Thursday DAYTIME Class:
Exploring the Bodhisattva Ideal

Our Thursday classes run throughout the year and are open to all. We meditate together in the first half (usually guided so suitable for all levels of experience) and then, after a tea break, we hear about and discuss a particular teaching from the Buddhist tradition. Usually these teachings are aimed at helping us to live our lives more peacefully in the world. Themes vary from time to time. You may attend the meditation only, or the whole class.

From Thursday 24th April we will be exploring The Bodhisattva Ideal - a central concept in later Buddhism - which embodies the aspiration to achieve Enlightenment not for oneself alone but for all beings.  A Bodhisattva is someone who, out of great compassion and selflessness, even postpones their own Awakening in order to guide all others along the path. This is of course a very high ideal and the true Bodhisattva is a very exalted being indeed. 

The Bodhisattva Ideal is rooted in the principles of loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), and altruism, and it emphasizes virtues like patience, generosity, and wisdom. Bodhisattvas are seen as role models who dedicate their existence to the welfare of others, guided by the vow to save all sentient beings. 

We may not be Bodhisattvas ourselves but if we dedicate ourselves to this ideal then it will help us to move towards states of greater happiness and contentment in life. Indeed if we practise to the fullest extent then even we can become Bodhisattvas-in-training and thus aspire to ever higher levels of being.

This is a drop-in class so need to book, just turn up when you can. We will explore a different aspect of the Bodhisattva Ideal each week. All over 18 are welcome

There is no charge but we ask you to make a small donation if you can. We suggest £5 for the meditation or £10 for the whole class.

PROGRAMME

Thursday 24th April: The Origins of the Bodhisattva Ideal and how it can help us in our lives

Thursday 1st May: Awakening of the Bodhi Heart - The Bodhicitta 

Thursday 8th May: Becoming a Bodhisattva of the Path

Thursday 15th May: Two Great Archetypal Bodhisattvas - Green Tara and Avolokitesvara

Thursday 22nd May: Altruism and Individualism in the Spiritual Life