Togme Sangpo Buddhist group is 10 years old!
By Margo van Greta
March 2022
Background
Many of you will remember Shambala Buddhist retreat centre at Findhorn Bay, a gorgeous place overlooking Findhorn Bay, in what was previously Minton house. When this sadly needed to close in 2010, there was a gap year, not knowing what was next. I then had the impulse to hold a weeklong Green Tara retreat. I invited a qualified teacher, Paula Chichester, rented Savitri, and together we held a small yet international group: two people from California, one from Finland, and one from Elgin. At the end of the week the participant from Elgin made a request: could I continue to hold some Green Tara sessions locally? I thought that would be doable, and this resulted in setting up a group that is part of a larger organisation with 160 centres and groups all over the world: the FPMT, Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition. I have been involved with this organisation for many years.
Activities
Advantages of holding events online are:
Now what?
Upcoming courses and events include:
Email [email protected] for questions or joining our mailing list
On FB: Togme Sangpo Buddhist Group
Let us rejoice in all the above, may it benefit all beings and the planet.
Many of you will remember Shambala Buddhist retreat centre at Findhorn Bay, a gorgeous place overlooking Findhorn Bay, in what was previously Minton house. When this sadly needed to close in 2010, there was a gap year, not knowing what was next. I then had the impulse to hold a weeklong Green Tara retreat. I invited a qualified teacher, Paula Chichester, rented Savitri, and together we held a small yet international group: two people from California, one from Finland, and one from Elgin. At the end of the week the participant from Elgin made a request: could I continue to hold some Green Tara sessions locally? I thought that would be doable, and this resulted in setting up a group that is part of a larger organisation with 160 centres and groups all over the world: the FPMT, Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition. I have been involved with this organisation for many years.
Activities
- Over the past ten years, we have invited several Buddhist teachers: Venerable Robina Courtin, Venerable Angie Muir, Venerable Mary Reeves, Paula Chichester, Andy Wistreich, Glen Svenson, Don Handrick for teachings and retreats.
- We started offering the 14 module course Discovering Buddhism, an experiential course with teachings, meditations and access to online study material.
- There is a monthly Medicine Buddha puja (ritual) held by Mark Dammer and Katharina Kroeber.
- Recently we started online mini retreats, with a few sessions over a weekend. An opportunity to practice, yet not glued to the computer too long!
Advantages of holding events online are:
- It provides safety in relation to COVID
- It is actually much easier to organise an online event.
- It has resulted in people from other parts of Scotland and beyond to join in.
- It reduces everyone's carbon footprint
Now what?
Upcoming courses and events include:
- 18-20 February: Green Tara mini retreat
- Tuesday 22 February:Discovering Buddhism Free webinar
- From Tuesday March 1: How to Meditate
Email [email protected] for questions or joining our mailing list
On FB: Togme Sangpo Buddhist Group
Let us rejoice in all the above, may it benefit all beings and the planet.
