Westchester Buddhist Center Overview of the Curriculum
Westchester Buddhist Center offers a sequence of courses providing an overview of the Buddhist path from start to finish, as presented by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The curriculum is designed to guide students through the progression of topics that constitute the 3-yana, or gradual stage, view of Tibetan Buddhism, with an emphasis on joining intellectual understanding with meditation practice.
Special Community Announcement
Please note: We have now completed our programming as WBC. We are now working on our plans for the two new organizations that WBC will transition into. To stay informed, please sign up to our mailing list here.
Overview of the Curriculum
SPRING 2020
Please note: In person meetings suspended until further notice. We now meet online via Zoom until further notice. Please pre-register to get meeting links and readings or fill out a form here to get access to the Zoom meeting links. To stay informed, sign up to our Weekly Newsletter here.
SUNDAYS
12:30 - 2:20 PM ET | ONLINE MEDITATION COURSES (EILEEN FISHER HEADQUARTERS)
Both of the following course offerings follow our ongoing Sunday morning activities from 10:00 am-noon, which are, on alternate weeks, either (a) a Dharma Gathering (meditation followed by dharma talk and Q&A), or (b) Open Meditation, with an option to attend our signature “Learn-to-Meditate” program in a separate ZOOM room. Click here to view our Weekly Schedule.
• The Way of the Buddha-Meditation and Insight: A year-long foundation-level course in 3 semesters (Fall 2019, Winter 2020, Spring 2020). Join us for Semester 3: The Path of the Bodhisattva—Motivation, Wisdom and Compassionate Activity, as we continue to explore the path of mindfulness-awareness meditation and insight as originally described by the Buddha and skillfully transmitted to the West by one of the great Tibetan masters of our time.
This semester we will cover the major aspects of the Mahayana Buddhist path of the Bodhisattva including compassionate activity, known as the six paramitas or transcendent virtues and the development of wisdom, as well as the practice of tonglen, focusing-as always-on the techniques and stages of meditation and bringing meditation into our daily lives.
Led by Derek Kolleeny, Julie Farmer and Andrea Sherman. From April 26 through August 2, 2020.
All sessions begin with group meditation, with instruction offered in a separate ZOOMroom for those who wish it. Students may enroll for the Spring semester or attend individual classes on a “drop-in’ basis.
The suggested offering for these 11 sessions is $110 or $10 per session.
A sourcebook of readings will be provided digitally free of charge to those that register for the semester and is available to those that drop-in for $10.
• The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion, Semester 3: An exploration of the Mahayana based upon Volume Two of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, begun in Fall 2019.
This semester, the focus is on the bodhisattva paths and bhumis and on the mind training practice of lojong, for working with others in the relative world of one’s everyday life, using slogans. As always, our presentation emphasizes joining study with practice.
Note that completion of the foundational course, or equivalent familiarity with the Buddhist path and practice experience, is required to enroll in the intermediate-level course. In turn, completion of the intermediate course will allow students to progress to an advanced-level course. For the intermediate-level course, a commitment to attend all or most class sessions is requested.
Led by Jane Kolleeny and Gene Bobker.
From March 29 through June 14, 2020. The suggested offering for these 9 sessions is $90 or $10 per session.
No meetings on major holidays: Easter Sunday (4/12), Mothers' Day (5/10), Memorial Day Weekend (5/24), Fathers’ Day (6/21)
Course Links
The Way of the Buddha, Semester Three: The Path of the Bodhisattva—Motivation, Wisdom and Compassionate Activity. 11 Sundays: April 26 - Aug. 2, 2020
Profound Treasury Volume 2, Semester three: The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion, Semester 3. 9 Sundays, Mar. 29 - Jun. 14, 2020
Tuesday Evenings
6:30 PM - 7 PM ET | ONLINE MEDITATION GROUP SITTING & COURSE (THE ALIGNED CENTER)
Transforming Suffering into Compassion—Insight, Egolessness and Buddha Nature
An Online Meditation Course Via Zoom
12 Tuesdays; April 7 - June 23, 2020
6:30 - 9 PM ET; (Meditation sitting followed by course talk and discussion starting at 7:30 PM ET)
Led by John Baker, Barry Cunningham and Laura Reed
Join us for Semester 2: Transforming Suffering into Compassion—Insight, Egolessness and Buddha Nature, an exploration of the path of mindfulness-awareness meditation and insight, as originally described by the Buddha and skillfully transmitted to the West by one of the great Tibetan masters of our time, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Drop-ins Welcome. Please pre-register to receive the readings before class.
Wednesday Evenings
7 - 9 PM ET | ONLINE MEDITATION GROUP & COURSE (THE CENTER FOR HEALTH & HEALING IN MT. KISCO)
• Open House Dharma Gatherings – a series of introductory talks once every four weeks on selected topics related to the path of meditation and study. The first such talk will be on April 15, 2020.
• The Heart of Wakefulness—Semester 3 - A year-long series of talks on the remaining Wednesday evenings focusing on the path of the bodhisattva as presented in The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma Volume Two—The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion. This semester, the focus is on the bodhisattva paths and bhumis and on the mind training practice of lojong, for working with others in the relative world of one’s everyday life, using slogans. As always, our presentation emphasizes joining study with practice. Led by Derek Kolleeny and Warner Dick. The first such class will be on April 22,2020.
