Deep Wisdom:
A 6-Week Buddhist Meditation Course
When: Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm PT, 4/10/24 to 5/15/24
Where: The Flander’s House Community Room — 2926 NE Flanders St, Portland 97232
Registration: RSVP Required; email me at David@pathofsincerity.com to sign up!
Cost: Gift Economy / Donation (see below)
Brief Summary:
This course will explore the deeper wisdom teachings of Buddhist meditation, specifically focusing on insight into “the three characteristics” of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and not-self (aka, anicca, dukkha, and anatta).
Our emphasis will be meditative as opposed to philosophical — we’ll engage in practices, investigations, and hands-on techniques to glimpse this wisdom for ourselves, seeing it both as a byproduct of meditation practice and a lens through which we can relate to right now.
Above all, we’ll point to how the purpose of meditative wisdom/insight is freedom or awakening. Proportional to how deeply you realize these characteristics, you will experience that degree of freedom. We’ll also explore supports for developing wisdom, like the role of mindfulness, concentration, living ethically, going on retreats, having a teacher, and so on.
Each class will include two guided meditations, short lectures, and time for discussion/questions. Optional between-week readings and meditations will be provided.
The teachings for this course will draw primarily upon the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, especially the earliest teachings found in the Pāli Canon suttas, as well as the contemporary teachings of Burmese meditation master, Sayadaw U Tejaniya.
Who Is This Course For?
This is an intermediate-level course and it will be assumed that students already know the basics of mindfulness meditation and also have a regular meditation practice.
Throughout the course, participants will be expected to meditate a minimum of 20 minutes a day x 5 days a week.
Cost & Commitment:
As with nearly everything I do, I’m offering this course on the gift economy; aka on donation, as a practice of mutual giving and receiving!
As donation-based offerings are a bit foreign in our culture, I would love for you to read over this article on how I think about the financial part of donation-based courses. I trust that whatever you donate will be the perfect amount! No one will be turned away or judged for lack of funds!
Also, just as importantly, offered-on-donation doesn’t mean “come when you feel like it” or “only participate halfway.” While of course life happens and you may have to miss a week, I’d request that you make a genuine commitment to showing up and doing the practices — that’s the only real way to turn these teachings from a good idea into something that truly makes a difference in your life!
Registration
Space is limited to 20 people and this course will very likely fill up with a waitlist.
Email me at David@pathofsincerity.com to sign up!