[su_dropcap style=”flat” size=”4″]I[/su_dropcap]n response to requests from our community for more in-depth learning, our Sunday Sits will be formalized into four to eight week courses on topics related to the theory and background of mindfulness. Participants will also be included in our new online community of practice (details coming soon). Most courses will also be followed by a guided meditation, discourse, and discussion from 5:30 until 7:00.   A Journey Into Buddhist Thought: 3/15 – 4/19

Go deeper and deeper into critical Buddhist concepts, words, and ideas with other dedicated practitioners. We’ll cover mutually supportive arising, action, the Four Noble Truths, and the Three Characteristics. The course will take place on Sundays at 4:30 in the Burlington Friends Meeting House, from 3/15 to 4/19. We suggest a donation of $100.

Course description

• Overview (3/15)
  • Introducing Buddhism as views that help us to break free from all views.
• Mutually Supportive Arising (pratitya samutpada) (3/22)
  • The basic investigative approach of the Buddha: “What supports what?”
• Action (karma) (3/29)
  • The basic teaching of the Buddha: “What you do matters.”
• Four Noble Truths, pt. 1 (4/5)
  • The entry: “Suffering is real.”
  • The insight: “Suffering is not inherent.”
• Four Noble Truths, pt. 2 (4/12)
  • The goal: “Suffering is resolved.”
  • The practice: “Walk between suffering and joy.”
• Three Characteristics (4/19)
  • Impermanent (anitya): “We can’t count on anything…”
  • Suffering (duhkha): “…if we do, we have a problem…”
  • Non-self (anatman): “…if we don’t, we’re free.”
• Three Vehicles (4/26)

Recordings

If you can’t make a class or do not live near Burlington, you are welcome to listen to the class recordings below. We still suggest making a donation.

Class #1: 3/15 Class #2: 3/22 Class #3: 3/29 Class #4: 4/5 Class #5: 4/12 Class #6: 4/19 Class #7: 4/26