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=Welcome
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| For the latest details on current programming, visit our Red Maple Keys Blog |
..........
The Butsudan
in Akashaloka
Dharma groups have often used rural locations in the Ottawa Valley for retreats, without establishing any consistent local practice space. Individual Dharma practitioners, affiliated with mostly Ottawa-based sanghas, have settled in eastern Ontario; but had no local presence.
In 2002, lay practitioner, Ray Innen Parchelo, began a weekly Dharma study group in Almonte called The Turning Wheel Study Group. Then, in 2004, recognizing the absence of any Dharma in rural communities, he founded the Red Maple Sangha to provide the first Ottawa Valley-based environment for the study and practice of Dharma.
By January 2005 a small sangha began weekly practice in Carleton Place. The first practice space was a shared studio space. Later that year, the RMS moved to its own space, named Danaloka, The Abode of Generosity, in honour of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kannon. From there it grew to offering twice weekly practice periods and a regular series of retreats and trainings.
In 2006, Red Maple decided to extend its commitment to practice into Renfrew County. It began offering workshops and retreats in Pembroke and in 2007 it offered a weekly practice session in Pembroke. In 2007 it established a permanent learning and practice environment, at Akashaloka, the Realm of All Possibilities, in an old log house, just outside of the Town of Renfrew. In 2008 it closed Danaloka to focus on sangha-building in the Renfrew County environs. In 2009, it began bi-monthly practice sessions at Aniccaloka, The Realm of Impermanence, in Pembroke.
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Our butsudan
at Anicca-loka in Pembroke
Today it holds
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thrice weekly Dharma practice (Monday 6.00 a.m.and Thursday 7.00 p.m.
and Saturday 8.00 a.m.) and regular workshops and retreats Saturdays at
Akashaloka, near Renfrew and
Anicca-loka, alternate Sundays,
8.30 a.m., in Pembroke;
- occasional mindfulness workshops;
- an annual pilgrimage walk;
- occasional special events.
for more information on locations and times
Outside the Valley, it has presented Dharma talks in Ottawa, Almonte, Carleton Place, Guelph and Fredericton. All RMS activities are offered to bring Dharma to rural practitioners and their communities in the Ottawa Valley.
