The Sati Center for Buddhist Studies is sponsoring the following upcoming events.
Introduction to Loving Kindness (Metta) with Dawn Neal
Saturdays, March 11 to April 8, 2023
9:30-11:00am Pacific
Online via Zoom
Love, kindness, and goodwill are vital to human life and flourishing. These important qualities can be intentionally developed, transforming our minds, hearts, and lives. Cultivating lovingkindness, goodwill, is one of the central practices in Theravāda Buddhism. Its benefits to our physical, emotional, and relational well-being are supported by recent scientific studies. Lovingkindness helps mindfulness, confidence, and concentration to grow. Regular practiced, it heals anger and self-criticism, while cultivating an open heart.This five-part course offers basic introduction in the meditation practice of lovingkindness (Mettā). We will explore Mettā practice through short talks, group discussions, guided meditations, and introducing micro skills. Every class builds on the week before and explore a new facet of lovingkindness practice. Engaging in these practices between classes helps you begin to reap the benefits of lovingkindness.
Gradual Training on the Buddhist Path with Leigh Brasington
Saturday, February 11, 2023
9:30am – 4pm Pacific Time
Online via Zoom
The “gradual training” is the path of practice taught by the Buddha that leads from first setting out on one’s spiritual journey all the way to final liberation. This daylong course will take an in-depth and comprehensive look at the various texts in Pali Canon that speak to such gradual training; and how this training might resonate with our own journey on the path to liberation. Special attention will be given to the Samaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Spiritual Life which discusses twenty-one of the factors enumerating this training. A table of all the factors appearing the various versions found in the suttas can be found here: http://leighb.com/gtchart.htm.
The Five Dharma Resources with Kim Allen
Wednesdays, March 1, 8, & 15, 2023
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Pacific Time
Online Via Zoom
The Buddha named a list of five qualities in a wide range of suttas, calling them types of wealth, ways of fortifying the mind, modes of spiritual growth, accomplishments, and inspirations. They are: Faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom.Perhaps we could call these “Dharma resources” – resources from which the heart draws to respond well to situations both on and off the cushion. Over three sessions, we will explore these qualities through meditation, teachings, readings, and small group discussion. Participants will also be encouraged to practice with these resources in daily life.
Selves & Not Self with Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Saturday March 4
10:30 am – 3:30 pm PST
Online via Zoom
Note: This event has been rescheduled from September 2022.The Buddha teaches that the five aggregates—form, feeling, perceptions, thought-fabrications, and consciousness—are not self. He also teaches, however, that a healthy sense of self is necessary for the practice. This daylong—through readings, talks, and discussions—will attempt to resolve this paradox by focusing on the questions that the Buddha’s self teachings and not-self teachings were and were not meant to answer. In particular, we will focus on how perceptions of “self” and “not-self” are types of action, so that we can understand how and when they are skillful, so that we can get the most use out of them before we let them both go.
Studying the Words of the Buddha: Ongoing Classes on the Middle Length Discourses with Gil Fronsdal and Diana Clark
Current Theme: Wisdom
Thursdays: March 9, 16, & 23
3:30 – 4:30 pm Pacific Time
Online via Zoom
This ongoing course will provide a progressive and systematic study of the Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya), one of the most important collections of the Buddha’s teachings. The series will be organized thematically with 3-4 weeks devoted to discussing discourses related to each theme.
Sammā-Diṭṭhi: Right View in Early Buddhism with Bhikkhunī Dhammadinnā
Saturdays, May 6, May 13, and May 20
9:30am – 11am PDT
This class explores right view (Pali sammā-diṭṭhi, Sanskrit samyak-dṛṣti) in early Buddhist thought – from a doctrinal and practical perspective. Bhikkhunī Dhammadinnā will begin by briefly situating right view within the noble eightfold path. She will then take up wrong view(s) (micchā-diṭṭhi, mityā-dṛṣti), and proceed to different definitions of and perspectives on right view found in the early Buddhist discourses.