Mondays, January 25, February 1 and 8, 7:30 to 9pm
|
|||
  |
Thursday Evenings, January 7, 14, 21, 28, 7:30 to 9pm We will be exploring the brahma viharas, or divine abodes, on Thursday evenings in January. These are four states of heart and mind that the Buddha encouraged us to develop: unconditional kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), appreciative joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha). Each week we will learn the meditation practice associated with one of these and reflect on that state in our own life, its benefits, and the obstacles. We will also learn what mind/heart states masquerade as the divine abodes and how to notice them. Anushka Fernandopulle has trained in meditation in the Theravada Buddhist tradition for over 20 years in monasteries in Sri Lanka and India as well as in urban US settings. She teaches dharma groups and meditation retreats around the country. Anushka also works as a leadership/life coach, facilitator and consultant. Her work is informed by a B.A. in social anthropology/religion from Harvard University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. More about her dharma teaching can be found at www.anushkaf.orgSunday, January 24, 11:15am to 12pm Saturday, April 17, 9am to 5pm Right mindfulness and right concentration, together with right effort, form the concentration-aggregate of the noble eightfold path. Although these factors are often discussed separately, the Pali discourses show that the Buddha meant for them to form a unified practice. This course—through talks, readings, discussions, and meditation—will explore what these factors means and how they can be brought together in a mutually supportive and nourishing way. Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff) is an American monk of the Thai forest tradition. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1971 with a degree in European Intellectual History, he studied meditation under Ajaan Fuang Jotiko in Thailand, himself a student of the late Ajaan Lee, and ordained in 1976. In 1991 he traveled to the hills of San Diego County, USA, where he helped establish Metta Forest Monastery, where he is the abbot. He is a prolific writer and translator. Many of his works can be found online at www.accesstoinsight.org. |
||
|
|
|||
