Exploring Consciousness

Learn more about how our minds operate, as well as practical strategies for changing our minds to a more positive and peaceful state.

Disturbing thoughts and feelings are like bad weather, temporarily clouding and obscuring the clarity of our mind. When the storm of delusions disappears, our mind becomes clear, still and bright, like a cloudless blue sky.

In this series of 7 classes, we will have the opportunity to learn more about how our minds operate, as well as practical strategies for changing our minds to a more positive and peaceful state.

April 19 ~ Finding Your Peaceful Mind
Buddha taught many profound methods of spiritual training, all of which are practical ways to purify and control our mind. If we put these methods into practice, we will definitely gain a special experience of mental peace. If you have been looking for your peaceful mind, you may find that it is closer than you think.

April 26 ~ The Mind is like a Movie Projector
In this class, we will explore the implications of the combination of the Buddhist understanding of mind, emptiness and karma. This will give us a powerful tool for reframing our normal viewpoint.

May 3 ~ no class

May 10 ~ Feelings Aren’t Facts
Have you felt weighed down by painful feelings that seem to have a life of their own? Buddhist teachings offer us the tools to help us shift our experience and gain peace amidst the challenges in our lives. We can learn how to let go of feelings that are not helpful.

May 17 ~ How we Discriminate
Discrimination is fundamental to our ability to identify and recognize objects, operating within both our mental awareness and all of our sense awarenesses. Come find out more about how we can control this important function.

May 24 ~ Becoming More Intentional
Buddha taught that the principal function of intention is to create karma. All the mental, verbal, and bodily actions that create karma depend upon intention. Therefore, all our happiness and unhappiness also depend upon intention. This class explores how we can create the positive intentions that will result in a happy and meaningful life.

May 31 ~ Developing Mindfulness and Focus
Nagarjuna said, ‘From concentration comes peace’. Mindfulness helps us to not forget objects, and the ability to focus helps develop our spiritual practice. Our mind can become strong, stable, and very peaceful when we develop mindfulness and our ability to focus.

June 7 ~ Detaching from Negative Thoughts
Negative thoughts cause us to suffer – even if the experience itself is over. Buddha offered many insights about the power the mind to create our experience and how we all can use our minds to break free from unhelpful thoughts.

Everyone welcome!