Practice First, Belief System Second with Tom Sigurdson

You are invited to join us on Monday 5 August 2024 when Tom Sigurdson will be leading the Monday night meditation at Baan Aree, the beautiful location so generously made available to us by the Baan Aree foundation. The session will start at 6.30 PM.

Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced meditators. We meet to support and encourage each other in our practice.

Baan Aree is a Thai Buddhist Center, please wear something that is comfortable to sit in, and avoid tight-fitting clothes, shorts, sleeveless tops, and short skirts.

There is no charge for this event. However, the Little Bangkok Sangha follows the Buddhist custom of Dana (generosity). The teachings and the venue are offered as an act of generosity, and those receiving them can, if they wish, reciprocate by making donations. These go towards the venue’s costs. A box for Dana will be provided.

Programme:
· 6:00 pm Baan Aree opens
· 6:30 pm Meditation
· 6:45 pm Practice First, Belief System Second
· 7:20 pm Q&A
· 7:45 pm Session ends
· 8:00 pm Baan Aree closes

Tom Sigurdson, a 77 year old Canadian who has lived in Thailand most of his adult life, has been a member of the Little Bangkok Sangha from its inception in 2007. He has, however, never formally led a group session. “Volunteering to speak forced me to pull together who I am as a Buddhist,” he said. “I have walked the Path for about 50 years so something must have happened along the way.” Tom accepts Buddhism has a powerful ethical message but he believes building a daily meditation practice plus an attempt to remain mindful have done more to enrich his inner life than his lukewarm efforts at internalizing Pali Canon doctrine. He maintains modest generosity as the cherry atop his spiritual sundae.

Tom recommends audience members watch two YouTube videos.
Stephen Batchelor … (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxj5nBANCc8)
Doug Smith …(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3N1gJqv7j4&list=PL0akoU_OszRjx0lEV_Bre693AvHWrk-Kp&index=9)

We plan a live broadcast of this talk on our Facebook group and the Baanaree YouTube channel:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/littlebangkoksangha
https://www.youtube.com/@Baanaree2020
It is also recorded for later viewing.

Please see this map for directions: https://goo.gl/maps/1FuCuvCtNdPMAL4F9