Newsletter-update

OSEL STUDY GROUP NEWS LETTER

Osel Study Group is now situated in Vagator at an old Ashram near the sea. We rent the place during the winter months to run the centre. Just behind the Sterling Resort we are nestled under a canopy of Palm, Mango and Cashew trees in semi-wild Goan terrain. It is a wonderful spot, even though our facilities are very primitive. Living naturally and pulling water from the well is part of our back to basics daily life. We cook and eat all our meals outside and use a bucket for a shower. Since it is so warm we can enjoy all of this and experience actually how little we need to survive. Cows, pigs and many other creatures wander freely around us and call daily for scraps and vegetable peelings. Even a group of peacocks roam our jungle grounds. The air is fresh and pure blowing in from the sea and all around us jungle plants thrive including the odd bright Bougainvillea.
There are six double rooms available for people to stay if there is no retreat running. Vagator is less developed than other parts of Goa and mostly more quiet. As many of you already know there is not much quiet in India. However the energy is strangely conducive for meditation and healing. With a one minute walk to the beach and a four minute walk to the nearest internet café, we have the best of everything at our fingertips.
We have a wonderful outside gompa, as well as an inside gompa, which doubles as a yoga practice area and we like to include yoga in our schedule to help with grounding and “sitting”.
Last season we successfully ran three retreats at the centre, Lovingkindness and Medicine Buddha practices were the main focus. Many thanks to all the wonderful people who joined us on our pioneering adventure which began a new era for OSG. We would like to do this every year. .
Our venerable friend is busy with teaching in other parts of India and abroad as requested by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Many thanks to Venerable for his continued help and support and for all the years of hard work that he has dedicated to the centre.
Sonam and I now run the centre between us. We do all there is to be done which includes shopping and cooking and pulling water. Luckily we are good at multi tasking, however there are some areas where we could use some help.
Fundraising is becoming essential. The centre is seasonal, and we need to generate income for the many expenses in and out of season.
Other areas where we need help are: general admin, new web design, computer skills, accounts and errands
We replaced our meditation cushions thanks to the generous offering from Drs. Chris Kenyon and Janet Millar. We would still like to replace the Gompa materials, which are quite old now. The monsoon season really takes its toll on everything.
Since the centre is seasonal and Goa has become a much more expensive place to be,(the price of many things having doubled since last year,) our set up and running costs are quite high. Every year we need new whitewash and paint etc. and much more.
We do try to keep prices down and do not expect to make a profit either however, if a centre is to continue here we need to cover the expenses and have enough funds to move forward and become a registered and legal centre.
To keep OSG going we need people to use the centre and support what we are trying to do. You are welcome to just stay here for a holiday in our relaxed and supportive environment.
We are available for healing work for groups and individuals. This work is separate and helps support the centre.
We are also open to other FPMT teachers leading courses at the centre, especially if they connect up with what we are trying to establish – a combination of Dharma and Healing.
So, if anyone out there would like to use the space please do not hesitate to be in touch. The month of March is available.
We have advertised what we are doing as best we can in India and Nepal but would like to ask our sister centres here to help as much as possible where possible. We advertise locally with trepidation the centre activities and our healing work.
If you would like to offer your services to the centre, it would be wonderful but unfortunately we cannot offer any sponsorship of any kind yet. If the season goes well we will adjust this. Some work for the centre can be done anywhere not necessarily here in Goa. At this point we do not know how many visitors will come or how many will attend the courses.
This season began with hot humid weather and not many people visiting Goa. The first programme on Christmas Day went very well with 12 people attending a morning of Lovingkindness meditation followed by brunch. During January we held a “Buddhism for the here and now” course, led by Translator Gavin Kilty. This course went extremely well on all fronts and was attended by 6 beautiful people. In the meantime we prepare for our busy month of February while a family from Moscow relax and enjoy and a young man from Switzerland does his own retreat.
Our wonderful jungle ashram next to the sea may not be available next year and we are as yet, unsure about the future of the centre. It seems as though this newsletter is turning into an appeal for help! Which, at this point, would be much appreciated. Wherever we might be the centre needs ₤2,000.00 now!
If anyone is interested to become more involved with the centre, on any level, please let us know.
We are open to feedback and suggestions from our dharma family.
For more information on courses visit www.oselgroup.org and go to the linked blog where our programme is posted.
We would happily accept any offering of Dharma books and posters/thankas.
For those wishing to make a money offering to the centre, the best way is via Western Union. Using my name : Veronica King, Ashram, Vagator, Goa, India. Or during April – November: The Priory Retreat Centre, Thornbury, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 7DA, UK.
For any other kind of offering or enquiry please let us know by email. oselstudygroup@googlemail.com or meconopsis@onetel.com
Or phone 00 91 9881494472 00 91 9860998402 0r 0044 (0)1409 261495 from April – November.
Thank you for all your support.
Love and Prayers Veronica and Sonam

MAITREYA RETREAT

Developing Loving Kindness

5th Feb-14th Feb 2006

A residential course comprising ten days of teachings, meditations and
yoga to improve your relationships with others and particularly your relationship with yourself.
Shouldn't we all learn how to be kind to ourselves?

More details, phone Veronica on: 9881494472 or 9860998402
Osel Meditation Centre, Vagator.

MEDICINE BUDDHA RETREAT

Ultimate Healing through Compassion
With Venerable
19th Feb-28th Feb 2006

A residential course comprising ten days of teachings, meditations and
yoga. Treat yourself to warm weather, a Buddhist centre very close to the beach and magnificent home cooked food.

More details, phone Veronica on: 09881494472 9860998402
Osel Meditation Centre, Vagator, Goa.
Email: meconopsis@onetel.com or oselstudygroup@gmail.com

OSEL STUDY GROUP

A THREE DAY COURSE WITH VENERABLE KABIR SAXENA

“MAKING FRIENDS WITH SUFFERING”
’
26thJan-29thJan

The practice of compassion gives real inner strength
and the genuine skilful cherishing of others is the
start of real happiness in life, not the pseudo-happiness
we've cheated ourselves with for so long
.
When coupled with ethical conduct , stability of mind and clear
insight into self and others ,compassion provides the
method to generate vast benefits for self and others.
It's the best way to take care of ourselves.

This course will reveal the essentials of
the Buddhist philosophical and psychological
foundation for the practice of wisdom and compassion
as well as practical meditations and methods that can
be used in our daily lives.

Venerable Kabir has been a Buddhist since 1977and ordained as a Buddhist monk since Jan 2002. Kabir has been teaching Buddha Dharma since the early 80's. He was born in Delhi to mixed parents and became a History graduate at Oxford University UK. Kabir has been living an working in Bodh Gaya-India since 1995. He has also worked for Kyabje Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche in various Buddhist Centers in Nepal and Dharamsala-Northern India.

He says he is still not enlightened and has been a member of Samsara since
beginning less time.

For bookings and enquiries please call 00 91 9860998402 or 9960327479 or email:oselstudygroup@googlemail.com

Holiday Poster

OSEL STUDY GROUP
GOA INDIA

RELAX AND ENJOY A BREAK BY THE SEA

WE CAN OFFER YOU PEACE AND QUIET

GOOD HEALTHY FOOD AND NURTURING

A PLACE TO MEDITATE AND PRACTICE YOGA

HOLISTIC THERAPIES

A BACK TO BASICS LIFESTYLE

For enquiries and bookings call 00 91 9881494472 or 00 91 9960998402 or email oselstudygroup@gmail.com

Timetable for retreats

6.30am Tea

7.00-8.15am Yoga

8.15-9.00am Breakfast

9.00-10.00am Karma yoga (0r treatment)

10.00-11.00am Teaching

11.00am Coffee/tea

11.30am-1.00pm Teaching and meditation

1.00pm-2.00pm Lunch

2.00pm-4.30pm Free time or treatment

4.30pm Tea

5.00pm-6.00pm discussion/treatment

6.00pm-7pm Meditation/practice

7.00pm Supper

8.00pm Meditation /practice/readings/dharma dvd’s

January Course

BUDDHISM FOR THE HERE AND NOW
Jan 2nd -9TH

OSEL MEDITATION CENTER GOA


LED BY BUDDHIST SCHOLAR AND TRANSLATOR GAVIN KILTY


This course focuses on using Buddhist wisdom to identify states of mind that cause us pain and problems, and on contemplative and meditative techniques needed to deal with them.

It will be a practical course, which means it is devoid of an ideology to which one has to subscribe before reaping any benefit. It is a course for individual pursuit and not for belonging to or joining any of the established Buddhist schools. It also deals with general Buddhist principles and an overview of Buddhism

The course will focus on the Buddhist concept of love and kindness towards others and ourselves, and on ways to deal with easily recognizable problems such as loneliness ,lack of self worth, anger, fear, doubt etc as well as on recognizing harmful states of mind that are not always seen as causes of pain.


We will begin at 5.00pm 2nd Jan and finish lunchtime 9th Jan.


For enquiries and info call 00 91 9860998402 9881494472.

THIS COURSE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS !!!!!!

List of things to sponsor


Outside Gompa 4.500 Rps

New Meditation Cushions 200 Rps each

4 burner gas 3.000 Rps

Gas cylinder 2.000 Rps

Lama Zopa’s visit 20.000 Rps = 500 USD

Mattresses and bedding 6.500 Rps

Storage of centre items 7.000 Rps

T.V and DVD player for watching archive teachings of Lama Yeshe and
Lama Zopa and other dharma teachings 6.800 Rps

OSEL STUDY GROUP

Ashram (behind Sterling Resort-beach entrance) Vagator, Goa.

We are open from November to April and will be offering a daily programme of Lovingkindness Meditation,Mon. Tues. Thurs. at 8.15am. Weds. Sat. Sun. at 5.30pm. We will also have an all day drop in Meditation on Christmas Day. Lunch will be offered by donation.

Transformational Healing Retreats for groups and individuals combining Dharma and Healing. These are educational packages incorporating talks, meditation, yoga and the below treatments in an integrated programme.

From 2ndJan-9thJan. Buddhist translator Gavin Kilty will lead a course on "Dharma for the here and now". Then Ven. Kabir will lead a 3 day course from 26th Jan-28th Jan, "Making friends with suffering".

During February two Retreats will run lead by Venerable.
Lovingkindness from 5th Feb-14th Feb. and Medicine Buddha from 19th Feb-28th Feb. Also Reiki attunements will be given.

The Centre has very simple rooms to rent and Buddha House also has rooms to rent.
We offer wonderful vegetarian meals. All at very reasonable rates.

Our Lapis Light Educational Healing will also be running offering one to one sessions of Reiki, Reflexology, Homoeopathy and Naturopathic consultations for those wishing to change their diet and lifestyle, recommended for people suffering any form of Chronic Disease.


The Centre really needs your support in order to keep going.

Thank you



For enquiries please call 00 91 9960327479 or 00 91 9823918711 or email to veronicameconopsis@googlemail.com

to let

Dear friends, soon I am leaving for Goa, India where I will be running Osel Study Group from November to March.

My accommodation in quiet rural Devon is available to rent to anyone wishing to do a winter retreat or period of study.

For £125.00 per week there is; One bedroom
A lounge
Kitchen
Bathroom
Downstairs toilet
Large hall
Porch

The house is quietly situated in the grounds of The Priory Retreat, surrounded by beautiful Devonian countryside with the nearest town, Holsworthy, just 4 miles away.

If you wish to do a closed retreat then shopping can be arranged. You can also be picked up in Holsworthy if arriving by public transport.

If you are interested please contact Veronica King on 01409 261495 or at meconopsis@onetel.com until 5th November. Or Stuart Godden on 01409261546 or bourbonton@yahoo.com thereafter.

TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALING RETREATS

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO DHARMA AND HEALTH BASED ON THE PRACTICE OF LOVINGKINDNESS

INCLUDING:

MEDITATION
RELAXATION
TREATMENTS
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH PLANS


1-7-10 DAY RETREATS
FROM NOVEMBER TO APRIL AT
OSEL STUDY GROUP
GOA INDIA

SIMPLE ACCOMMODATION AT THE CENTRE OR AT BUDDHA HOUSE

ENQUIRIES TO VERONICA KING meconopsis@onetel .com and oselstudygroup@googlemail.com

These retreats have been inspired by my own experience as I journeyed through Cancer back to health, in particular the great healing received while staying in Goa India which helped me to reconnect with myself and emerge more whole and free.
A heartfelt need to share what I can with my brothers and sisters, whether suffering from an illness or not, urges me to once again team up with my friend and fellow healer Sonam to offer methods to begin a healing journey integrated with Dharma.
Suitable for people struggling with health issues or for those who wish to live more healthily lives and enhance their well being.

During the month of January, Venerable Gavin Kilty will give a course on “Dharma for the here and now”. Venerable Kabir will give a weekend course. In February we will have the Venerable leading the Lovingkindness/Medicine Buddha retreats. Reiki attunements will also be available.

The retreats are structured to include healing treatments and yoga and sometimes holistic cookery classes based around traditional Indian vegetarian cuisine.

We will also have a daily programme of meditation and yoga. Reiki, reflexology and homoeopathic consultations also available.

fOR MORE INFO CALL 00 91 9881494472 AND 9860998402

For enquiries my UK no is 00 44 (0)1409 261495 mobile 07981 703538
In Goa Sonam can be reached on 00 91 9823918711 and 00 91 832 2273934 (Buddha House) and myself on 9960327479

Thankyou

About Osel Study Group

BIOGRAPHIES

SONAM BIST
Sonam Bist was born in the Himalayas but moved to Delhi as a young man where he trained with Buddhist teacher and Reiki master Losang Namgyel. Sonam has become a powerful healer, practising for the last ten years. Those fortunate enough to receive a treatment from Sonam usually say they were the most profound they had ever had, creating deep changes within them. Open hearted and a naturally gifted healer, Sonam is a Reiki Master in his own right but chooses not to teach.

VERONICA KING
Veronica King is a practicing natural therapist and experienced naturopathic chef, (trained at the famous Tyringham naturopathic clinic U.K. Using a wide range of therapies as well as her long-standing Buddhist spiritual practice, to help those who come to her for help. A student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche since her early twenties, she has gone on to study and practise homeopathy, herbalism, reflexology, diet and nutrition. She is particularly interested in how the mind and emotions can affect the body and she has herself recovered from cancer using alternative therapies, psychotherepy and the Tibetan Buddhist practices of Lovingkindness and Medicine Buddha.. Together, they have formed the basis of her healing practice today.

OUR VISTING TEACHER
Venerable is a Buddhist monk who has been studying Buddhism for the last 19 years, He is a renowned Dharma and Reiki Teacher. Venerable has been interested for many years in the interface between body and mind and has studied and practised a number of natural holistic therapies including homoeopathy.

Osel Study Group has been based in Goa for 11years offering meditation classes and dharma teachingson a non residential basis. Now the centre is able to offer residential courses and retreats as well as a daily programme focussing on "Metta" meditation and Medicine Buddha practice. We will have other Dharma courses throughout the season. Open from Nov to April.

Lapis Light, a seperate venture runs alongside OSG and helps to support it. Lapiz Light offers a holistic approach beyond the norm. Based on Buddhist precepts and principles and combining a wide range of natural therapies and treatments, it seeks to offer to each individual what he or she needs. Whether you suffer from a chronic illness or a serious metabolic disorder, insomnia or depression, if you are overweight or you simply want to achieve your optimum level of health, Lapis Light, currently operating alongside Osel Study Group but is seperate, offers a caring environment and caring professionals who are genuinely interested in your healing.

In order to remove the cause of serious illness, we need to understand our minds and the way we react to our environment. At the same time, we need to understand and take loving care of our bodies – understanding what food is of the most benefit and how to cook it; how to exercise for health and vitality rather than it being a boring chore. And, to support these major changes we may need to make in our lives, we need the natural healing treatments that are right for us.
Lapis Light offers a variety of one-to-one sessions with therapists, long-term health assessment and development and one-day to ten-day courses. Including Holistic cookery classes/cour

COURSES AND TREATMENTS

THE HOLISTIC HEALTH PACKAGE
This course is tailored to the individual, your particular needs and ailments. At the core of the programme is metta meditation and practice which, through Buddhist loving kindness meditation, opens our hearts not just to others but to our often-neglected selves, cultivating love, joy, compassion and equanimity. At the same time, your state of health is analysed and a programme of detoxification, assessing and stabilising your acid-alkaline balance, is given together with any supplements your specific condition may require as well as a follow-up diet for optimum nutrition – including cookery lessons, if needed! These core practices are supplemented with a variety of therapies, all tailored to individual needs, and can include yoga/chi gung, homoeopathy, bodywork, reiki, reflexology, individual counselling and visualisation and relaxation

REIKI
Reiki is a profound healing art in which universal energy is channelled through the practitioner to the individual for healing that can be physical, spiritual or emotional. Individual reiki treatments are available, as are training courses by a reiki master.

HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy known as “energy medicine” founded in the 19th century by Dr Samual Hahneman who called this system “The gentle art of cure”. Based on the principle that disease can be cured by strengthening the defence mechanism or vital force with substances selected and prepared for their energy giving properties. Homoeopathy derived from the word “homeo” and “pathos” “similar suffering” a remedy is selected which in it’s crude form, would produce in a healthy person the same symptoms found in a sick person suffering from the specific disease. This crude substance, selected from herbs, minerals or chemicals is prepared by diluting and purifying beyond the point of harm and then “sucussed” to release it’s quintessential state of energy. Since Homoeopathy treats the whole person we find the remedy that resonates with the person and their symptoms of body ,mind and spirit. Bringing about healing and balance.

REFLEXOLOGY
This is an ancient art of healing practiced on the feet, where three dimensional areas containing nerve endings (reflexes), that correspond to all the parts of the body, are stimulated by an accupressure technique. This is a wonderful method of relieving stress and can also help alleviate persistent health problems. Reflexology works by breaking down the toxins that accumulate in the nerve endings, thus freeing up the blood and nutrient supply to the corresponding parts of the body bringing about healing, deep relaxation and eventually restoring a state of balance wellbeing and vitality.

DIET AND NUTRITION
We have all heard “we are what we eat” but in fact we are what we absorb from what we eat. Here we look at what foods are beneficial for us and what foods are harmful depending on our metabolic type and discover the naturopathic approach to diet in order to obtain optimum health in any circumstance particularly those wishing to help themselves overcome disease.

YOGA
Yoga at Lapis Light is tailored to the individual’s needs. You can have one to one tuition but, even in a class, your teacher will help you to get the most out of your practice at the level you are and help you to exercise in a way that will give you more energy rather than exhaust you.

MEDITATION
Meditation courses are run by Osel Study Group, and take place every month between October and April. Even if you have never meditated before, you will find the opportunity to experience a wide variety of different forms of meditation, together with clear explanations and guidance for your practice.



RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS
Osel Study Group is based at a small ashram, near Vagator Beach, in Goa. The accommodation offered as part of the package price includes basic facilities - small dormitory rooms and a shared bathroom. However, if you feel you want a single room or would prefer to stay in a local hotel, we are happy to arrange accommodation close to our centre at Buddha House We have very tasty vegetarian food, sourced from local growers, without any pesticides, which is included. If you have special dietary requirements, please email us with your needs, and we will try our best to help you.
To receive a calendar of dates for retreats and courses run by Osel Study Group and Lapis Light, please email us at oselstudygroup@googlemail.com

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sonam Bist (Goa) 00 91 832 2273934 9860998402

Buddha House, Muddi Zor, Anjuna, 503409, Goa India

Veronica King (UK) 00 44 (0)1409 261495 mobile 00 44 (0) 7981 703538
Goa 00 91 9881494472 oselstudygroup@googlemail.com

The Priory Retreat, Thornbury, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7DA U.K. meconopsis@onetel.com

More about Veronica

VERONICA KING
Veronica King is a practising natural health therapist and holistic chef. This path started for her at an early age when she took up training at the renowned Tyringham Naturopathic Clinic in Buckinghamshire, from where she developed a profound interest in using whole foods as medicine, and this attitude has formed the core of her approach to health and healing. From those early days of becoming a holistic chef, Veronica went on to study a wide range of healing therapies to augment the nutritional work, now enabling her to offer a complete package in healing the whole person.

In the late seventies Veronica travelled to India, where she first connected with Buddha Dharma. On and off over the following years until the late nineties Veronica made her home in India where she immersed herself in Buddhist studies and also worked for Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre in New Delhi. Many opportunities arose for her to cook for very large groups of people at Buddhist gatherings and to gain more skills as a chef. Veronica cooked for three Enlightenment Experience Celebrations in Bodh Gaya and Dharamsala. While in India Veronica studied and practiced reflexology and homeopathy at accredited colleges. The Buddhist studies gave her insight into the working of the human mind and have allowed her to develop an understanding in how the mind and emotions can affect the body and thus the health.

In the year 2000 her life changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with cancer. Initially, in a state of fear and shock Veronica followed the conventional route of treatment but after much reflection before surgery was to be performed, made a difficult choice. She decided to take a different route and chose to follow the holistic approach to health. Part of this approach led her to try and resolve the underlying issues compromising her health. Using all that she had learnt in her life about healing and meditation, plus information gathered about the nature of cancer, she began her own revolutionary healing journey.

During this time Veronica also began a process of psychotherapy. Throughout this she was supported by the belief that she would get through the disease and after a number of years of intense therapy on all levels, a metamorphosis took place. As a result Veronica now realises that developing a healthy sense of self and directing loving kindness towards oneself, as well as to others, is the most important element in learning to be healthy and happy. The teachings of the Buddha emphasise giving up self cherishing, and cherishing others more: however, without compassion for ourselves we tend to feed our poor sense of self and low self-esteem, a more common problem in western societies than in the east.

Whether Buddhist or not, Veronica can help you create an individual programme that will enable you to regain control of your health and assist you in beginning a transformational and healing journey of your own.

During the winter months Veronica runs Transformational Healing Retreats at Osel Study Group Goa, India and in the U.K. has established a programme of holistic health education and detox packages which are available for individuals or groups on a residential basis of 3-5days, at the Priory Retreat Centre in rural Devon. Holistic cookery courses are also available separately. Veronica also practices, at her Homoeopathic Practice based at the Priory Retreat Centre and is available for homoeopathic consultations, naturopathic dietary advice, reflexology treatments, flower essence therapy and meditation.