Monday Classes
Monday Classes
Time: 7 - 8:15pm
Cost: $12 drop-in fee or $40 for four classes
Free for supporting members
Everyone is welcome!
Solving Problems Before They Start
We all want to avoid suffering and problems. Normally we try to “solve problems” by changing our circumstances—getting a better job, finding a better place to live. But eventually, we realize the new job has frustrations of its own, or we start to notice things we don’t like about the new place. Those “solutions” have just introduced a different set of problems.
In reality, what we usually call “problems” are not the problem at all. All the problems we experience day to day come from our own mind—from our responses to life’s difficulties. We don’t usually understand this, so we blame others for our problems—this just makes the problems worse.
When we learn to respond to problems with a positive and peaceful mind, they’re not problems at all.
Everyone is welcome!
July 5: Where do our problems come?
July 12: How we make our problems worse
July 19: Strengthening our mindfulness
July 26: Solving problems before they start
Practicing with Confidence
Confidence arises from identifying with our potential rather than our faults or limitations. Buddha taught that our mind has the potential for boundless good qualities which we can develop through our own spiritual practice.
Thus to have confidence in our practice, we first need to imagine and believe that we can accomplish it.
In this single class, you will learn how we can develop this belief and make progress on the spiritual path.
Everyone welcome.
August 16
A Fresh Start
We can ask ourself, how often do we stop and reflect on our life’s true meaning? Maybe we’re so busy it never crosses our mind. What is the meaning of this life anyway?”
In this class, we will look at how we can make our life meaningful.
Everyone welcome.
August 23
Overcoming Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are increasingly common problems for people in our busy modern world. They prevent us from experiencing peace and enjoying life. Meditation is an effective way to gain freedom from these painful states of mind. Through meditation we can train our mind to remain calm in the midst of life’s challenges. All our ordinary problems and difficulties will fall away, and we will face life with clarity, inner strength and profound peace.
Everyone welcome.
Aug 30: Protect your mind
Sept 6: First aid for a troubled mind
Sept 13: Take a fresh look at your life
Sept 20: Overcoming challenges
Sept 27: All the happiness in the world
A Love Less Ordinary
Although we always seek happiness in our close relationships, so many of those relationships wind up burdened with too much of the opposite: Unhappiness. According to Buddha this is because we often confuse desirous attachment for love. Desirous attachment is a deluded, unpeaceful state of mind that sees the other people as our source of happiness, and consequently expects these people to make us happy. But it is a con job. Happiness doesn’t come from other people. It comes from our own mind. Desirous attachment undermines our love for family, friends and others, making those relationships ordinary and setting us up for dissatisfaction and conflict again and again.
In this series, we will learn how to recognize and reduce our desirous attachment and to replace it with an authentic love that actually does reveal pure happiness. We will experience a love less ordinary and discover how all our relationships can become extraordinary – extraordinary and crucial components of an extraordinary life.
Everyone welcome.
Oct 4: Distinguishing Desirous Attachment and Love in All our Relationships
Oct 11: How to Open Our Heart to everyone
Oct 18: Why Others Matter
Oct 25: No class (International Fall Festival)
Nov 1: Transforming Our Mind
Nov 8: An Extraordinary Love
Details
Our general program classes include guided meditations, and practical teachings given by Buddha.
These classes are suitable for both beginners and more advanced meditation practitioners
General meditation classes are given as a series, but can also be taken individually.
Chairs and cushions are provided.
“When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and the mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arise from within.”
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche