Regular events

Dharma Monday

Five great stages of the spiritual path

During this five week Dharma Monday theme we will be exploring the five great stages or aspects of the spiritual path. This path offers a guideline for practice and is based on interpretations by our founder, Sangharakshita, of the early Mahayana teachings on the 'Five Chief Paths'. On each evening we have a different speaker presenting a particular aspect of the path.

The five great stages of the spiritual path are integration, positive emotion, spiritual death, spiritual rebirth and spiritual receptivity. The stages are not separate and distinct from each other and as we work on one we are in a sense working on them all. They offer a valuable guide in better understanding what is required in living a spiritual life on a path towards awakening.

The stage of Integration
In the first stage of the spiritual life we cultivate a fit mind, suffused with energy and awareness. This involves training in inner integrity and continuity where we are collected rather than dissipated, unified rather than fragmented. The experience of integration is the experience of wholeness. It is like the afterglow we experience when we have been deeply immersed in something – that sense of everything coming together. Vajrajyoti will be our first speaker in this series.

Dharma night is suitable for those who would like to learn more about Buddhism. It is also a popular night for regular friends to drop in and practice together. If you are a beginner but can't get to/or have just started one of our meditation classes, you are still welcome to come and join in.

The usual program for the evening is a talk on some aspect of Buddhism, tea break, then group meditation to end the evening.

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