Bite-Sized Buddhism
Welcome to “Bite-Sized Buddhism”. I am so pleased to be able to share with you the recordings from our live classes.
Buddhism can be seen as a religion, but I see it more as a life philosophy that aims to bring out the best in each of us. Buddhism emphasizes loving-kindness, self-awareness and spiritual self-reliance.
“Purity and impurity depend on oneself; no one can purify another.”
-The Buddha
Since this class is so condensed it is a perfect opportunity to take both a light-hearted and experiential approach to learning about Buddhism, which is an excellent means for gaining self-knowledge and to practicing compassion, wisdom, and loving kindness toward others.
This class is a great opportunity to apply some of the foundational teachings in a way that is timely and meaningful. The meditation instruction will assist people in starting and maintaining a regular meditation practice. If you are curious about Buddhist philosophy and practice this is an easy way to begin. People with a deeper background will also enjoy the emphasis on the experiential application of the teachings, methods, and techniques.
The most rewarding thing a person can do is to undertake an exploration of their own mind. Some of the topics covered are:
The Four Noble Truths
The Eightfold Path
The Wheel of Life
Ego and Self-Image: Buddhist Psychology
Each class is a condensed presentation (“lecturette”) of a basic concept in Buddhist thought and then meditation instruction and practice. Because each topic presented will be presented as a complete concept, participants can listen to one or more sessions without feeling lost or “out of sync” with the classes.
This course emphasizes experiential learning and will include meditation instruction.
Bite-Sized Buddhism Topics
Each session recording briefly introduces a Buddhist concept and is followed by a short meditation.
Refuge
This session discusses what refuge represents in the practice of Buddhism. One thought to consider is “What do you take refuge in? Whatever we take refuge in can and will deliver exactly what it is capable of.
The Bodhisattva Vow
Here is a short session on the Buddhist vow of Great Compassion, what motivates the taking of such a vow, and what it means. Be sure to try Greg’s guided Great Compassion Mantra.
Loving Kindness
This session goes into the energy and qualities of loving kindness which is the chief characteristic of Maitreya, the future Buddha.
Compassion
Compassion lies at the core of Buddhist thought, ethics, and practice. It is impossible to do the topic justice in one brief session so my hope is that as you listen to the session, it will stimulate you to further explore compassion as a way to enrich your own life and the lives of many others.
Happiness and Tonglen
This session focuses on ways in which we can choose happiness. It also introduces the meditation practice of Tonglen which focuses on developing and sending out compassion for oneself and others.
Happiness, Basic Goodness, and Mindfulness Meditation
This session includes an excerpt from an article about the Dalai Lama and presents the Buddhist idea of Basic Goodness that starts with the teaching that all people are intrinsically perfect, without defects or faults. Our shortcomings only obscure our basic goodness, they do not define who we are.
Gratitude
Many people find it difficult to have gratitude. We are always on a quest for something, restlessly we move toward one thing and another in our search for happiness. We need a better job, a loving partner, a new car, a more desirable place to live, a better diet, more exercise and so forth. However, to be grateful, to experience gratitude we have to stop or at least pause for a bit in order to notice and appreciate the abundance in our lives right now.
Class runs for 25 minutes and meditation for about 15 minutes
Recommended Meditations
Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation - this meditation introduces us to mind in its natural state which is spacious, open, and free.
Meditation on Spaciousness - this meditation slows down the number of thoughts that enter the mind and increases the space between one thought and the next.
Mindfulness Breathing Meditation - in this meditation we keep the mind focused on the present moment by attending to the breath.
