Courses

This is the same course: below

Registration Form

 

You can discuss any aspect of  this course by contacting Malcolm Henderson on 07960 993059 or by email.

EXPLORING BUDDHISM  (Later this year)

Each evening session includes one hour's teaching, about 30 minutes of meditation and 30 minutes for discussion and feedback.

The course starting in September is four evening Zoom sessions and one full day at a either Church House, Stourport or at               The Mindfulness Centre, Orchard Cottage, Elms Green, WR6 6AX

COURSE SYLLABUS

1. General Introduction and Key words

  1. The Heart Sutra
  2. The Anapanasati Sutra and the Origins of Mindfulness
  3. Buddhism in “modern” practice

 

2. The birth, life and death of Gautama Buddha

    1. The Four Noble Truths of the human condition​
    2. The Eightfold path to personal enlightenment
    3. The 3 Jewels

 

3. The world into which Gautama was born

  1. The influence of the Indus migration into north east India
  2. The political and social history of Buddha's time and the way in which they helped the formation of the Sangha

 

4. The Spread of Buddhism

  1. The importance of King Ashoka in the spread of Buddhism across Asia and into the Middle East.
  2. East meets West in the modern age.

 

5. The Buddhist traditions: Theravada, Mahayana etc

 We will touch on these traditions but emphasising the similarities  whilst not ignoring how the one tradition led to the other.

 

6. Buddha's teaching:

  1. The Eightfold Path
  2. Dependent Arising and Karma
  3. Buddha's teaching on many issues: this section will give us the opportunity for discussion and practice.

 

7. Practising Buddhism in a western culture

    1. The influencers: Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh and Lama Surya Das for example
    2. Taking Refuge
    3. Is Buddhism a religion?

 

8. The Buddhist Way of Life

  1. Do I need to go to a Temple to practise?
  2. Can I combine Buddha’s teaching with my own beliefs?
  3. I want to know more. What’s next?