Gaden Choling Mahayana Buddhist Meditation Centre

 
We are planning the start of our weekly study programs this year, including a NEW program for people interested in exploring Buddhism and meditation perhaps for the first time. Everyone is welcome to attend and details about this 4 week program are outlined below. If you have any questions about the content of this course, please email Bryan Pietersma: frysk (at) sympatico.ca

Overall Course Structure

• Four consecutive Sundays
  • Starts on Sunday, February 15, 2009
  • Last class on Sunday, March 8, 2009
• 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
• Suggested donation of $10 per class OR $30 for all 4 weeks (put toward the cost of maintaining the dharma centre)

 
Course Content

These are some topics that will be covered in this introductory course. These will be starting points for discussion and participants are invited to bring their own questions.

 
Meditation

We will discuss and practise some basic meditation techniques:

• Body posture and some other preliminary practices
• Mindfulness of the breath (with counting and without counting)
• Walking meditation
• Loving-kindness (Metta)

 
Some Basic Buddhist Concepts

Discussions and readings will address the following ideas. Of course, the content covered will reflect the questions and interests of the group and straying from the intended course content is welcome.

• Who was the Buddha?
• Why do we meditate?
• Renunciation
• Bodhicitta
• Four Noble Truths
• The Noble Eightfold Path
• Lam Rim

 
There can be an optional final test, if the group wishes.

Certificates can be offered, if the group wishes.