Classes/Workshops
Dharma Group: Those with some experience in meditation are
invited for weekly sessions which will include showing of a video having
relevance to the Buddha's teaching (30 min), followed by discussion and sharing
of personal insights, then a 20 minute meditation. Videos will be of Buddhist
teachers of various schools, shedding light on meditation practice, ethics and
philosophy. (For meditation instruction see 8-week
class below.
¨Wednesdays
7:30 to 9pm, begun March 3, 2010 and continuing weekly through 2010 and 2011 at
the 21st Century Health Club building, 680 E Cotati Ave, Cotati (front entrance). This is an ongoing group and is
free, although donations will be appreciated from those who have the means to
give them.
Meditation 101:
Stressed? Replenish your inner resources through simple, nonsectarian practices
which develop attention, calm, happiness and insight. This class progresses
through 8 weekly sessions, each 75 minutes long and including a 30
minute guided meditation, plus a talk and a discussion period. We start
with meditation on the breath (3 sessions – 2 sitting & 1 walking), then
move to Vipassana meditations: 2 on body sensations (2 sessions), 1
on walking meditation, 1 on a free-floating attention meditation, and
concluding with a pot-luck eating meditation. (The course is approved for 10
hours continuing education credit for nurses, by the California Board of
Registered Nursing, provider number 10585 - $5 for certificate).
Comments by students:
“If you ever wondered
about meditation, this is a good introduction” – R.P.L., Cotati
“Most useful to me was
the effect on quieting my thoughts” – D.A., Sonoma
“A great class to
learn techniques for living a more graceful, grateful life” – J.D., Sonoma
“A perfect class. Thank
you for passing this wonderful gift to me” – P.L., Rohnert Park
“Take this class to
begin a journey that could change your life!” – L.G., Sonoma
¨Mondays, 7
to 8:15pm beginning Jan 24, 2011 at the Sonoma Valley Adult School, 20000
Broadway in Sonoma. (No class on Feb 21). Register online
or by calling the school at 707-933-4033.
¨Thursdays,
7 to 8:15pm beginning Feb 10, 2011 at the 21st Century Health Club
building, 680 E Cotati Ave, Cotati (front entrance).
Please register by e-mailing Anu.
Fee is by donation at each session.
Handling "Negative" Emotions
Skillfully: This 5-week class guides us to
develop a wholesome relationship to emotions which we often regard as
disturbing. These include sadness, anger and fear and their relatives: grief,
depression, irritation, rage, hatred, envy, jealousy and anxiety. We'll look
clearly and courageously at our emotional reactions so we can fully appreciate
them and what they can teach us about ourselves and our world. Using Buddhist
and modern psychological frameworks, plus experiential exercises based on
Insight Meditation, we can come to transcend our habitual reactivity and to
choose more skillful responses to triggering situations.
Student comments:
"Amazingly effective at dissecting emotions & suggesting how to
tailor responses" K.M., Petaluma
“I had an anger problem and this class helped me a lot – and I mean A
LOT!” – R.C., Sonoma
“The written materials are excellent” – P.C., Sonoma
“Discussing my feelings in class was very helpful. And I really enjoyed
the meditation. – MK, Sonoma
“This class may change your life as it has changed mine” – M.E.G., Cotati
“It softened my
fears” – A.M., Santa Rosa
¨Tuesdays,
7 to 8:30pm beginning Feb 8, 2011 at the 21st Century Health Club
building, 680 E Cotati Ave, Cotati (front entrance).
Please register by e-mailing Anu.
Suggested fee is $45 or by donation at each session.
¨Mondays, 7
to 8:30pm beginning April 11, 2011 at the Sonoma Valley Adult School, 20000
Broadway in Sonoma. (No class on April 25). Fee is $68. Register online
or by calling the school at 707-933-4033.
Promoting Positive Emotions: This class teaches you a systematic
approach to being happy. It provides inspiration to practice new mental habits,
using insights from the contemporary positive psychology movement and from the
Buddha’s teaching of 2500 years ago. Week one is on genuine happiness, week two
on gratefulness, and weeks three to six on the “Four Divine Abodes” (loving
kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity). Must be willing to do
experiential mental exercises, in and out of class; most will be forms of
meditation.
Student comments:
"I'm so glad I took this class. I am feeling a true
sense of happiness – something I haven't felt in a very long time." –
J.G., Sonoma
"Class content is excellent – and very
accessible." – J.B., Sonoma
"Great supporting materials and links to more."
A.R., Sonoma
"This class can change your life." P.S., Sonoma
¨Tuesdays,
7:00 to 8:30pm beginning March 15, 2011 at the 21st Century Health Club
building, 680 E Cotati Ave, Cotati (front entrance).
Please register by e-mailing Anu.
Suggested fee is $50 or by donation at each session.
(The
rest of this site is dysfunctional. Please go to the
new website, which
also contains the above info)