8-week Personal Transformation Course on Mindful Living for Peace and Happiness

At the outset, it should be stated that permanent peace and happiness cannot be found out there in the external world. It has to be cultivated within yourself, by yourself. If it is dependent upon external circumstances, it will not last long. The Buddha prescribed tools and techniques for the cultivation of a peaceful and joyous state of mind in his famous discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (also known as the Satipatthana Sutta). In this 8 week course we will study the theory and practice of these techniques. You can either register for the full 8 week course, or you can drop in for one or more sessions. Each session is self-contained, so although it is recommended that you attend all 8 sessions, you can learn a lot from even just one session. The full 8 week course costs $96, and individual drop-ins cost $16. The course will repeat every 8 weeks, so if you start in the middle, you can still purchase the 8 week course and make up the missed classes in the next session.Come begin the journey of your personal transformation in the company of like minded seekers.

Topics covered in this course include:

1. Intro to Satipatthana Sutta and Mindfulness of Body
2. Mindfulness of Feelings
3. Mindfulness of Mind (Emotions such as desire, aversion and delusion)
4. Mindfulness of 5 Aggregates of clinging
5. Mindfulness of 6 sense spheres
6. Mindfulness of 7 factors of enlightenment
7. Mindfulness of 4 Noble Truths
8. Mindfulness of Noble Eightfold Path

This course will:

• Help you learn about the fundamental teachings of the Buddha on the causes of suffering in our lives
• Provide effective tools to deal with suffering, stress and anxiety in our lives
• Teach practical techniques for meditation for use in your daily practice
• Help you transform your thoughts which can lead to major shifts in your sense of well being and your relationships
• Help you connect with other like minded persons trying to learn meditation and awaken their minds

This class is appropriate for all levels. Participants will also be given exercises to practice outside the class to strengthen their meditative practice. The course starts on June 26. Register now at sohum.org.