This weekly drop-in class is suitable for both beginners and experienced meditators. The class includes a gentle, relaxing meditation followed by a practical teaching on some aspect of Buddhist meditation and practice. The session ends with a guided meditation to help us take the teachings into our hearts to improve our lives and relationships with others. With Meditation Teacher, Monica Heiser.
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 29 The Mirage of Money
- June 5 No Class
- June 12 Why Pleasure Seeking Fails
- June 19 The Reputation Roller Coaster
- June 26 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 3 The Dangers of Uncontrolled Desire
- July 10 Differentiating Love from Attachment
- July 17 Stop Craving, Start Living
- July 24 Equanimity in Daily Life
Class Time: Wednesdays 7:30 – 8:30 PM
Cost: $12/person ($8 students, seniors 60+, unemployed)
Location: Indiginal Wellness Studio, 213 W. Read Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Monica Heiser is a student and teacher at KMC Maryland who has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism for the past 8 years. While in high school, she became interested in world religions and took a comparative religion class. A senior Buddhist monk spoke to her class, and inspired by his peaceful presence, she decided to go to her local Kadampa Buddhist Center. Since that time, practicing Buddhist teachings have brought Monica incredible joy, inspiration, and meaning to her life and relationships. She is the branch class teacher in Mt. Vernon on Wednesdays as well as the Dharma for Kids Teacher at the temple on Sunday mornings.
