Riverdale Buddhist Meditation Class

Connecting to Peace and Refuge Through the Power of Meditation

In today’s fast paced and quite frankly, seemingly overwhelming world, finding a sense of inner peace and refuge can feel out of reach. In this 2 week course we will look at how to skillfully apply Buddha’s practical teachings for calming the mind and developing a greater experience of peace. Through these teaching we will access and then learn to respond from a peaceful heart regardless of the outer circumstances. Our potential for limitless peace is natural to our mind. Meditation is an experience of saying yes to whatever arises with confidence and joy! When we apply these teachings to our meditation break we gain personal experience of their power to transform our lives.

“When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within.” Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, How to Transform Your Life

April 10: Understanding the Power of Meditation
April 17: Relying on Refuge to Experience a Peaceful World
April 24: No Class- U.S. Festival

NEXT SERIES

The Intermediate Scope Meditations

In Kadampa Buddhism, the Intermediate Scope (or middling scope) is the second stage of the Lamrim (Stages of the Path) group of teachings. In these teachings and meditations, practitioners focus on cultivating the desire to attain personal liberation, known as Renunciation, from the cycle of samsaric or contaminated rebirth. A person of Intermediate Scope realizes that even a higher realm rebirth is not sufficient because we remain trapped by delusions and contaminated karma.
This subjects minds to constant, uncontrolled, and potentially very painful rebirths. In this series we will discover or deepen our desire to renounce worldly pleasures, delusion (painful states of mind) and the accommodations we make in samara, aiming for the true freedom of the liberating path. Buddha said, “You should practice the path.” Come along as we continue our journey to liberation for the benefit of ourselves and others.

May 1: Introduction to the Four Nobel Truths Part I: True Sufferings, True Origins
May 8: Introduction to the Four Nobel Truths Part II: True Cessations, True Paths
May 15: Understanding Renunciation
May 22: No Class Memorial Weekend
May 29: The Causes of Delusion in the Mind
June 5: Developing a Strong Wish to Recognize, Reduce and Abandon Self Grasping Ignorance, the Root of Samsaric Rebirth
June 12: The Dangers of Desirous Attachment and Anger
June 19: Why Practice Moral Discipline?
June 26: Understanding How Higher Concentration Deepens our Journey to Liberation
July 3: No Class: Independence Day
July 10: The Three Types of Wisdom
July 17: Taking Stock of our Spiritual Training: Next Steps on the Path to Liberation

DETAILS

Classes include Dharma teachings and guided meditations
They are suitable for both beginners and more advanced practitioners
Each class is self-contained and is also presented as part of a series over 5-6 weeks. Drop into any class you like
No special clothing is required
No pre-registration is necessary
Chairs are supplied
Everyone welcome!