Meditation Study Series
Meditation Study Series
Our next online series is on Tuesday evenings starting October 6th at 7 pm ET.
Join our seasonal meditation study series for intermediate and experienced meditators in a supportive community. Facilitated by (Rev.) Andrew Blake of Sarana Institute.
What to Expect
Our Tuesday evening series is a gathering of like-minded meditators interested in deepening practice and integrating Buddhist teachings into daily life. Each class will include sitting and walking meditation, a contemplative practice, and space for council and group discussion of the teachings.
This course is open to all levels of meditation practice and those interested in integrating Buddhist approaches and teachings into their lives and healing. If you are new to meditation, please don't hesitate to contact us before registration.
Starting October 6th:
Cultivating a Compassionate Mind:
The Buddhist Practice of Lojong
Register Here
Based on Traleg Kyabgon’s book, Cultivating Compassion Through Training the Mind, we will embark on a path of spiritual transformation through the 59 slogans, or practical applications, of Atisha known as Lojong. Each of us knows something of the tangle of human existence: the ways ego can shape our experience, the difficulty of maintaining a regular practice, and the challenge of transforming patterns that have been with us for a long time. Lojong offers a way of shifting our view from the valley to the mountaintop, cultivating through inner practice a spacious, open-sky awareness that can sustain us through the changing circumstances of our lives.
Lojong is about bringing our daily practices and reflections into the work of transformation and learning to find a new home in each moment. This transformation does not happen simply by telling ourselves we will change or relying on willpower. If that were enough, we would be transformed already. Instead, Lojong invites us to shift the perspective from which we meet ourselves, others, and the world. It is said that two ingredients are necessary: “right view” and “bodhichitta.” With the warp of Lojong practice as our foundation, we will explore how these teachings can be woven into daily life with the intention of creating a new tapestry: a way of being more deeply aligned with our aspirations and open to the path of serving all beings.
If you are unsure about whether this series is a good fit or you are new to Buddhist practice, please reach out to Rev. Andrew for a short call. ( andrew@saranainstitute.org)
No prior meditation experience is required. All are welcome. New participants are encouraged to schedule a brief introductory call with Rev. Andrew to ensure the series is a good fit. In general, our classes are rooted in Buddhist philosophy and meditation practice, with time for group discussion and reflection. Rev. Andrew’s intention over these 10 weeks is to support you in entering more deeply into the stream of your commitment to spiritual life, while strengthening the practices that support awakening. To test the waters of new awareness, we must practice how to swim.
Recommended book for this series:
The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion Through Training the Mind
by Traleg Kyabgon
This series is ideal for anyone interested in building a meditation practice, deepening compassion skills, engaging life from a heart-centered place, and exploring Buddhist concepts and methods. All levels are welcome in our Tuesday Sangha led by (Rev.) Andrew, who brings nearly 50 years of study and practice.
Dates and Times
Tuesday Evenings from 7 - 9 pm ET on Zoom
Starts October 6th for 10 Weeks
Registration Fee
There are a few options for registering:
Base Fee: $250
Supportive Fee: $300 for those who can contribute more
PWYC Fee: Any amount that you can contribute
*as a spiritual gift, the dharma is not a commodity bought and sold. Our registration fees go to support Rev. Andrew and the work at Sarana Institute. If the suggested fee is challenging, pay an amount that works within your finances. Everyone is welcome in our sangha, and finances must never be a reason not to join us.
About (Rev.) Andrew Blake
(Rev.) Andrew Blake, Buddhist Chaplain, Psychotherapist and Co-Founder of Sarana Institute
Andrew is the Director of Program Development at Sarana Institute, and his wife, Angie, is a co-founder. In 2010, Andrew was ordained as a Buddhist Chaplain by Roshi Joan Halifax, a leader in compassion, caregiving and end-of-life. His thesis, Mindful Listening at End-of-Life, was recently published and explores the roles of mindfulness, empathy and compassion, from both neuroscience and Buddhist psychology perspectives, as skills to prevent caregiver “empathy fatigue.”
A teacher and educator of mindfulness meditation, Buddhism, End-of-Life caregiving, and his Mindful Listening work, Andrew has created training and curriculums at the University of Toronto through the Applied Mindfulness Mediation Program, at Sick Kids Hospital through The Mindfulness Project, at Hincks Dellcrest Centre, as well as numerous conferences, hospitals, hospices and organizations involved in service, healthcare, end-of-life care, volunteer caregiving. In addition to his teaching, he guides individuals and families at end of life and serves as an officiant at memorials and funerals. www.andrewblake.ca
