SYDNEY CENTRE

Buddhism Diamond Way Sydney meets Mondays and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. for meditation at 2 Linthorpe Street Newtown (near Newtown and Erskineville stations).

The evening programme in general consists of:
1. A ten minute talk
2. A 20-30 minute meditation
3. Either a reading, a video of teachings or a 2nd meditation
4. Informal get together!

The 'formal' programme starts at 8.30 and normally finishes by 9.30.

Newcomers are always welcome, and we suggest you call ahead so that someone can be available to welcome you and give you some useful introductory information.

We also meet Sundays at 12.00 noon at the centre for Ngondro practice.

Special for Newcomers!
Every first Tuesday of the month at 7.30 pm there is a 1 hour introduction to Buddhism talk followed by questions and answers and a short meditation. Check our calendar of events for exact dates.

Please call Phil for directions or other information:
+61 2 9699 1555.

Click on images for larger versions.

See the calendar of events for upcoming Sydney activities.

Sydney Diamond Way Centre Q&A
What will happen when I arrive at the Sydney Diamond Way Centre for the first time?
Do I have to sit cross-legged on the floor?
How do I get to the Sydney Diamond Way Centre?
Do I have to pay anything to come along for a meditation?
Is there a joining fee?
If I go once, do I need to go every week?

What will happen when I arrive at the Sydney Diamond Way Centre for the first time?
The Sydney Diamond Way Centre is fairly informal. It’s built on friendship and the motivation to help ourselves and others using the methods taught by the Buddha.

On meditation nights people start arriving at the Centre from 8.00 p.m. onward. The evening programme begins at 8.30. On your first night, please try to arrive no later than 8.00. This gives you time for a bit of orientation before the meditation begins.

An experienced member of the group will let you know what you can expect for the evening and answer any questions you have about Diamond Way Buddhism or the Sydney Diamond Way Centre.

The focus of the evening is always the main meditation. This is guided by one of the Centre members and lasts from 20 to 30 minutes. Someone will go into it in more detail on the night so you know what to expect. You don’t need to bring anything special along for it.

After the main meditation there will normally be some kind of Buddhist teaching scheduled—see the Sydney Diamond Way Centre Programme for details. Not everyone is able to stay for this each week, so it’s completely fine to leave after the main meditation if you’d like to.

Ngondro (NON-dro) Practice sessions are where the Sydney Diamond Way Centre members participate in the Four Foundational Practices of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. These are for more experienced Diamond Way practitioners.

Back to top

Do I have to sit cross-legged on the floor?
No. All meditations at the Sydney 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.

Back to top

How do I get to the Sydney Diamond Way Centre?
The Sydney Diamond Way Centre is located close to both Newtownl and Erskineville Stations, in Linthorpe Street (on the corner of Erskineville Road) in Newtown.

If you are driving, note that Linthorpe Street is one way 'OUT so you will have to enter from Brown Street.On street parking is normally available. Try nearby Albert Street for parking if Linthorpe Street is full.

Click on map for enlargement

Back to top

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 regular members can borrow dharma books free of charge.

Back to top

Is there any joining fee?
No. Karma Kagyu Diamond Way Centres run entirely on idealism and the energy and work of volunteers. Some long time members elect to pay a yearly subscription that gives them discounts on courses and dharma lectures.

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.

Back to top

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 should view the Sydney Diamond Way Centre is a place to learn something about Buddhism in general and about the Karma Kagyu Diamond Way style of Buddhism in particular.

Check out the people there. Find out if the Diamond Way teachings feel like they’re something that’s useful to you.

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.

Back to top

events    ·    centres    ·    info    ·    photos    ·    links

DETAILS

Sydney Centre
2 Linthorpe Street
NEWTOWN
NSW 2042

ph: 9565 5331

For info about the centre contact
Phil: (02) 9699 1555

Email >>