FPMT Discovering Buddhism: Mind and Its Potential and How to Meditate

Jon Landaw

FPMT Discovering Buddhism: Mind and Its Potential and How to Meditate with Jon Landaw online course Tuesdays, 6:00pm – 7:30pm (Pacific Time) February 23 – April 13, 2021 (8 classes) The complete Discovering Buddhism program consists of fourteen interrelated modules and, in the eight-sessions we are going to begin with, we will be covering the first two modules: Mind and Its Potential and How to Meditate . Buddha’s teachings focus primarily on gaining an understanding of the nature of our mind, realizing how it functions to shape our experiences of both happiness and dissatisfaction. Here, mental functioning is not limited to what we think , an activity most of us tend to associate with our head. It also includes what we feel in our heart. Buddhism not only has a profound and detailed description of the vast range of our mental and emotional experiences; it also provides effective methods for diminishing and eventually eliminating those detrimental mental and emotional habits responsible for all our suffering and discomfort. Additionally, it shows us how we can cultivate those beneficial heart/mind qualities—loving-kindness, compassion, wisdom and so forth—that lead to true happiness and freedom from all self-created limitations. The main method for exploring the nature of our heart/mind, and replacing its destructive elements with the beneficial qualities that lead to the fulfilment of our highest human potential, is meditation . Buddhism offers a wide range of meditative practices through which we can gain greater control over the direction our life is taking, thereby providing temporary and ultimate benefit for both ourself and others. Module 2 will introduce many of these meditative practices. Many more will be presented in the remaining modules of this Discovering Buddhism program, which is open to everyone, whether you are completely new to Buddhism or have practiced it for years.