leaks, lettuce, pumpkins,
butternut squash, courgettes and tomatoes this year and the old walnut tree
has given plentiful walnuts.
Sadly one of our cats Ziggy has died and Rev Master Hakuun gave her an
animal funeral, she was named Courageous Friend. Ziggy was 14 years old and
despite being very small and having no tail, she was always very brave when
she needed to be with our other three cats Ming, Bebe and Prince. Our three
dogs Bru, Poppy and Freddie are doing well. Freddie still pulls very
strongly on his lead and is quite a handful when taking him for a walk.
Peter thinks in his next life he wants to be a human.
We are planning mindfulness courses for 2010 and for this year there will be
a greater therapeutic content. The opportunity for those teaching or using
mindfulness as a framework for their work, to meet together is offered over
one weekend in May next year. Individual therapeutic help continues to be
offered if needed, both on an appointment or residential basis on a low cost
donation basis.
There will be more Yoga & Qi Gong courses over next year led by Katia
Marynower.
The Buddhist retreats have been well attended in 2009 and it is planned to
hold six weekend retreats in 2010 with one 5 day retreat in April. We are
grateful that senior monks in the Serene Reflection Meditation Tradition
have offered to lead many of the retreats. Once again we are hosting the
retreat day for the Zen International Fougeres group led by Zen monk Guy
Mokuho Mercier.
The local Serene Reflection Meditation Group have changed their weekly
meeting from Monday evening to Sunday mornings 10.00-11.30. People thought
this time was easier for their regular attendance over the winter months as
last winter we had many frosty evenings and it was difficult driving on dark
icy country roads. For those interested from Jersey who have attended
retreats, there is now a Jersey Serene Reflection Meditation Group who meet
at the Quaker Meeting House in St Helier (see publicity).
We would like to encourage sangha members and friends to visit La Ville Davy
for quiet rest and renewal times or for groups to arrange their own retreats
on French soil.
Wishing you all a good autumn & winter season,
Peter & Mo Henderson
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
Is open
all year except for pre-published periods. Here men and women have equal
status and train together in the Buddhist priesthood. A lay programme is
available in which all may participate. A variety of lay services is
available, including naming ceremonies for children, marriage ceremonies,
cemetery plot and memorial services and spiritual counselling by letter and
phone. A special session is held each year for those lay trainees who wish
to take Buddhist lay ordination. This is called Jukai and offers the
opportunity to formally express wishes to keep the Buddhist Precepts as they
have been traditionally handed down over the centuries in this tradition. It
includes formal Dharma talks and a variety of beautiful ceremonies. Jukai is
the largest event on the yearly calendar and a deeply moving week for both
monastic and lay trainees. For further information please contact:
The Guestmaster Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
Carrshield, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 8AL
Tel. +44(0) 1434 345 204 Phone between 9.30-11.30am & 2.30-4.30pm
e-mail: gd@throssel.org.uk
Association Zen International
The Association Zen de Bretagne a Buddhist group following the Teachings of
Maitre Deshimaru meet on Wednesdays 19.00-21.00 hrs and on Saturday mornings
at La Ville Davy 9.00-11.00. We thank this group for their support in
offering working meditation in the garden. Their next working meditation (Samu)
is to be held on Saturday 4th April. The group are led by Buddhist monk
Valérie Gyo Ko. Contact e-mail is
dojozendinan@yahoo.fr
Daniel Guillaume who leads the Association Zen de Fougeres has booked a day
retreat at La Ville Davy to be led by Maitre Guy Mercier on
Saturday 15th
May 2010, his contact e-mail is
dan.guillaume@free.fr
Click here for Information about
Travel to La Ville Davy
Useful Links
The Spiral Tree
For further
information and registration please contact Sarah through their website
www.thespiraltree.com
The Good Retreat Guide
For those
searching for good retreat centres to take a quiet renewal and rest The Good
Retreat Guide edited by Stafford Whiteaker, now in it's fifth volume lists
over 4OO places to find Peace and Spiritual Renewal in Britain, Ireland,
France and Spain. The website for the internet listings is
www.thegoodretreatguide.com
Yoga and Gi-Gong
Katia Marynower has many years of
training and experience in both Yoga and Gi-Gong and runs various courses at
La Ville Davy and elsewhere in France. Katia can be contacted for further
information and registration on
Tel Paris
01 43 28 41 04 or e-mail
katia.marynower@free.fr
The Organic Shop Jersey
For those who visit or live in Jersey and
are looking for nutritional help and good organic food Celina Sochaczewska
will be happy to send you her monthly newsletter which offers news including
nutrition, recipes, alternative treatments and therapies. To receive it
contact her by e-mail
theorganicshopjersey@gmail.com
Meditation Group Jersey
This group started in 1993 with the purpose of
teaching people about meditation.
www.jerseymeditationgroup.org
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Awakenings
A spark has fired within to join
the Dawn of Day-
Awoken I Am,
Awoken I Am, to the surprise of boundless
synergy
In Awe I Am, of fierce, fierce beauty given
Inspired I am to share such giving
The ripples of Your Love shall Pass beyond
belief
A Star has sparkled within-
To join the Moon without
Thank You
Sandra Turner |
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Weekend Course
Friday Evening 29th to
Sunday 31st January 2010

We have natural human responses to stressful life threatening
situations and this helps to protect us. However sometimes the way
we relate to situations & conditions can accentuate our reactions &
cause feelings of being overwhelmed & 'driven' by our thoughts &
emotions.
This weekend course offers a unique blend of a mindfulness
meditative & behavioural approach. A way of learning through
education, experience & practice to develop understanding and choose
to take helpful actions in response to stressful conditions. This
can lead to freedom from being governed by the emotions and feelings
which cause further suffering & bring clarity to our decision
making.
The workshop sessions are intertwined with a daily schedule of
practice, which includes sitting and walking meditation, body &
breath awareness and working mindfully together.
Those who travel from the Channel Islands and U.K. are provided with
transport from and back to the port of St Malo or airports of Dinard
or Rennes. The costs for the weekend are150 euros per person and
this includes all meals (vegetarian/organic), accommodation and a
donation towards transport.
For information &
registration contact:
Mo or Peter Henderson
Tel. No; (0033) 296833353
or e-mail
villedavy@orange.fr
WEEKEND BUDDHIST RETREAT
IN THE SERENE REFLECTION MEDITATION TRADITION (SOTO ZEN)
LA VILLE DAVY RETREAT CENTRE
ST HELEN, BRITTANY

Friday Evening 26th
to Sunday 28th February 2010
'Buddhist Meditation'
(in the Serene Reflection
Meditation Tradition)
This retreat is for lay Sangha following the Serene Reflection Tradition
(Soto Zen) and offers the opportunity for those from France, Jersey & other
Channel Islands to come together for practice & study. Beginners are welcome
& meditation instruction given.
The retreat includes formal meditation, ceremony, Dharma talks &
discussions.
Please bring loose comfortable clothing & your meditation cushion or bench
if you have one.Transport is provided from and back to the port of St Malo.
for information & registration contact:
Mo at
villedavy@orange.fr Tel.(0033) 296833353
For information about the Serene Reflection Meditation Tradition (Soto Zen):
www.throssel.org.uk &
www.obc.org

This
retreat will explore the Sutra of Hui Neng, the Sixth
Chinese Patriarch, and it's meaning/place in the Zen
tradition.
The retreat is
for those who are familiar with zazen and our practice in the
Serene Reflection Tradition and will be conducted in English.
There will be zazen, lectures, Dharma interviews and other
Dharma exchange.
For information and registration
please e-mail:
villedavy@orange.fr
or call Mo at: (0033) 2 96 83 33 53
Soto Zen Retreat Weekend

Friday
evening 18th-Sunday 20th June 2010
Led by Rev Master Myfanwy McCorry
from Dragon Bell Temple in Exeter
www.dragonbelltemple.org
This retreat is open to newcomers as well as those who have done some
practice. The weekend will include Dharma talks, questions & answers and the
opportunity for private spiritual counselling.
Please bring loose comfortable clothing &
your meditation cushion or bench if you have one. For people coming
from the Channel Islands transport is provided from and back to the port of
St Malo.
For further information & registration:
Tel. Mo or Peter (0033) 296833353 or e-mail
villedavy@orange.fr
To find our more about this school of
Buddhism take a look at the websites below:
www.throssel.org.uk &
www.obc.org
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