Information Générales

Mindfulness - Qu'est-ce-ce?

Practitioners

Programe

Informations

Registration

Contacter Nous

Sur cette page vous trouverez les détails des nouveaux cours, les changements de date des cours ou des thèmes.

Mise à jour Hiver Printemps 2007-2008 

This year La Ville Davy has been a centre for many complimentary events. People coming together for retreats, workshops, meditation and quiet renewal time. In the month of August we had our regular yearly time for families with children to visit and next August we intend to offer a special long weekend as a 'Families Summer Gathering'. Parents (or grandparents) with children can come and enjoy kite flying, forest walks, story telling and creative work in the garden and some art & music workshops.

We wish to thank all the jazz musicians/singers who offered their skills free on the 2^nd August in order to raise funds for the SPA (Society for the Protection of Animals) in St Malo. Thanks to David who played the accordion as people were arriving. The event raised 1500 Euros. The SPA  informed us that they are using the donation to create a second operation area for the animals needing care at St Malo. Thanks also to Amanda, Christine and Andy who kindly helped with the preparation and clearing up of the event.

Katia Marynower from the Association Corps Perdu in Paris organised 2 weekly courses for Yoga & Qi Gong. These were successful and Katia has arranged 2 further courses for 2008. In addition another association from Paris is having a weekend workshop in March for Yoga (details to be published soon).

We have been happy to host the Association Zen de Bretagne a local Buddhist group from Dinan region to share our meditation hall for their Group meetings on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. For those wishing to attend, the group organiser Valerie can be contacted on 0296873696. The group very kindly offered to do a day working meditation (samu) on Saturday 3^rd November. Peter & Mo were very grateful for some much needed work in the garden and wish to offer our thanks to all concerned. In the photo you can see the pruning of the cherry tree in the courtyard of La Ville Davy and the effect has been that everything around is bathed with more light, including our Buddha statue.

We will be host to the Rennes Zen group on January 26^th-27^th 2008 when they have booked to hold a retreat.

While on the subject of Zen Buddhist meditation groups we would like to announce that there is a Serene Reflection Tradition (Soto Zen) meditation group meeting on Monday evenings at 19.30hrs and on the first Sunday morning of each month at 10.00hrs. beginners are very welcome and meditation instruction is given.  In addition we have organised to hold 4 weekend retreats in 2008 and Rev Master Myfanwy of Dragon Bell Temple in Exeter www.dragonbelltemple.org.uk  will be leading the retreat organised for June. We wish to take this opportunity to thank Rev Master Myfanwy for leading the retreat in June last year on Dogens Last Teachings.

We had 2 five day retreats this year led by Rev Master Hakuun of Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland www.throssel.org.uk . The first on the Meaning of Compassion in March and another The Diamond Sutra in September. These retreats were for those already familiar with the Serene Reflection Tradition and people attended from England, France & Jersey. Another 2 five day retreats are planned for 2008. The first is in February and entitled The Bodhisattva Way and the second later in the year (dates to be confirmed) on The Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra. These retreats are again for those in Europe and other countries who are already familiar with the practice of Serene Reflection Tradition (Soto Zen) part of the OBC (Order of Buddhist Contemplatives) www.obcon.org We wish to thank Rev Master Hakuun for offering these retreats. The opportunity as lay trainees to help shape and be involved in many functional ways during the retreat, has been a valuable experience for us all.

The mindfulness workshops held were well attended and there have been a number of requests for more next year (see programme page). We have also had a number of people returning to visit for a quiet time and we are happy to encourage this. Anyone wishing to stay please contact us and if we have space you will be welcome. The meditation hall is usually open for people to sit quietly each day, outside of retreats and other events/group meetings.

On the animal front Bru our oldest dog is now 11 and he continues to do a good job in guarding his territory. For his own protection we keep him indoors when we know someone in uniform may call e.g. postman, gas man or electricity man. He seems to be very fierce when males are around in a uniform. Poppy now 7 is a loyal companion for Bru and they are always together, even if she wishes to be taken for a walk she won't go without him. The three cats Ming nearly 14, Ziggy 12 and Bebe 8 are all well and getting their winter coats. We have one remaining bantom chicken Suzie who prefers to lead a leisurely life and has now stopped offering eggs.

We would like to thank everyone who has offered support for La Ville Davy over this year. David & Christine who have looked after the animals and taken them for regular walks while visiting. Joe who brought some of his bees delicious honey from Jersey, Andy who has visited us 3 times this year to offer work in the garden, jazz concert and the plaster boarding and decoration of the meditation hall. To Amy with her continued support and offering of help. To Diane the artist who has created and offered three beautiful paintings of still life (food on the table), the Medicine Buddha from the Buddha garden and Harigold our late cockerel who is fondly remembered.

This forthcoming year we intend to modify the space above the meditation hall in order to let in more light, get the vegetable garden going again and lower some of the fast growing hedging to make it a more manageable height. Those of you who wish to exchange some work for board, please contact us. We may also need house-sitters if we take a break, volunteers will be gratefully received.

Best wishes for a good autumn/winter and festive season.

Meilleurs vœux

Peter and Mo Henderson

Peter & Mo Henderson