Thursday DAYTIME Class: The Path to True Contentment

Part One: What does the Spiritual Life Involve? 

Ten Thursdays from 8th January to 12th March.

Over these ten weeks we’ll be discussing what spiritual practice involves and in particular the idea of Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels which our teacher Sangharakshita sees as the fundamental act of becoming a Buddhist. In this module we will also spend four weeks asking Who is the Buddha?; two weeks asking What is the Dharma? and two weeks on What is the Sangha?

Part Two: What are Buddhist Ethics? 

Six Thursdays from 19th March to 23rd April

Taking the Threefold Path of Ethics, Meditation and Wisdom as the basis for Parts Two to Four, this section looks in more depth at the practice of ethics. An introduction to Buddhist ethics is followed by a week looking at each of the five precepts in turn, focusing particularly on their practical application in our lives. We’ll also discuss the concept of karma.

Part Three: Exploring Meditation 

Six Thursdays from 30th April to 4th June

This looks at the second great aspect of the path – that of meditation. After an excerpt from the Sāmaññaphala Sutta that places meditation in its traditional spiritual context, there is a look at our Teacher Sangharakshita’s System of Meditation. This is followed by a more practical look at the five 

hindrances to meditation; the dhyānas or higher states; and a week on each of the two fundamental practices of Mettā Bhāvanā and Mindfulness of Breathing.

Part Four: What is Buddhist Wisdom?

Six Thursdays from 11th June to 16th July

Here we look at the third great aspect of the path – the development of wisdom. There is material on conditionality; on karma and rebirth; on the conditioned and the unconditioned; and on the Bodhicitta. The rich symbolism of the Wheel of Life is also introduced.

Part Five: Buddhism and Triratna, Ritual and Devotion

Eight Thursdays from 23rd July to 10th September

This part presents an overview of the Buddhist tradition and the place of the Triratna Buddhist Community and Order within that tradition, as well as some of Triratna’s distinctive emphases. Finally there is material on the nature and purpose of devotional practice before an exploration of the particular devotional texts that we use within Triratna: the Tiratana Vandana, the Threefold and Sevenfold Pujas and the Dedication Ceremony.