Class time Thursdays 7:00pm – 8:15pm with Gen Kelsang Chogden
This class is a wonderful and insightful presentation of how we can apply meditation and Buddhism to our busy modern lifestyles. The teachings are practical advice that we can immediately put into practice to find greater love, compassion and wisdom in our everyday lives. There is usually a time for Q&A and class discussion. This class is an ideal starting point for those interested to find out more about Buddhism and meditation. The program is a drop-in class, walk-ins are welcome!
Why Are We Disappointed with Daily Life
While we remain attached to resources and respect, pleasure, a good reputation and praise, our mind is unbalanced and we are inclined to become over-excited when we possess them and dejected when we lose them. We remain unstable, vulnerable and emotionally dependent upon these things. Most of our energy goes into securing them and guarding against their loss. Yet there is no way to hold onto these things and they only bring temporary happiness. In the cycle of impure life, samsara, we never reach a point when we can say, “Now I am completely satisfied; I need nothing more. By applying Buddha’s teachings to our daily life we can learn to keep a contented, peaceful mind in the midst of the ups and downs of life.
- May 30 The Trap of Unrealistic Expectations
- June 6 The Mirage of Money
- June 13 Why Pleasure Seeking Fails
- June 20 The Reputation Roller Coaster
- June 27 Reducing Our Need for Praise
Freedom from Craving
We often feel that it is someone else who is making us unhappy, and we can become quite resentful. If we look at the situation carefully, however, we will find that it is always our own mental attitude that is responsible for our unhappiness. Another person’s actions make us unhappy only if we allow them to stimulate a negative response in us.
- July 4 No Class-come to our pot-luck picnic from 4-6pm!
- July 11 Differentiating Love from Attachment
- July 18 Stop Craving, Start Living
- July 25 Temple is closed for UK Summer Festival
Undoing the Critical Mind
Since we all have within us our own source of peace and happiness, we may wonder why it is so hard to maintain a continually peaceful and joyful mind. This is because of the delusions that so often crowd our mind. Delusions are distorted ways of looking at ourself, other people and the world around us—like a distorted mirror they reflect a distorted world. We do not need to blame ourself for the many delusions we have inherited from our previous life, but, if we wish for our future self to enjoy peace and happiness, it is our responsibility to remove these delusions from our mind.
- Aug 14 Give Yourself a Break
- Aug 21 Don’t Go There
- Aug 28 The Dangers of Blaming and Finding Fault
- Sept 4 Being in Someone Else’s Shoes
Class Fee: $12/class ($8 students/seniors/unemployed)
You can also become a member starting at $40/month and receive discounts while you help to provide a steady level of support for our activities.
Gen Chogden’s compassionate activities of teaching, guiding, and inspiring those around her are the result of her deep faith, clear wisdom, and heartfelt concern for others that brings true sincerity and humility to her life as a spiritual teacher.
Her teachings are always practical and easy to apply to everyday life. Through her gentle and joyful approach and her peaceful example, she has helped many people find true happiness in their hearts.
