Meditation and Modern Buddhism

Overcoming Anxiety

In these busy times, it is common to experience fear and anxiety, and as a result, we often seek solutions but don’t address the real problem. We may take refuge in denial, distractions, or self-medication, or we may try to control the circumstances of our life. Since we can never have complete control of what happens to us, these responses don’t address the real problem: our unpeaceful, disturbed states of mind.

Buddha taught us what we can rely upon. According to Buddha’s teachings, it is possible to transcend our fears and attain a state of fearlessness. But this can only be accomplished through investigating them and uncovering their source in our own uncontrolled and painful minds.

In this class, Gen Wangpo will guide us in the process of learning to transform our fears and anxieties into an energizing force that takes us toward a state of fearlessness. In particular, through transforming our fears into joyful, positive minds, we will learn to create excellent conditions that are the opposite of those we fear!

Dealing with Difficult Emotions

Painful emotions such as stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness cause us much unhappiness and stop us from being able to truly enjoy our life. This once–a–month, four-part series will let us investigate these painful feelings and learn the simple techniques employed in Buddhist meditation and mindfulness to let go of negative emotions, past pain, and bad habits and to cultivate positive states of mind. By applying these instructions to our daily life, we can all learn to live a happier and more fulfilling life.

In each class, we will focus on how to deal with a particularly painful emotion, learning practical methods to reduce its hold on us and, in this way, allowing us to experience deep and satisfying emotional freedom. As our delusions diminish, we draw closer to the person we wish to be, a joyful, confident, and loving person.

You can join any or all of these classes. They are scheduled as follows:

Overcoming Anxiety – Friday, Sept 8
Dealing with Depression – Friday, Oct 13
Loneliness– Friday, Nov 10
Handling Stress – Friday, Dec 8