An Introduction to Buddhism for people who experience Anxiety, Low Mood and/ or Chronic Health Problems
Six Tuesday Afternoons plus optional Wednesday evening on 28th October.
Have you been struggling recently with anxiety, low mood or do you have chronic health problems that challenge you and cause you to suffer psychologically? This introductory course is designed to help people who have been struggling with their psychological and/ or physical well-being and are ready to consider a new approach.
For this reason, we are offering limited spaces on this course, for 15 people. The teachings will be accessible and easy to understand, with opportunities to ask questions and look at some small changes that you can start making now in your everyday life.
Buddhism is very practical and practised regularly, the teachings can lead us to much calmer, more positive states of mind. And, ultimately, to a true happiness which is unaffected by the ups and downs of life.
This course will help you to identify what creates unhappiness in your life and will give you the practical tools to change the way that you respond to the difficult and uncomfortable situations and thoughts that you meet during every day.
Each week will begin with a guided meditation* and then, after a tea break we will introduce practical, down-to-earth teachings to help you transform your life. The programme will include a free 68 page Course Guide.
*Meditation also helps us to transform our lives: The Mindfulness of Breathing is an effective way to calm the mind and Metta Bhavana (Loving Kindness Meditation) helps us cultivate positive emotion for ourselves and others, helping to create harmony in the world and in our own mental states.
Week One: You will be shown around the Buddhist Centre and meet the two teachers, Jo and Liz. Meditation: body awareness and relaxation. Teaching: The Buddha’s Journey and exploring the Worldly Winds that buffet us around in our lives.
Week Two: Meeting as a group again and having a chance to say how you found week 1. Meditation: following the breath, calming the mind. Teaching: Discovering practical ways of dealing with the Worldly Winds and understanding the Cycle of Suffering which we unintentionally create for ourselves.
Week Three: Meditation: following the breath, discovering what distracts us and learning how to deal with it. Teaching: The ‘Gap’, letting go of the habits which create our suffering and transforming our lives.
Week Four: Meditation: Loving-Kindness meditation - learning to wish ourselves and others well. Teaching: natural ethics and how our actions of body, speech and mind (karma) create the conditions of our future life (the fruits of karma).
Week Five: Meditation: Loving-Kindness meditation. Teaching: why we are not our thoughts. And how our stories create untold suffering for us.
Week Six: Meditation: exploring Just Sitting meditation. Teaching: Things are not what we think they are… and why it is important to know this. The Buddhist view of Reality.
Optional Week Seven: Wednesday 28th October - You are invited to our community Practice evening where some of our newer members talk about their individual practices and how they are helpful and affirming in their lives (optional but highly recommended).
You don't have to be a Buddhist or wish to become a Buddhist to join this course. Our aim as a Buddhist Centre is to offer these practical down-to-earth teachings as a way for you to find greater contentment in your life. After participating in our courses some people usually do join our community but many others simply use the teachings as a way of helping them live their lives.
COST: £89 waged/£65 unwaged. Includes a comprehensive 68 page guide to the course and a list of resources which you might find useful. You may pay by credit/debit card or PayPal. (If you are genuinely unable to afford the cost of the course, please email us at enquiries@yorkbuddhistcentre.org. We don't want anyone to miss out because of lack of funds.)
TO BOOK: please follow the link below. Booking is essential as places are limited
**If you have a history of psychosis or serious mental health problems, we encourage you to seek support and advice from your GP before you consider this course, or before starting a meditation practice.
Please note: We are not able to offer any individual time to participants on this course, all the input will be in a group setting, so you need to take responsibility for your own well-being and safety while you are attending the course.