2023 General Community Meeting

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Information, Members
The semi-annual General Meeting of the South Shore Buddhist Meditation Society will take place at MBMC on Nov. 4 at 10am.  Anyone interested in SSBMS or the Mahone Bay Meditation Centre is welcome to attend.   In fact, Please Come!   Knowing that you care  enough to participate helps motivate us all to keep this thing going.  If it is more convenient for you to  attend via Zoom, let us know; if no one signs up in advance for this it will not be available.
 
The meeting will begin by asking everyone’s opinions regarding: “What is most meaningful or important for you about the Mahone Bay Meditation Centre?”  Specific suggestions and actionable ideas would be great, but all thoughts and reflections will be most welcome.
 
After this discussion we will review what we have been up to since the AGM in March and update you on any changes we can foresee before the next AGM.   SSBMS members will be asked to approve the minutes of the November 2022 GM and the minutes of the March 2023 AGM.
 
The proceedings are expected to wrap up by about 11:30, at which point everyone is invited to gather for a bring-your-own lunch.  Coffee, tea, and some soft drinks will be provided.  We would love to have you all stick around and get social for a while – something we don’t get to do very often.

Lunenburg Walk

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Members, Program, Special

Our guided Lunenburg walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 3 starting at 3:30pm. This will be conducted by Liz Powers of Lunenburg Walking Tours and will cost you the princely sum of $5 each.  Special Program discounts for members will apply and we encourage you to bring family members and friends along. We expect there to be a few pauses along the route for quiet contemplation of our beautiful surroundings.

If you are interested in participating in this event please contact us.

Calm Abiding in Bridgewater

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Information

Are you curious about meditation and its benefits?

Have you been wanting to try it but not known how to begin?

Have you tried to meditate but thought it wasn’t for you or that you were “doing it wrong?”

Do you want to get back to a practice you may have let lapse?

Are you looking for a community to learn and practise with?

If so, come and join our “Calm Abiding” meditation classes. Everyone is welcome to attend this free program, led by members of the South Shore Buddhist Meditation Society. No experience is necessary. Learn to rest and focus your mind and develop an easy daily practice. Calm and centre yourself with meditation.

Classes begin on May 22nd and will run weekly from 7-9pm at the DesBrisay Museum in Bridgewater and are limited to 20 people at one time.  If the outside door is locked, please ring the bell.

Check the MBMC calendar to confirm the schedule.

2023 Annual General Meeting

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Members

The Annual General Meeting of the South Shore Buddhist Meditation Society will be held on Saturday, March 25 2023 from 10am – noon.  The meeting will take place at MBMC, or you may attend via Zoom:  invitations will be sent to everyone on our email list.   If you are currently signed up for a membership at the Mahone Bay Meditation Centre, you are a member of SSBMS.

Our by-laws allow us between 5 and 7 directors, approximately half of whom  resign (and maybe re-offer) each year.  We will have at least 2 vacancies this year, so if you are a member or if you know a member who might like to join the board, please speak up!  Please note that we do not accept nominations from the floor.

A community meeting and pizza social will be held following the formal proceedings.

Indoor Yard Sale

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Information

Take 2:  with any luck there will not be a hurricane this Saturday!

On Saturday Nov. 26  between 9am and 4pm we will be holding an indoor yard sale in the 400-level lobby, right outside our meditation hall.  This is timed to coincide with the Christmas Crafts Fair taking place in the Hennigar Room downstairs, a book sale in the other wing of Mahone Bay Centre, and various other seasonal events so people can take it all in for the cost of a single trip.

There will also be people present to show you around the meditation hall and explain a bit about what we do in there – it’s no mystery.  Well, not much of a mystery!

Come and see what we have to offer!

General Community Meeting

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Members

Our more-or-less regularly scheduled Community Meeting is set for Saturday, November 19 starting at 10am.  This meeting is also the semi-annual membership General Meeting required by our by-laws.

At this meeting the board will tell you what they’ve been doing for SSBMS, and our members and friends will be asked for feedback, ideas, and comments.

We expect all the excitement to be over before noon.

The Teachings of Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Program, Special

Saturday October 22, 10am – 4:30pm

Under the direction  of Mark Nowakowski we will practice and study the teachings of Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo (“Lord of Whatever Arises,” 1925 – 1960). Khenpo Gangshar was a great scholar and mahasiddha, one of the primary teachers who pointed out the nature of mind to Trungpa Rinpoche. Mark will give some presentations, with question and answer/discussion sessions. We will also use a method of contemplation to enrich our study together.

Mark has been a student of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoché since 1972 and currently studies with other Kagyü and Nyingma masters. He coordinated the translation of Khenpo Gangshar’s Songs of Realization and Pith Instructions. Mark is a senior member of the Nalanda Translation Committee and a senior teacher in the Shambhala mandala.

Some copies of the book will be available for purchase at this event, and they are also available

online from Nalanda Translation.

Schedule for the Day:

  • Morning Practice and Study 10:00-12:30 Open to everyone. Please join us!
  • Lunch 12:30-2:00 Please bring your own food; coffee, tea, and juice will be provided.
  • Afternoon Practice and Study 2:00-4:30 Open to practitioners from all lineages who have received pointing-out instructions.

Cost:  No charge, but donations to MBMC to help cover costs would be welcome.

Registration:  If you intend to participate, please email us by October 20.

Donations to the Teacher (dana):  Voluntary – by inspiration.

Further Information: Please email Armand de Grenier.

This program is offered in-person only!

Bandstand / Gazebo Sit-in

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Information

On August 15 (weather permitting) from 4-6pm we will meditate in the bandstand (aka gazebo) on the Mahone Bay water front.  If you are an experienced meditator please come and provide some extra gravitas;  join us at any time for as long (or as short) as you like.  Cushions and benches will be provided. 

Everyone is invited to come by, meet us, and find out what we’re all about.  Volunteers will be ready to answer questions and to provide information.

2022 Annual General Meeting

Posted Bob BramwellPosted in Information, Members

The Annual General Meeting of the South Shore Buddhist Meditation Society will be held on Saturday, March 26 2022 from 10am – noon.  The meeting will take place at MBMC, or you may attend via Zoom:  invitations have been sent to everyone on our email list.   If you are currently signed up for a membership at the Mahone Bay Meditation Centre, you are a member of SSBMS.

Our by-laws allow us between 5 and 7 directors, approximately half of whom  resign (and maybe re-offer) each year.  We will have at least 3 vacancies this year, so if you are a member or if you know a member who might like to join the board, please speak up!  Please note that we do not accept nominations from the floor.

A community meeting and (covid-19 permitting) social will be held following the formal proceedings.