THE LEARNING CURVE Fall 2008
Art History, Archaeology, Astronomy, History, Literature, Philosophy, Music

Fundamentals of Buddhist Thought

Learn about the life and teachings of the Buddha and consider the religious and philosophical contexts from which he emerged.  Examine and compare the fundamental concepts of the three major schools — Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan — as you develop ‘Buddhist literacy’, an acquaintance with the primary ideas and history that the schools of Buddhism share.  Among the ideas explored and compared are awakening, emptiness, and altruistic intention.  Students will be introduced to several forms of meditation and the application of Buddhist principles to everyday life.  Text:  What the Buddha Taught, by Walpola Rahula; in addition, instructor prepared materials will be distributed at the first class meeting.

Week 1: The Life of the Buddha
Week 2: The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
Week 3: Dependent Origination and Non-self
Week 4: The development of the major schools over 2500 years
Week 5: The Heart Sutra and the Metta Sutta, the goals of wisdom and compassion
Week 6: Meditation, an introduction.

When: Mondays, Oct 13 - Dec 1, 9:30-11:30am
(No class Nov. 3 or 10) 
Where: The Windmill Inn, 4250 N. Campbell Ave. (Board Room)
Cost: $135 (6 sessions)

Instructor:
Colby Kavanagh, JD, has been a student of Eknath Easwaran, a teacher of meditation to western students, since 1985.  She has studied Buddhism intensively for the last eight years and has facilitated a Buddhist reading group for the last six years.

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