To Psychotherapy
pages Christopher McLean's
2010 Teaching Activities
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Background
My name is Christopher McLean. I have practiced Buddhist
meditation for forty years; and for the last seven years I've
been teaching in the Insight Meditation tradition. I teach
Samatha-Vipassana (Calm & Insight) retreats in Australia and conduct workshops in
Sydney. I've also studied in the Zen and Dzogchen schools,
and so I have a broad 'Buddhayana' approach to Buddhist
teachings. I was appointed to teach Vipassana by
Subhana Barzaghi.On this page you'll find
times, dates and details for Insight Meditation
practice, Mindful Inquiry days, Dharma Talks, Openness Mind
Workshops & Focusing Workshops.
In 2010, I have reduced my activities for
several reason which include the need to give attention to
my health; and also the need to have a 'pause and reflect'
on my teaching. I hope that the downtime will equip me to
better serve the Dharma.
If you'd like to support the Dharma,
through my work, you can provide "dana"
(i.e., a donation for the continuance of the teachings) with
the following PayPal link. In particular the dana helps me to
take retreats under other teachers, and to continue my study.
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STOP PRESS - "Ananda's
Breathing Meditation."
Thank you to all who attended this
precious event, bringing the New Year in with the blessings of
your energy.
We're having another 'Ananda's
Breathing Meditation' weekend retreat, in May. We'll
call the retreat 'The Mind of Winter Retreat.' It's planned to
be at the BKS Centre at Wilton, for the weekend of 14th/15th
May. Contact me for more info or registration.
This meditation approach is very safe way of entering the
deepest reaches of our heart. Suitable for both beginners and
more experienced meditators.
BUDDHIST INSIGHT MEDITATION
BLUE GUM SANGHA
I teach in the Blue Gum Sangha, with Subhana Barzaghi
and Winton Higgins.
This next year I will only teach
every two months, as I'm reducing my activity in 2010, to
spend more time in contemplation. I'll lead every second
sutta study evening. This year we're studying the Dhammapada.
Blue Gum meets every Tuesday night in
North Sydney, from
7:15pm - 9pm. The program of activities for this group can be
found on the web, here.
My (proposed) sutta study nights for 2010:
January 5 - The Pairs
March 2 - The Mind
March 23rd - I'll lead a special 'Anger' inquiry.
May 4 - The Fool
and thereafter:
July 6 - The Arahant
September 7 - Evil
November 2 - Old Age
For further details about Blue Gum Sangha (especially if you are a beginner) please
call 9913 2979
TORTOISE MOUNTAIN SANGHA
In 2010, our Tortoise Mountain group will meet only once a
month. We will meet on the last Monday of the month, in Balmain, and the
text for
study this year will be of Stephen Levine's A Year to Live. First
meeting of the year will be 25th January. 7:30 - 9:30, as usual.
(Contact email, below). Note: You don't have to be doing the
Year to Live Practice, or to have read the book. The
discussion will be relevant to all.
We begin with a 45 minute meditation. We welcome visitors. On these Mondays, there is no
fee, but there is the traditional opportunity to give a dana.
We're having another 'Ananda's
Breathing Meditation' weekend
retreat, in May. We'll call the retreat 'The
Mind of Winter Retreat.' It's planned to be at the BKS Centre at
Wilton, for the weekend of 14th/15th May.
Dates for Tortoise Mountain gathering this
year are:
January 25th
February 22nd
March 29th
April 26th (Anzac holiday)
May 31st
June 28th
July 26th
August 30th
September 27th
October 25th
November 29th
December 13th
There is negotiation going on between members
which might produce other nights for meditation, sangha-led
nights. I'll post information here, if that goes ahead.
MINDFUL INQUIRY DAYS
We hold full-day Mindfulness Days once a
month on a Sunday. This group is a development from what was
Sydney's first Insight Dialogue group. However, it morphed
some years back into what we call "Mindful Inquiries,"
where the objective is to develop mindfulness while in conversation, a crucial
skill for lay practitioners.
We meet at (the Grail) 22 McHatton St, North Sydney (round
the back) and start at 10:00 sharp, and finishing at 4:00. Come
about 9:40 and settle in with a cup of tea.
Admin fee: $10 and Dana (generosity practice or donation) is
welcomed.
NOTE: If possible bring a packed lunch. We practice the
Buddhist practice of 'noble silence' during the day, and the
grounds of the Grail are very pleasant for sitting on the grass,
mindfully eating your lunch.
This is the development of meditation practice in and through
mindful inter-human attention. The basis for mindfulness
training in the workshops will be the FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF
MINDFULNESS applied to BODY, SPEECH and MIND in interaction.
People who practice Gregory Kramer's (Insight Dialogue)
mindfulness guidelines are welcome to practice those on the day.
The last meeting for 2009 is on
November 29th - Interpersonal approach to Right Samadhi.
Mindful Inquiry Days for 2010:
January 31
February 21 (because I'm teaching Focusing in Canberra on the
last weekend of February)
March 28
April 25 (Anzac weekend)
May 30
June 27
August 1
August 22
September 26
October 31
November 28
OPENNESS MIND PROCESS
Buddhist Contemplations Using Voice Dialogue
I facilitate 'Openness Mind' contemplations, which have so
far been very beneficial to seekers. I initially drew my
inspiration from hearing about Genpo Roshi's 'Big Mind' process.
(See www.bigmind.org).
However, in 2010, in keeping with a quieter
year for me, I'll only conducting one of these events - September 12, 2010.
I keep the groups small so that I can give personalised
attention to each participant. Preferably participants should
have a regular sitting practice, but this is not essential,
because for people of reasonably stable emotional health, the
day can introduce the essential nature of meditation very
effectively.
If small groups want to organise themselves and invite me to
lead a process, I'll be happy to do that. Please contact me.
There is no cost, unless there's a venue cost; but the
traditional opportunity is there for generosity practice; that
is, there will be a DANA box available.
NOTE: This is not psychotherapy, even though it uses Hal and
Sidra Stone's Voice Dialogue. It is a serious and powerful
application of Buddhist Psychology, in particular of the
teaching of interdependent co-arising (paticcasamuppada). Be
prepared to enter the unknown, to inquire into the human
condition, and to be mindful of your actual body and feelings.
It's an opportunity to investigate what some call the non-dual
dharma.
Also note
that this
is
not the same as Roshi's Big Mind process, and I am not
trained in his methods. I use Voice Dilaogue but with the
teachings of early Buddhist canon, the Pali Dharma, instead of
Zen.
The next Openness Mind Process
will be held on September 12. Contact me to let me know you're coming,
for details of the venue, times and so on. I need to know how
many people are coming. It's likely that the workshop will be in
Balmain at our new office.
FOCUSING
I am a Focusing Trainer. This is the
work originated by Eugene T. Gendlin. I was trained by Ann
Weiser Cornell. Call me to find out about my two-day workshops.
See (www.focusing-sydney.net).
Call 0421 346
919 or 4787 5662 for details. Cost for a two-day Focusing
workshop is $300.
THE NEXT
SYDNEY FOCUSING LEVEL 1 WORKSHOP
A two-day weekend workshop on March 20 & 21, 2010.
See
focusing workshop page.
Also, I'll conduct a Level 1
Focusing workshop in Canberra, in February, Friday 26 &
Saturday 27. Contact me for details.
Thereafter, I plan Sydney Focusing workshops for:
June 19/20 - Level Two Focusing;
September 18/19 - Level Three
Focusing;
December 4/5 - Focusing for Meditators.
Special workshops:
March 7 - Let Your Body Interpret
Your Dreams - A
Focusing Dreamwork Workshop;
and Focusing for
Psychotherapists four-day workshop will be held in the
Green Room at the Marist Fathers, in Hunters Hill, 9-12 July, 2010.
Private tuition is also available.

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