Staying Peaceful and Compassionate In Trying Times: Tom McGuire, Saturday 10:00am -11:00am

Worldwide these are very difficult and painful times, when we tend to focus on our own situation and worries.  However, including others in our circle of care by training in compassion for both ourselves and others brings the inner peace we all seek, even in these trying times.
 

Fall into Inner Peace: with Tom McGuire, Saturday 10:00-11:00am

In our fast-paced, complex and increasingly dangerous world, we can feel overwhelmed by our own suffering and all the terrible suffering we see, hear, and read about across the world. However, Buddha teaches us that if we train in compassion—a mind that sincerely wishes to liberate all living beings from suffering permanently—our own mind remains uplifted, even as our hearts break for others' pain. Thus we are empowered to gradually free ourselves and others from problems and suffering. To accomplish this, we train in cultivating a pure mind, even amidst all the challenges of modern life, transforming our response to difficult situations.  Through training in this way we discover a deep, lasting inner peace filled with compassion. 

What Goes Around Heals Around: with Joanna Zalewski, Thursday 7:00-8:00pm

We can learn that by mentally helping others, we destroy the source of our suffering and problems. Almost magically, giving love and taking away suffering heals our own hearts.  The Buddhist meditation practice of “taking and giving” is a powerful method for opening up and healing mental and physical illness.  This ancient technique improves our mental peace and happiness. It is especially beneficial in situations where we may feel powerless to help others or to overcome adversity.   Learn to actively remove negativity from the world and spread love and kindness.

The Calm Mind Advantage: Ilene Hecht, Tuesday 6:00-7:00pm

These days we face so many challenges. As Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso says in How to Transform Your Life, “If we were to respond to difficult situations with a positive or peaceful mind, they would not be problems for us.” Difficult situations can become opportunities for spiritual growth. We will look at the nature of the mind and learn methods to control and purify it. As we develop our inner potential, our ability to help others increases. With a calm and peaceful mind, we can meet life with wisdom, compassion and strength.

Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude: Howie Geismar, Monday noon-1:00pm

We all want to be happy; however, to attain real and lasting happiness we need a peaceful mind such as gratitude. From a Buddhist perspective, we discover that by practicing gratitude we wake up to the good around us,  become aware of the gifts we receive, and embrace all the kindness that life offers. Gratitude encompasses a willingness to perceive the goodness we receive, often without even asking, from sources and people beyond ourselves.  With a mind of gratitude we then naturally wish to give kindness to others.

Here One Moment: with Christine Chase, Sunday 10:00-11:00am
Everything we rely on changes. People, situations, even our thoughts, shift in an instant. That can either be unsettling, or it can be a wake up call. Explore how the truth of impermanence can become the foundation for a joyful, deeply meaningful life. We will follow the Lamrim, or “Stages of the Path to Enlightenment,” a practical sequence of meditations from The New Meditation Handbook by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Each week we focus on one step along this path, using clear explanations and guided meditations to connect the teachings to daily life. While we follow this path, each class is a self-contained teaching and practice. 

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.