With Gil Fronsdal and Diana Clark
Intermittent Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Pacific time with an optional Q&A period 4:30 – 5:00pm
A Sati Center program conducted on Zoom and using Google Classroom for the course materials.
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.
The themes covered will be Relating to the Teachings, Faith, the Path, the Buddha, Karma, Rebirth, Effort and Training, Training in Community, Happiness and Sensuality, Mindfulness, Concentration, Wisdom, Attainments and Nibbana.
First theme: Introduction to the Middle Length Discourses – Aug 5
Second theme: Relating to the Teachings – Aug 19, 26, and Sept 9, 2021
Third theme: Faith – Sept 30, Oct 14, Oct 21, Oct 28, 2021
Fourth theme: The Path – Nov. 11, 18, Dec. 9, and 16, 2021
Fifth theme: The Buddha – Jan 6, 13, 20, 27, Feb 3, 10, 2022
Sixth theme: Karma – Feb 24, Mar 10, Mar 17, Mar 31
Seventh theme: Rebirth – Apr 7, Apr 28, May 5
Eighth theme: Effort and Training – May 26, June 2, June 16
Ninth theme: Training and Community – July 14, July 21, July 28 and Aug 4
Tenth theme: Happiness and Pleasure – Aug 11, Aug 18, Aug 25, Sept 1
Eleventh theme: Mindfulness – Oct 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, Nov 10
(You are welcome to register and join the course at any time; attendance at preceding classes is not required)
Participants will be expected to have read and reflected on the readings assigned for each class. Study guides will be provided to lay the foundation of informed readings of the texts. The classes will be devoted to both short lectures on the assigned readings and discussion.
The dates will be intermittent depending on when the instructors are available.
The course is suitable for people who have acquired a good understanding of the basic Buddhist teachings and practices. It is designed for people who have the time and motivation to read the assigned readings before class.
We will be referring to Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications) translation of the suttas.
Please register here. You will receive an invitation to our Google Classroom that contains the assignments, the study guides and links for Zoom meetings and audio recordings for each class.
Questions? You can email: majjhima@sati.org
The Buddha’s most explicit path of practice is the Eightfold Path— a set of eight practical approaches to bring Buddhist practice into the width and depth of our lives. The Eightfold Path Program is an introduction to each of the Eightfold factors so participants will discover how to apply each set of practices in ways that are personally meaningful.
Pre-requisite: completion of IMC’s Introduction to Meditation course or the equivalent.
Please register. The in-person and online versions of the program will occur parallel at the same time. Participants can attend either version throughout the program, though we encourage you to pick one as primary to build community. After registering, you will receive Zoom links and course materials by email. A longer application is required to be assigned a mentor in addition to the group meetings. Mentoring slots may fill.
The registration and Mentor application form is found HERE.
Team teaching are Chris Clifford, Liz Powell, David Lorey, Marjolein Janssen, Ying Chen, Sandra Sanabria, Wendy Lo, Lilu Chen and Ari Crelin-Quick, Tanya Wiser
The program has the following elements:
- 2-1/2 hour monthly meetings that include teachings, meditation, and discussions.
- Readings, reflections, and practices for each month.
- A monthly one-hour personal meeting with an Eightfold Path mentor (if you apply for this) to discuss one’s practice and reflections on the Eightfold Path factors.
- Four optional online drop-in Discussion/Q&A sessions for anyone, but especially for those with no personal mentor.
- Ends with a one-day Eightfold Path retreat on Zoom and either IMC or Insight Retreat Center.
Contact eightfoldpath@insightmeditationcenter.org with questions.
Dates for 2022-23 (Sundays 1:00pm-3:30 pm Pacific Time)
Introduction to the Path and Program – Sep 4; Right View- Oct 2; Right Intention-Nov 6; Right Speech- Dec 4; Right Action – Jan 8 (online for everyone); Right Livelihood- Feb 5; Right Effort – March 5; Right Mindfulness – April 2; Right Concentration – May 7. Concluding Daylong, Sat, June 24 at IMC or IRC and online