Two days of an open dharma meeting with Christopher Titmuss in Tel Aviv
An open Dharma meeting of Tovana
"From fear of death to presence of life"
Friday-Saturday 19-20.9 2014
Meditation, talks, inquiry and learning the Buddhist Dharma- meeting good friends of the way-new and old.
Place: Seminar Hakibutzim, Ramat Aviv (West dance hall)
The open Dharma meeting takes place each year. These are two days of inquiry, sharing and talk about various aspects of the spiritual practice in everyday life.
The main teacher in the event is Christopher Titmuss, one of the senior Dharma teachers in the west, teaching in Tovana since it was established. Other teachers of Tovana, as well as guests, will also take part in the event.
The meeting is open to all and it is possible to leave or join it at any phase.
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Friday 19.9.2014-"death as a teacher for life"
According to Buddha's first truth there suffering in our lives that is significantly expressed in the experiences of getting old, illness and death. In this day we will mostly address the awakening to the fact of being temporary creatures in this world and how the meeting with this truth might shake us and bring our lives to a new path of awakening and liberation.
This day will be also dedicated to the commemoration of four beloved friends in Tovana community who parted from us during the last two years-Dror Aloni, Simcha Yael Pazuelo, Daniel Davis and Roni Pardo
9:00 gathering
9:30 opening talk by the managers
9:45 guided meditation-Inbal Haleli-Blass
10:30 talk to open the day- Inbal Haleli-Blass
11:00 guided mediation- Christopher Titmuss
11:30 talk/Q&A Christopher Titmuss
12:45 guided discussion groups- Christopher Titmuss, Danni Rott, Assaf Sati El- Bar, Elhaya Eyal Mor, Inbal Haleli-Blass.
13:30 Lunch break
15:00 guided meditation-Assaf Sati El- Bar
15:45 talk-"death according to the Buddhist Dharma"- Assaf Sati El- Bar
16:30 guided discussion groups following the talk- Assaf Sati El- Bar, Elhaya Eyal Mor, Danni Rott.
17:30 Break
18:30 guided mediation about death-Christopher Titmuss
19:00-21:00 -Christopher Titmuss in a series of short dialogues with close family members of our Sangha friends who have recently died of cancer. Each dialogue will host one of these people who witnessed how practice and the Dharma wisdom affected the way a dear person has lived and died. Between each talk there will be a few minutes of quiet meditation.
21:00 closing Metta meditation- Christopher Titmuss
21:00 closing
Saturday- 20.9.14 "unconditioned happiness"
When we meet reality as it is-everything being impermanent and unstable, changeable- we open to a deep space of happiness and love that are not conditioned by circumstances but rely on being awake and present with all things as they are.
9:00 gathering
9:30 opening talk by the managers
9:45 guided meditation-Zohar Lavie
10:30 Dharma talk for opening the day- Zohar Lavie
11:00 guided discussion groups on "what is happiness?" - Zohar Lavie, Elhaya Eyal Mor, Assaf Federman, Ron Alon, Danni Rott
11:45 guided meditation- Christopher Titmuss
12:45 Dharma talk+Q&A
13:30 lunch break
15:00 guided meditation- Elhaya Eyal Mor
15:45 talk about "unconditioned happiness"- Elhaya Eyal Mor
16:30 guided discussion groups-Ron Alon, Elhaya Eyal Mor, Assaf Federman
17:30 Break
18:30 guided meditation- Christopher Titmuss
19:00 inquiry- Christopher Titmuss
20:00 end of the open meeting
20:00 and on-we will hold a birthday celebration for Christopher organized by Tovana members. Everyone in invited to remain and participate.
Good to know
-participation does not require payment but we will welcome donations to cover costs and to teachers.
-the meeting is open to everyone-those who practice the Dharma, those who practice other ways and those who are just curious to hear and investigate together.
-it is possible to join and leave at any time during the two days.
-no need to register in advance.
-please bring personal sitting cushions, there are not enough cushions in the place for everyone
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For more details and questions about the event and to contact about volunteering in the event please contact Muli muli@tovana.org.il
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About the teachers
Christopher Titmuss
One of the senior dharma teachers in the west. During the seventies leaved as a Buddhist monk in Thailand and India for 6 years as a student of Ajahn Buddhadasa. Since the seventies he guides insight meditation courses around the world. Christopher is one of the founders of Gaia house in the UK, the initiator of the program for training Dharma mediators in Europe and Israel and an active participator in peace walks. A writer and a poet, author of many books, one of the founders of an international consultancy organization for peace in the spirit of Buddhism.
Zohar Lavie
A Dharma teacher in Tovana. Practices and teaches in Israel, Europe and India. Zohar is one of the founders of SanghaSeva which combines meditation, Dharma and social activity. SanghaSeva holds retreats of care for lepers in India, replanting forests in the UK and assisting Palestinian farmers in the West Bank.
Ron Alon
Learns and practices with teachers from various traditions in Israel and abroad during the last 20 years and in the tradition of the Buddhist Dharma during the last 14 years. Coordinates Tovana for the last 7 years. Have frequently engaged in issues related to the Dharma such ad Buddhism and psychotherapy.
Inbal Haleli-Blass
Practices mediation since 2002 at Tovana and other places. Has guided meditation in a hostel for released prisoners and guides a sitting group in Jerusalem. Teaches Hebrew, writing and literature in Ulpan and treats with Zen-Shiatsu.
Assaf Sati El- Bar
Practices for 15 years in the tradition of vipassana and Tibetan Buddhism. I have spent long periods in Thailand, India and Nepal. As a father of two I try to see how a significant practicing can be combined with a house-owner life. Try to combine practice, learning and Dharma facilitation in various frames. At the same tile I teach philosophy at a high school, serve and practice Dharma and write a PhD dissertation which offers a contemporary educational approach based on the Buddhist way.
Danni Rott
Practices Dharma since 1999. Investigates the consciousness and the body-mind relationship both in meditation practice and in his profession as a clinical psychologist. Was born in 1957, marries and a father of three daughters.
Elhaya Eyal Mor
In the Dharma way for 20 years, drama therapist, story teller and meditation guide. In love with the world of story, poetry and creativity as well as the world of Dharma and quiet inquiry and investigates the line between the two.
Dr. Assaf Federman
Associate manager and program developer in Muda center, the Sagol unit for Applicative Brain Research, School of Psychology, IDC, Herzliya . Has a PhD from Warwick university in the UK and a graduate of the program for MBSR/MBCR in Bangor University. Cognitive-behavior therapist by qualification, teaches in the University of Haifa, Mofet Institute, Psychodharma and the IDC in Herzliya.
Getting there
the meeting will take place in Seminar Hakibutzhim, 149 Namir Rd., Tel Aviv.
Buses from North:
Dan-282,7,12,13,24,25,45,127
Metropolin-90,147,149
Afikin -121 (from Ariel)
Nativ express (from Netanya and the area)- 600,601,602,605
Eged-575,572,464,274,501,852,532,832,830,829,826,845,846,502,843,842,840,836,834,835,900,840
Buses from south:
Dan-: 7,94,45,25,91,24,13,125
Metropolin-90,147,149
Nativ express -600,601,602,605
Eged-: 572,274,464,270,531,71,171,271,222,126,502,501,575,826,824,820,857,855,846,845,843,842,840
829,854,852,808,87,872,904,835,834,832,830
Train: to the university train station , from there the number 7 bus of Dan of by walking (15 minutes)
Parking: there is an automatic parking in the college (18 NIS for the whole day). payment on the way out in a machine near the Hanhalat Heshbonot building. All means of payment are accepted.