Guided Meditations and Practical Advice for Daily Life
Perfect for beginners!
Love the One You’re With
April 8: Love – An Introduction
April 15: The Beauty of a Balanced Mind
April 22: Letting Go of Expectations
* No class on April 29 for US Spring Festival
May 6: Abandoning Apathy
May 13: A Mother’s Kindness Revisited
May 20: Surrounded by Kindness
Course description:
We often complain about the people we live with or work with, biding our time with gritted teeth until we can get back to the people we “love.” Unfortunately, this “love” is often just attachment in disguise — clinging to some to provide us with pleasant feelings, security, excitement, or affection while rejecting and blaming others due to their real or perceived faults. This mind of attachment, which is very different from a joyful mind of real love, creates an emotional roller coaster in which our mood is constantly fluctuating up and down based on which people are around us.
During this course, we’ll take a contemporary look at how to apply Buddha’s teachings on universal love and universal compassion. According to Buddha, we all have the potential to love everyone — even people we currently consider to be unlovable or our enemies. We’ll learn how to cultivate a mind of love with whomever we find ourselves with. The more our understanding of love increases, the more our mood will stabilize. Instead of finding ourselves fluctuating up and down between excitement and despondency, we’ll develop an ability to hold a warm, friendly, and peaceful heart no matter who is surrounding us.
Class Format
Every class will begin with a brief introduction, followed by a guided breathing meditation and the Liberating Prayer. After meditation, there will be a short teaching and time for Q&A. Class will end with Prayers for World Peace.
Everyone welcome; no experience necessary. Drop in for any class.
