Loving Kindness
Starts Monday 6th October 2008 – 7.00pm to 9.15pm – 10 week module
It is a timeless spiritual truth that we all have an immeasurable treasury of love within us. Over 2500 years ago the Buddha taught his disciples meditations on Loving Kindness as a way to reconnect with that inner wealth. In modern times these meditations still provide a gentle yet powerful tool for opening our hearts and minds, and developing our love, empathy and kindness far beyond conventional limitations.
Most of us long to be loved and to become more loving; instead we often find ourselves feeling more and more lonely, frustrated and hard hearted. The loving kindness practice gently erodes the habits that block our natural feelings of love. We begin by cultivating love for ourselves, which undermines habits of self-judgement and low self-esteem so we can cultivate an authentic friendliness with ourselves. Far from perpetuating selfishness, learning to care for ourselves in a healthy manner paves the way for extending greater love for all others. The practices lead us, in a systematic and integrated way, to an increasingly genuine and unconditional love for all.
Course Cost:
| Full Price Attendance ($180) |
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| Concession Attendance ($150) |
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Atendance Requirements:
To attend this course it is preferred that you have completed a prior Rigpa Introductory course or plan to attend our one day introduction to meditation. If this is not possible but you would still like to participate, please contact us to discuss alternative possibilities.
For more information about this course please feel free to email us at info@rigpabrisbane.org or call (07) 3030 0649
Parallel Programme - The Four Thoughts –Impermanence and Samsara- An introduction to Ngondro Practices (For those who have already covered the introductory courses)
Starts 22 July – 10 week module
An understanding of the Ground, Path & Fruition shows us that we are on the path of delusion and we need to purify our mind in order to return to our original nature. The first preliminary practice of purification is meditation whilst the second is Ngöndro – which strengthens our positive karma, dissolving the emotional and intellectual veils that obscure the Ground of our true nature.
The Ngöndro practices begin with contemplations on what is known as the ‘Four Thoughts that turn the mind from samsara.’ These are a series of deep and life-changing contemplations embracing:
- The uniqueness of the human life
- The ever-presence of impermanence and death
- The vicious cycle of frustration and suffering that is samsara
- The infallibility of the cause and effect of our actions (karma)
This module will go delve into the notions of Impermanence and samsara, the second and third of the four thoughts. Impermanence also stands on its own as one of the main themes of contemplation in the whole of buddhism, at the very heart of the buddhist view. When seen in the light of the preciousness of our human birth, we are also reminded by impermanence that there is no time to lose: a sense of urgency for the practice of Dharma is awakened. In contrast by contemplating on the cyclic existence that is samsara we will hope to develop two things: i) a deeper sense of renunciation with regard to the suffering nature of samsara, and ii) an attitude of compassion. For more information about this course please feel free to email us at info@rigpabrisbane.org or call (07) 3030 0649 |
