Training Our Mind, Changing Our Life
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When we experience difficulties or conflicts in our life, we often blame them on someone or something outside ourself. “If only she were nicer to me…if only he stopped behaving like that…if only we had a different system of government… then I wouldn’t be having all these problems.” But according to the Buddha dharma, although such outer factors can certainly provide the conditions in which our dissatisfaction arises, the actual causes for both our happiness and unhappiness are to be found within the workings of our own mind. Therefore, if we wish to have a more fulfilling life, we need to look inwards and discover if any of the ways we habitually regard the world and its inhabitants—including the views we have of ourself—are distorted and out of sync with the way things actually exist. And if we discover that they are, can we explore how they might be directly responsible for our unwanted suffering and dissatisfaction?
The Buddhist teachings contain a wide range of very practical methods we can use to identify, and then begin to correct, the distorted views and unrealistic behavior patterns that are responsible not only for our own personal difficulties, but also for the many problems and conflicts we see all around us. Everyone, no matter what one’s background or belief system may be, is welcome to join us as together we gain familiarity with these psychologically and spiritually profound methods of self-exploration and self-transformation.
The overall structure of each 90-minute session will be roughly as follows. We will begin with a 20-minute meditation practice to calm and focus our mind and generate a conducive atmosphere for the entire session. This will be followed by a 40-minute explanation of the specific transformative method chosen to be the main theme for that particular session. Then, after a brief pause, we will conclude with a 30-minute Q&A, or discussion, segment.
In an attempt to make these sessions as personally relevant to you as possible, I encourage you to express whatever comments, suggestions or questions you may have by sending an email to the following address:
Looking forward to seeing you in our sessions on Thursday morning and receiving whatever input you’d like to share, I remain warmly,
Jon
This program is a collaboration with our sister center, Ocean of Compassion Buddha.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Jon Landaw, the author of Buddhism for Dummies, was born in New Jersey in 1944 and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1965. After spending three years in the Peace Corps in Iran, Jon worked as an English editor for the Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India from 1972 to 1977, producing numerous texts under the guidance of Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey.
As a student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche since 1973, Jon has edited numerous works for Wisdom Publications, including Wisdom Energy and Introduction to Tantra. He is also the author of Prince Siddhartha, a biography of Buddha for children, and Images of Enlightenment: Tibetan Art in Practice, published by Snow Lion in 1993. As an instructor of Buddhist meditation, he has taught in numerous Dharma centers throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere. He currently lives with his wife in Capitola, California.
BENEFITS OF BECOMING A FRIEND OF LMB:
There are many benefits to becoming a Friend of LMB – discounts at our bookstore, special dedication prayers in our daily Medicine Buddha puja, and, at $50/month or more, FREE attendance in our Discovering Buddhism, Basic Program, and Guided Meditation courses. Consider becoming a Friend of LMB today!
| Date(s): | Thursdays May 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th & June 10th and 17th, 2021 |
| Times: | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm |
| Instructor/Leader: | Jon Landaw |
| Type of event: | |
| Number of sessions: | Six weekly classes * PLEASE NOTE NO CLASS ON JUNE 3RD |
| Level: | Beginner to Intermediate |
| Participation: | come to one or all |
| iCal Link: | iCal |
| Add to Google Calendar: |  |
Registration and Donations for Training Our Mind, Changing Our Life with Jon Landaw
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