Instructor: Chris Ives
September 6, 2015
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
149 Lockwood Road
Barre, Massachusetts
Much of Buddhist meditation and ethics revolves around spaciousness—mental, verbal, and physical. We will explore how meditation frees us from the mental clutter of thoughts and worries and opens up what some have called “empty mind” or “sky mind” (in East Asia, the character for “emptiness” also means “sky”); how right speech is grounded in silence, deep listening, and verbal restraint, which open up the space of conversation; and how mindful action can be promoted through spaciousness in time (freeing ourselves from hurrying or being overextended) and space (freeing ourselves from clutter or excess stuff). In key respects the cultivation of spaciousness in these three areas lays a foundation for an ethical and fulfilling life. The program will consist of formal talks, discussions, and meditation practice.
People who register for both Chris Ives’s and Joseph Goldstein’s course the previous day will not be charged for a room for Saturday night, September 5. If you wish to take advantage of this offer, please write in the comments section, do not sign up for a room on either of the courses.
http://www.bcbsdharma.org/courses/?page=Class_Details&id=a0GA000000ZX3c4MAD