An Online Course
October 3-4, 2020
Classes at 9:00-10:30am and 3:00-4:30pm MDT on both days
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You may have tried applying mindfulness and meditation techniques in the past, and find them helpful for ordinary problems, but not tough enough for the big problems, like climate change, inequality and all the change that comes with this global pandemic. Although humans are remarkably adaptable, this pandemic has brought greater isolation, deeper financial woes (for many), and a challenge to our core values.
At the same time, when our state is off, it’s no fun for anyone. The thing is, we don’t have to be part of an emotional plague, we can learn to cultivate wholesome emotional states that feel good. We can turn uncomfortable emotions around and tap into boundless love, compassion, joy and equanimity.
What You’ll Learn
Through four live streamed talks and meditations, Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei will share four sustainable, positive states, and how to spend more time in them going forward. These four states are called the Brahma Viharas in Buddhism.
The Brahma Viharas are sometimes known in Buddhism as the four sublime abidings or the four immeasurables. We’ll learn how to: transform anger into loving kindness for self and other, – channel our energy to act and speak our truth for the benefit of self and others, – experience empathetic joy for others, – and be unmoved in the face of ongoing and sometimes extreme change. We can leverage these four tools in everyday life, ultimately training ourselves and others how to be in a state of grace 24/7.
Over this weekend we’ll learn more about these four sustainable, positive states, and how to spend more time in them going forward. We also expect to explore Mudita more deeply, (one of the lesser known Brahma Viharas) and how we can further develop this emotional state through our connections with community/ Sangha.
Meet the Teachers
Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Centre, BC, Canada. Achariya Doug Duncan received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. Known for his direct, humourous and compassionate engagement with students, Doug embraces various traditions, contemporary psychology, and science, to mentor all beings to a more awakened state. Catherine Pawasarat has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies.
Course Details
Fees and Dana
This course is offered by the Teachers based on the ancient principle of generosity, or Dāna. If you would like to learn more about this profound ancient practice, click here.
- Location: Online (Zoom)
- Dates: Saturday October 3rd & Sunday October 4th 2020
- Time: 9-10:30am and 3-4:30pm MDT both days
Note: Video recordings will be available to those who are unable to make the live teachings starting on Monday, October 5th in the morning. They will be accessible until end of the day Friday October 6th. You must register before the event in order to access these recordings.
