Christchurch centre and the people are all safe and not affected by the quake. Thank you for all your good wishes!
What happens when I come to the Christchurch Diamond Way Centre for the first time?
The Christchurch Diamond Way Centre is built on friendship and the motivation to help ourselves and others using the methods taught by the Buddha. We are a 'family' lineage, active in daily life with work, partners and children.
On our meditation nights people start arriving at the Centre from 7.15 pm onward. If it is your first night, please try to arrive no later than 7.15 so an experienced member of the group can give you a short overview of the meditation and Diamond Way Buddhism and answer any questions you may have.
Thursday night is our main night. Before the meditation we alternate between watching a short video or listening to one of our more experienced members give a 10 min talk on some aspect of Diamond Way Buddhism, including meditation methods. Tuesday night we don't have a talk or video, we just do the 16th Karmapa meditation.
The focus of the evening is always the main meditation on the 16th Karmapa. This is guided by one of the Centre members and lasts from 20 to 30 minutes.
After the main meditation the evening becomes more informal. You are welcome to stay, ask more questions, get to know people and generally relax. Not everyone is able to stay for this each week, so it’s completely fine to leave after the main meditation if you wish.
Ngondro practice sessions are where the Christchurch Diamond Way Centre members participate in the Four Foundational Practices of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. It is a set of meditation practices for those who are interested in deepening their meditation practice.
Do I have to sit cross-legged on the floor?
No. All meditations at the Christchurch Diamond Way Centre are sitting meditations, but mats, cushions and chairs are all provided. The most important requirement in terms of posture is a straight back. If you’re more comfortable kneeling, or sitting on a chair, that’s fine. It’s only your mind that needs to get enlightened, not your knees.
How do I get to the Christchurch Diamond Way Centre?
The Christchurch Diamond Way Centre is in North Linwood at 220 England Street. We are between Woodham Rd and Linwood Avenue end of England Street (its a long zig zag street). map
There is ample parking on the road, there are bus stop nearby and we are about 30mins walk from the city centre.
Do I have to pay anything to come along for a meditation?
No. If you start to come along regularly we encourage you to put in something for tea and coffee, and there’s a donation box where you can make an anonymous contribution if you care to. But it is entirely up to you.
If you want to buy Buddhist books or meditation booklets from the Centre you will have to pay for those. You don’t need them for the meditation though—everything you need is provided on the night. There’s also a Centre library, where subscription members can borrow dharma books free of charge.
Is there a joining fee?
No. Karma Kagyu Diamond Way Centres run entirely on idealism and the energy and work of volunteers. Some participants elect to pay a yearly subscription. We have two options here; $30 monthly or $50 monthly.
The money from these subscriptions goes toward bringing out travelling dharma teachers, organising meditation courses, and so on. Subscriptions are entirely voluntary though, and all meditations, lectures and dharma events are open to subscribers and non-subscribers alike.
If I go once, do I have to attend every week?
No. Come as often or as little as you want.
When you first come along, you can view the Christchurch Diamond Way Centre as a place to learn something about Buddhism in general and about the Karma Kagyu Diamond Way style of Buddhism in particular.
If you do enjoy going to the Centre, its still up to you to decide how much you want to take from the vast ocean of Buddha’s teachings. Because we focus on lay Buddhism—the practice of Buddhism by people who are engaged in normal life—it’s entirely usual that Centre members have times when they spend more energy on having families, building careers, and maintaining important relationships, and less energy on Centre activities. Lay Buddhism is about using Buddhist teachings to enrich your normal life—not exclude it.
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