Anapanasati: The Buddha's Original Method
8 week class beginning Monday, October 12th, 7:00-9:00pm
Sliding Scale: $5.00-$25.00 per class
Geoffrey Hamilton, M.A., Q.M.H.A teaches you the sixteen steps of Anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) and core concepts of Buddhist psychology, including the Four Noble Truths, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, the Five Hindrances, the fifty-three mental factors, the seventeen stages of a citta (thought process), and more. This class is geared toward healthcare professionals and lay practitioners who would like to apply meditation and mindfulness in their professional life, and in their lives in general. Note that these sixteen steps are cumulative and that home study and practice are required.
Topics to be covered include, but not limited to:
Oct. 12 Steps 1-4 of Anapanasati: Contacting the Breathing Body. Conditions for mindfulness and concentration. Segment 2: The Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Noble Path, and The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Anapanasati and the Buddha's path to Enlightenment).
Oct. 19 Steps 5 and 6 of Anapanasati: Joy and Rapture. Segment 2: Exploring pranna and sila, wisdom and service. Distinguishing Conventional and Ultimate Realities. Navigating the six realms. Applications for health care professionals and for daily life.
Oct. 26 Metta (Loving-kindness) practice-- Tonlin, in Tibetan Practice. Segment 2: Understanding wholesome and unwholesome mental factors . . .the 53 mental Factors. Applications for health care professionals and for Daily life. The four Jhanas: what they are and what they aren't.
Nov. 2 Steps 9-12 of Anapanasati: Taking Control of the "Reigns" of Consciousness. Gladdening, Focusing, and Liberating the Mind. Segment 2: Codependent Origination, The Five Aggregates, Dukkha, and the Wheel of Samsara. Working with Habit Energies.
Nov. 9 Step 13 of Anapanasati: Contemplating Impermanence: Segment 2: Ajarn Pho's innovative "short-cut": projecting a mental image/ active imagination. Study group forms exploring and comparing contemplative techniques of 16th Century Kabbalist, Isaac Luria.
Nov. 16 Step 14 of Anapanasati: Contemplating Cessation (Nirvana). Segment 2: The Abhidamma and the 17 stages of a citta (thought process). Attention, Intent, and the Moment of Contact. Suspending Judgment.
Nov. 23 Contemplating Extinction (Liberation). Step 15 of Anapanasati. Segment 2: Exploring Emptiness, Self, and No-Self. The Implications of Freedom.
Nov.30 Contemplating Relinquishment. Step 16 of Anapanasati. Segment 2: Crossing to the Other Shore: What Comes Next? Interpersonal implications and Engaged Buddhism.
Core online preparation texts by the Buddhadassa (required): http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books3/Bhikkhu_Buddhadasa_Anapanasati_Mindfulness_with_Breathing.htm; http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/anapanasati.pdf (choose one or the other)
Further (suggested) readings (choose three):
Chodrin, Pema. When Things Fall Apart. Heart Advice for Difficult Times. Boston: Shambala, 1997
Goldstein, Joseph. Insight Meditation. The Practice of Freedom. Boston and London: Shambala, 1994.
Hanh, Thich Nhat. The Miracle of Mindfulness. Boston: Beacon Press, 1987
Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Full Catastrophe Living: Using The Wisdom Of Your Body And Mind To Face Stress, Pain, And Illness. New York: Delacorte Press, 1990.
Kornfield, Jack. A Path with Heart. New York: Bantam Books, 1993
Pandita, Sayawda U. In This Very Life: The Liberation Teachings of the Buddha. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1993
Welwood, John. Toward a Psychology of Awakening. Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation. Boston: Shambahala Publications, Inc, 2000.
Music: "Inner Space", by Eli
