Facilitator:Kok Wai Cheong
The teaching on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (or Lam Rim in Tibetan) presents a graduated way of learning and practising the teachings of the Buddha in a systematic way. By reflecting and meditating on topics like refuge and karma, we can gradually enhance our positive qualities of kindness and wisdom, and lessen the hold of our harmful habits. In this series of classes, we will look at the practical aspects of how to meditate on each Lam Rim topic effectively.
Each topic will be covered in 5 weeks. Each weekly session will include an explanation of the topic and pointers on how to work with it in both meditation and daily life, guided meditations to experience the topic for ourselves, and time for discussion and Q&A.
No prerequisites. All are welcome.
1. Preparing the Foundation - Essential Practices for Realisation
5 Mar to 2 Apr 2019, 7.30 pm - 9 pm
To realise a Lam Rim topic is to bring about a profound shift in our perspective. We will see the people and events in our life differently, which also means we will think, feel and respond differently to them. We step out of our old reactive habits and find ourselves responding with kindness and wisdom. In "Preparing the Foundation," we will look at how to support this with the essential practices - calm down our body and mind, remove the obstacles, gather positive momentum, and inspire our heart-mind.
2. Appreciating Your Life and Death
9 Apr to 7 May 2019, 7.30 pm - 9pm
Old habits are sustained by not looking and not reflecting on what we have done or are doing, so that nothing new can happen. To change this, we need to consciously shine the light of awareness on our life and death. In this course on "Appreciating your Life and Death," we will meditate on different aspects of our precious human life and cultivate awareness of death. These are the best preparations for both living and dying.
3. Finding Protection in Refuge and Karma
28 May to 25 Jun 2019, 7.30 pm - 9 pm
The Buddhist teachings on refuge and karma can help us tap into valuable resources, both inside and outside of us, that both protect and empower us to continuously create the conditions of happiness and peace. By meditating on these topics, we can find refuge and a safe haven within that are the best protection against the vicissitudes of daily life.
4. Navigating the Highs and Lows of Our Life
6 Aug to 3 Sep 2019, 7.30 pm - 9 pm
Equanimity is our mind's ability to come back to balance when we are knocked off our feet by the eight worldly winds of gain and loss, fame and infamy, pleasure and pain, praise and blame. Caught up in these eight, life is experienced as a roller-coaster ride; it is not a fun thing when the novelty wears off. In this course we will explore how to cultivate equanimity and non-attachment, so that we can release our mind from such preoccupations and set our sight on what really matters to us and those we care about.
5. Exploring Conditional and Unconditional Happiness
1 Oct, 15 to 29 Oct 2019, 7.30pm-9pm
The First Noble Truth of Suffering as taught by the Buddha can also be understood as an investigation of the distinction between unconditional happiness and conditional happiness. Due to changing conditions, even the best of our conditional happiness will eventually give way to suffering. By meditating on this teaching of suffering, we can find out for ourselves what is the genuine peace and unconditional happiness taught by the Buddha.
