Robina Courtin - Love and Attachment

According to Buddha, attachment is effectively the main source of our suffering in day-to-day life. A big surprise! We usually confuse it with love, which is necessarily altruistic and which is the source of our own happiness and the capacity to help others.

Buddha’s view of the mind describes the two distinct categories of states of mind: the deluded, disturbing ones — such as attachment, anger, depression and the rest; and the virtuous, spacious ones — such as love, compassion, patience, and so on.

Attachment is necessarily I-based: dissatisfaction, neediness, expectation, manipulating others to get what I want. Love, however, is other-based: open, kind, clear, the wish that others be happy. “I could tell you about attachment for one whole year,” Lama Yeshe said. “But you won’t begin to understand it until you go deeply into your own mind.”

How do we distinguish them? That’s the key to practice. Through meditation, ‘becoming our own therapists’, as Lama says, we can learn to unpack and unravel our emotions and lessen attachment and the other delusions, and grow love, compassion and the rest — for our own sake and the sake of others.

Born in Melbourne, Ven. Robina ordained in the late '70's and has worked full time since then for Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche's FMPT. Over the years she has serves as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala Magazine, executive direction of Liberation Prison Project and as a a touring FPMT teacher. Her life and work with prisoners has been featured in the documentary films ChasingBuddha and Key to Freedom.

Since Venerable Robina is teaching from New Mexico, this is an online event. However we invite you all to be part of the community in the Gompa, to watch the event live on the big screen and participate in asking questions to Venerable Robina .

The schedule will include a lunch break from11.00 am - 12.30pm.

To register:
1. Email info@chenrezig.com.au Give us your full name, email address and a contact number. Tell us that you wish to attend Ven Robina's teachings on 28th August, and whether you will be coming to the centre in person or attending online. Tell us whether you'd like lunch in the cafe.

2. Please make a donation for the event. The suggested donation is $60 but don't let finances get in the way of your listening to the Dharma. Please donate whatever you can to enable the spiritual program to continue at Chenrezig Institute and online.

A major part of your donation will be offered to our precious teacher, Ven Robina.
To make your donation, follow this link:
https://www.chenrezig.com.au/donations/dharma-donation-general/and write 'Ven Robina' in the comments section
Zoom links will be sent to registered participants.

Delicious vegetarian lunch will be available for $14.50 per day at the Big Love Cafe. Please always book meals at least 24 hours in advance through info@chenrezig.com.au

Teachers’ availability subject to change; please check http://www.chenrezig.com.au/programme/calendar/ for updated information.

Established 1974, Chenrezig Institute is a centre for Buddhist study, meditation, retreat and practice nestled in the foothills of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. The Institute is home to a Tibetan Geshe (Lama), a large community of ordained Sangha (monks and nuns), students, residents, volunteers, retreat goers and guests.

Apart from the formal study programmes, Chenrezig Institute is a peaceful, calm and relaxing place to spend a few hours, days or weeks. Stroll along the bush paths, wander in formal garden, espresso in the cafe or a vegetarian meal.

Also below the far carpark is ‘The Wellbeing Centre’ which provides courses focusing on cultivating physical, emotional and mental balance and wellbeing. They include authentic traditional and modern psychological approaches to health and lifestyle. They are suitable for everyone who maybe looking for genuine happiness and well-being in a non-religious framework.

$60 suggested donation but don't let finances get in the way, please donate whatever you can.