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OJO Retreat 2009: Elements & Sense Base Practices

Information

This group is for people participating in the OJO Retreat either at The Buddhist House or at Home.

Location: The Buddhist House, Narborough LE19 2GR, UK
Members: 63
Latest Activity: Aug 16

PROGRAMME & INSTRUCTIONS

The OJO 2009 Retreat is now complete at The Buddhist House, but all the materials remain here on this group so that you may follow the practices in your own time. If you join this group newly, you may set your own schedule. You might spend one day on each element as was done in the TBH retreat, or you might spend several. We who participated here all found the retreat enlivening and rewarding and we feel grateful for it. If you also participated these may be areas that you will want to revisit from time to time. Do continue to add reflections to the discussion threads as you feel moved. Every contribution also helps others who come after.

To follow this Retreat, please read this section, then view the material in the section below called Discussion Forum. You will see a listing of all the short talks and inputs given so far in this retreat though they will not necessarily appear in order since comments bring an item to the top of the list.. The complete list in order so far is as follows:
1. Welcome to the Retreat
2. Some Basics
3. Uttama's Poem
4. Texts
5. Introduction to the Three Practices
6. Introduction to the Great Elements
7. Introduction to the Sense Bases
8. Day 1 (a) Mindfulness of Breathing
9. Day 1 (b) The Air Element
10. Day 1 (c) The Sense Base: Smell
11. Day 1 (d) Chih Quan: Offering the Air Element Treasure
12. Day 1 (e) Exercises to Explore the Air Element
13. Day 1 (f) Exercises to Explore the Sense of Smell
14. Day 2 (a) The Water Element
15. Day 2 (b) The Sense Base: Taste
16. Day 2 (c) The Food Offering
17. Day 2 (d) Exercises to Explore the Water Element
18. Day 2 (e) Exercises to Explore the Sense of Taste
19. Special Meal
20. Day 3 (a) The Earth Element
21. Day 3 (b) The Sense Base: Touch
22. Day 3 (c) Exercises to Explore the Earth Element
23. Day 3 (d) Exercises to Explore the Sense of Touch
24. Day 3 (e) Exercises & Meditations Used at The Buddhist House on Day 3 morning
25. My Experience of the Special Celebratory Meal
26. Day 4 Text: The Fire Sermon
27. Day 4 (a) The Fire Element 1
28. Day 4 (a) The Fire Element 2
29. Day 4 (c) The Sense Base: Hearing
30. Day 4 (d) Exercises to Explore the Fire Element
31. Day 4 (e) Exercises to Explore the Sense of Hearing
32. Day 4 (f) Morning Practice session on sound and energy
33. Day 5 (a) The Space Element
34. Day 5 (b) The Sense Base: Sight
35. Day 5 (c) Exercises to Explore the Space Element
36. Day 5 (d) Exercises to Explore the Sense of Sight
37. Day 5 (e) Morning Practice
38. Day 5 (f) Sutra Study: Dhyanas
39. Day 5 (g) Sutra Study: Elements
40. Day 5 (h) Interview with Yaakov Matri
41. Day 6 (a) The Consciousness Element
42. Day 6 (b) The Sense Base: Mind
43. Day 6 (c) Exercises to Explore the Mind Sense
44. Day 6 (d) Exercises to Explore the Consciousness Element
45. Day 7 (a) Intuition of Unconditional Love
46. Day 7 (b) The Heart
47. Day 7 (c) Exercise on Relationship
48. Day 8 (a) Nei Quan
49. Day 8 (b) Chih Quan

Please do also add comments to the "Wall" at the foot of this page.

In the OJO Retreat, we are going to include, as our daily Nei Quan, periods for practice of the meditations on the elements and on the sense bases. These will be followed by extended periods of Chih Quan practice (abandonment to grace). You are invited to join in either by coming to The Buddhist House to join us or by doing at least a little of each practice in your own place. Do use this group as a place to report back on your experience and encourage one another. You do not have to do the whole thing to benefit - though obviously, the more the better. You can also write poems, prose, or make artwork related to the themes if you wish. Further explanation on each meditation will follow. Warm wishes to you all.

The schedule will be as follows:

DAY 1: Thursday 19th:
Morning: AIR ELEMENT, sense base: smell
Afternoon: Anniv of death of Gisho Saiko sensei

DAY 2: Friday 20th
WATER ELEMENT, sense base: taste

DAY 3: Saturday 21st
EARTH ELEMENT, sense base: touch

DAY 4: Sunday 22nd
FIRE ELEMENT, sense base: sound

DAY 5: Monday 23rd
SPACE ELEMENT, sense base: sight

DAY 6: Tuesday 24th
CONSCIOUSNESS, sense base: mind

DAY 7: Wednesday 25th
HEART AS ELEMENT & BASE

DAY 8: Thursday 26th
NEI QUAN REFLECTION
Afternoon: Amrita Dhammika Memorial

Sunday 29th: Gyomay Kubose Memorial

Discussion Forum

Day 5 - (e) Morning Practice 7 Replies

Started by Sumaya. Last reply by Ratnacitta May 29.

Day 7 - (c) Exercise on Relationship 3 Replies

Started by Dharmavidya. Last reply by richard meyers Apr 9.

Day 8 - (b) Chih Quan 3 Replies

Started by Sumaya. Last reply by Ratnacitta Apr 7.

Day 7 - (b) The Heart 11 Replies

Started by Sumaya. Last reply by Ben Ross Apr 5.

Day 5 - (a) The Space Element 2 Replies

Started by Sumaya. Last reply by Ratnacitta Apr 3.

Day 4 - Text: The Fire Sermon 1 Reply

Started by Dharmavidya. Last reply by andrea Mar 25.

Day 8 - (a) Nei Quan 1 Reply

Started by Sumaya. Last reply by richard meyers Mar 25.

Day 6 - (b) The Sense Base: Mind 1 Reply

Started by Sumaya. Last reply by Kreb Dragonrider Mar 23.

Day 2 (d) Exercises to Explore the Water Element 2 Replies

Started by caroline brazier. Last reply by Kreb Dragonrider Mar 22.

Day 5 - (b) The Sense base: Sight

Started by Sumaya Mar 22.

Comment Wall

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Comment by caroline brazier on March 26, 2009 at 5:24pm: Thanks Rachel. I've been in and out too as I was i London at the weekend, but I know they've really enjoyed having others participating

Comment by Rachel mcHugh on March 26, 2009 at 4:43pm: Thank you, I have enjoyed participating in Ojo retreat where I can which actually has been most days. i have found the recordings very informative and have listened to most twice so that I don't miss any of the message. i particulay enjoyed the exercises each day I was able to spend some time reflecting on the exercises and keeping the ideas in mind during the day. I am glad they will remain on nig because I would like to revisit. . I am looking forward to the next online retreat a brilliant idea for those who cannot attend because of comitments

Comment by Kreb Dragonrider on March 21, 2009 at 11:12am: Namo Amida Bu from me in south England. I am joining this Ojo retreat, in the invited online way, taking part however I can, and hope to be inspired. In a time of seclusion as carer - out of sense of duty to my family, and during a time of reflection and uncertaincy of my personal future. Here I will learn something about about great Amida buddhists, and to connect online with Amida-shu and Amida-kai at the Buddhist House. Also to think outside of my personal box, into the great network of people, both community and worldwide, hopefully to support and benefit each other. Wishing you all well, and may you be inspired. Namo Amida Bu.

Comment by caroline brazier on March 21, 2009 at 10:05am: Hi everyone. Namo Amida Bu from London - see my message in your in-tray Dharmavidya & Susthama

Comment by Dharmavidya on March 19, 2009 at 11:07pm: Happy Birthday Thuy!!

:)

Comment by Thuy on March 19, 2009 at 7:18pm: I just read that "Ojo means birth in the Pure Land" and today is my birthday and the beginning of our Ojo Retreat! May I and everyone be reborn in the Pure Land by Amida's Grace. Thuy

Comment by Thuy on March 19, 2009 at 7:14pm: A warm Aloha to everyone from Hawaii. I am very grateful to be part of this retreat. Thuy

Comment by richard meyers on March 18, 2009 at 8:25pm: Sadly Dharmavidya's talk starts breaking up at around 6 minutes - hopefully it can be re-done, or whatever needs to happen.

Richard

Comment by richard meyers on March 17, 2009 at 6:42pm: Re Uttama's Poem

Four or five time I left my cell..
How I can relate to that and for the reasons(exactly) Dharmavidya, that you give: anxiety and the sheer difficulty of staying with it.
Thanks for your effort and encouragement.

Comment by Dharmavidya on March 17, 2009 at 10:51am: OK, I've reposted Some Basics as a discussion thread above. I've also added Uttama's poem which is relevant to our undertaking. Namo Amida Bu.