This year-long program will be held online via Zoom. All registrants will receive the link to join the program in their Order Confirmation email.
Schedule:
Saturday, January 16 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Fridays, 6:00-8:30pm: February 12, March 19, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10.
This year-long program offers a precious opportunity to learn within a committed and dedicated community (sangha) for an extended period of time. Together, we will learn how to live our lives fully and freely.
The Four Noble Truths are the essential teaching of the Buddha. They are radical and challenge our assumptions about the nature of suffering and what leads to liberation. They invite us to look within our own life to explore truth and discover inner freedom for ourselves.
Before we can realize the Four Noble Truths, we need to understand them; to understand them, we need to study them. It is this integration of understanding and practice that leads to liberating wisdom and transforming compassion.
The Four Noble Truths are:
- The truth of suffering (dukkha)
- The truth of the origin of dukkha
- The truth of the cessation of dukkha
- The truth of the Noble Eightfold Path, the path that frees us from dukkha
(wise view, wise Intention, wise speech, wise action, wise livelihood, wise effort, wise mindfulness, wise concentration)
The First Truth point to the discontent, dissatisfaction and suffering (dukkha) that we experience in our lives. The Second points to the cause of this suffering: clinging and attachment. The Third Truth states that there is a way out of dukkha. The Fourth Truth offers the Noble Eightfold Path, the prescription for ending dukkha. The Noble Eightfold Path is but an outline. In this year-long practice group, we will investigate each factor, both through study and by exploring our own experience. Each factor has its own set of practices and methods of cultivation.
With the Eightfold Noble Path, we learn the art of understanding and living the simple truths in the moment, discovering what it means to be wise in our intentions, speech, actions and livelihood. We learn to cultivate wisdom in our effort, mindfulness, concentration and the way in which we attend to our life. Bringing a caring attention to the moment, we can discover where we choose sorrow and where we choose freedom.
This practice group is designed for those willing to look deeply within and to practice in a contemplative and lively community. It is appropriate for both new and experienced meditators of all ages and all levels of experience. Each session will include meditation practice, teachings, exploration and discussion of how to live the Four Noble Truths. Mindful homework between sessions is essential. Everyone is welcome.
Our intention is to support your practice throughout your year-long commitment to this program. Sangha is essential to this practice group. In addition to the monthly class meetings, you will:
- Begin with a day-long workshop;
- Receive regular reflections and practice assignments;
- Connect with a Dharma buddy weekly to support each other and to deepen your investigation.
Sessions will include sitting and walking meditation, talks, discussion, Q&A, as well as small group and dyad practice. Meditative homework will be assigned each month and discussed as a vital aspect of each session.
Full and partial scholarships are available.
