The Dekeling Buddhist Practitioners Program is a year-long intensive series of classes and meditation sessions led by George Draffan. The program is suitable for beginners and for experienced practitioners who want to develop the Kagyu path of study, reflection, and meditation.
By the end of the course participants should have: (1) a conceptual overview of the Tibetan Mahayana lam-rim (stages of the path) and how the pieces of the path fit together. (2) an experiential understanding of the gom-rim (stages of practice) and how to integrate them into life. (3) a consistent daily practice that integrates refuge and bodhicitta, shamatha, vipashyana, and the four immeasurables.
- We’ll meet online every other Thursday evening for teaching and practice.
- Between classes we’ll carry the practice with readings and homework exercises.
- There will be a monthly cohort group once a month for participants to share their individual experience and contribute to the collective wisdom of the sangha.
Topics will include: taking refuge in the Three Jewels, generating awakening mind and heart (bodhicitta), the four thoughts that turn the mind to the Dharma, the four noble truths and the eightfold path, reactive emotions (kleshas) and karma, calm abiding meditation (shamatha or shinay), clear seeing meditation (vipashyana or lhatong), the four immeasurables and lojong/tonglen, the role of prayer and devotion in the Tibetan tradition, and the skillful means cultivated in the sravakayana, mahayana, and vajrayana vehicles.
The Buddhist Practitioners Program is a course of 25 classes,
every other Thursday evening from 6:30-8:30 PM (Pacific time):
February 6 and 20,
March 6 and 20,
April 3 and 17,
May 1, 15, and 29,
June 12 and 26,
July 10 and 24,
August 7 and 21,
September 4 and 18,
October 2 and 16 and 30,
November 13 and 26**
December 11
** Note: November 26 is a Wednesday to avoid the Thanksgiving holiday.