The Power of a Good Heart: Inner Strength, Courage and Protection
“Pure compassion is a mind that finds the suffering of others unbearable, but it does not make us depressed.” – How to Transform Your Life, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
We all wish to be truly happy and to have the inner strength and courage to handle life’s difficulties. True happiness and inner strength comes from developing and maintaining a peaceful mind and a loving, compassionate heart. In these classes, we will learn how to develop our inner peace, love and compassion, as well as how to open our hearts to others’ suffering without becoming discouraged or depressed.
Recommended Reading: How to Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
June 30 – Protecting our self and others from suffering: Taking and Giving
Learning to Let Go: Meditations on Emptiness
Guided meditations and teachings with modern Buddhist teacher Star Sandow
Thursdays, 7:00-8:15pm
Of all Buddha’s teachings, the most profound and liberating are his teachings on the true nature of things, emptiness. There is no greater method for experiencing peace of mind than to understand and meditate on emptiness. Through meditation on emptiness we can learn to let go of all the usual worries, anxieties and fears that prevent us from experiencing true inner peace and happiness.
July 7 – Introduction: What is Emptiness?
July 14 – Letting go of body issues: The Emptiness of the Body
July 21 – Letting go of painful emotions: The Emptiness of our Mind
July 28 – Letting go of the limited self: The Emptiness of our I
Finding Spiritual Protection: Meditations on Refuge
Guided meditations and teachings with modern Buddhist teacher Star Sandow
Thursdays, 7:00-8:15pm
In these turbulent times we need special practical methods for keeping a positive mind and transforming our adversities. Buddha taught that through seeking refuge and protection in the “Three Jewels” – Buddha, Dharma (his teachings), and Sangha (the spiritual community), we can heal our mind of feelings of unhappiness, find permanent solutions to our daily problems, and develop the positive qualities we need to truly benefit others. In these classes we will explore the practical meaning and benefits of going for refuge.
August 4 – The Power of Going for Refuge: Introduction to Buddhist Refuge
August 11 – How to Go for Refuge: Blessings, Practice and Support
Meditations for a Clear Mind
Guided meditations and teachings with modern Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Tashi
Thursdays, 7:00-8:15pm
Learn to experience mental clarity and inner peace by meditating on the mind itself. The first meditation lays the foundation for meditating on the mind by helping to temporarily overcome physical appearances. The second introduces us to the clarity of our mind, and the third is a meditation on our root mind. Together they help us gain a deeper understanding of our mind, through which we can discover our own inner potential for lasting peace and happiness.
August 18 – Meditation to relax body and mind: Body of light
August 25 – Meditation for clarity of mind: Clarity
September 1 – Meditation for deep inner peace: The Root Mind
