Weekend Workshop: Awakening Our Hearts

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Mental health is, ultimately, a social phenomenon. It is not unrealistic but even compellingly practical that we should develop a natural, rational, instinctively powerful altruism, for it is through sincerely wishing to benefit others that we find a remedy for most of our social ills and a way to find greatest meaning in our individual lives. This is not some complex philosophical theory nor a sentimental flight into fantasy, but a simple and pragmatic statement about the best way each of us can lead our lives.

The Awakened Heart is a central moment in the journey of a living being, the moment in which a new spirit of love and compassion pervades its whole life and destiny, and its further evolution becomes a purposive, creative process. Once we possess it by conceiving the will to attain Buddhahood, the perfection of wisdom and compassion for the sake of all living beings, the quality of our experience and even our biological continuum is marked forever onward.

Through teachings, meditations and discussions based on the tradition of Equalizing and Exchanging Self for Others by the 8th century Indian Buddhist master Shantideva, we will train step-by-step in awakening our hearts. First, by seeing the equality of self and others, then, by reflecting on the disadvantages of self-centredness and the advantages of other-centredness, followed by the actual exchanging of self for others and, finally, by applying the imaginative technique of taking and giving. - all leading to the Awakened Heart.

This weekend course is suitable for all, and will include a talk by Geshe Pema Tsering on Sunday morning.

Facility fee for the entire weekend: $100 waged; $90 concession; $80 members.
For one day: $55 waged, $50 concession, $45 members
Please bring a plate of vegetarian food to share for lunch. Morning and afternoon tea are provided.
If you only come to Geshe-la's teaching, you are welcome to participate in the lunch, but kindly bring food to share.