Building on the practices developed in both the Satipatthāna Meditation and Mindfulness of Breathing programs offered by BCBS, Brahmavihāras and Emptiness offers eight weeks of focused study and practice guided by the teachings of renowned scholar and monastic, Bhikkhu Anālayo.
We are delighted to invite new and returning participants to apply for Brahmavihāras and Emptiness, Spring 2026. If you have not completed the BCBS Brahmavihāras and Emptiness program previously, please select the application for New Participants. If you have completed the BCBS Brahmavihāras and Emptiness program in the past, please select the application for Returning Participants. All small groups will include both new and returning participants.
April 4 - May 30, 2026
February 16, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
8 weeks
10-12 hours per week
Intensive
1) Having an established mindfulness practice
2) Having either earned a certificate of completion from our Online Immersive Program, Mindfulness of Breathing, with Bhikkhu Anālayo at BCBS or another center.
• Video lectures
• Audio guided meditations
• Reading assignments
• Sutta study
• Discussion forums
• Review questions
• Weekly 90 minute live small group meetings, including:
• Break-out practice and sutta study discussions
• Moderated weekly written discussion forums
Brahmavihāras and Emptiness is an eight-week, in-depth study of two meditation practices. The first is brahmavihāra meditation, or the cultivation of kindness, compassion, gladness, and equanimity. The second is the gradual entry into emptiness as described in the Shorter Discourse on Emptiness (Cūḷasuññata-sutta, MN 121) and its Chinese parallel. Both of these modes of practice are related to progress to awakening. The course builds on the meditative skills developed in the Satipatthāna Meditation and Mindfulness of Breathing practices.
Each week students will engage with recorded guided meditations and video lectures by Bhikkhu Anālayo, complete reading assignments from Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation, attend the 90-minute weekly group meeting, and contribute to a written online forum.
Timeline:
Applications Open: January 12, 2026
Applications Close: February 16, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
Initial Acceptance Notifications: February 23, 2026
Registration Period: February 23 – March 16, 2026
Orientation Week: March 29 – April 4, 2026
Program Dates: April 4 – May 30, 2026
| Pre-Course | Welcome Module, Orientation, and Access to Week 1 (Brahmavihāra 1) |
| Week 1 | Brahmavihāra 1 |
| Week 2 | Brahmavihāra 2 |
| Week 3 | Emptiness 1 |
| Week 4 | Emptiness 2 |
| Week 5 | Emptiness 3 |
| Week 6 | Emptiness 4 |
| Week 7 | Emptiness 4 |
| Week 8 | Conclusion |
This program requires considerable commitment from participants and is not a self-study program. We require attendance at weekly virtual meetings as well as completion of writing prompts and program assessments. The required time commitment is roughly 10-12* hours per week.
Weekly individual participation includes:
*Participants are strongly encouraged to read Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation in advance of the program (later referring back to the book as a reference/refresher for each weekly topic). Otherwise, participants should anticipate an additional 2-3 hours per week for reading during the program.
**The small group meeting is the only program component that happens at a fixed time, and meetings will occur on the same day/time each week.
Click here to view the Small Group Meeting Times. Applicants will select their available times on the application. Attendance is mandatory.
BCBS keeps prices as affordable as possible and offers Tier Pricing and Financial Assistance options to keep programs accessible.
Tier Pricing: You may choose a tier and pay according to your means. Tier 1 covers the actual cost of the program. Tiers 2 and 3 are subsidized rates made possible through the generosity of donors. The Benefactor rate enables you to offer additional, tax-deductible support to BCBS and fellow program participants. Please select the highest tier that fits your budget to help BCBS keep programs accessible. Click the tab below for additional financial assistance options.
Teacher Dāna: In keeping with the tradition of teachers offering the Buddhadharma out of a spirit of generosity, program fees do not include compensation for teachers. There will be an opportunity to support your teacher(s) through the practice of dāna at the end of the program.
We are committed to making this program accessible to all. Financial assistance is available to offset the program fee if needed. When invited to register, you can select financial assistance of 30%, 40%, or 50% off the lowest tier ($450). If you require financial assistance greater than 50%, please indicate what amount feels affordable to you, and we will try to accommodate your request.
Applications Open: January 12, 2026
Applications Close: February 16, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
Initial Acceptance Notifications: February 23, 2026
Registration Period: February 23 – March 16, 2026
Orientation Week: March 29 – April 4, 2026
Program Dates: April 4 – May 30, 2026
We understand that personal circumstances may require you to cancel your registration. In these cases, please contact us right away. If you cancel before the program starts, you are eligible for a full refund minus a $100 administrative fee. Registration fees are nonrefundable after the program starts.
Bhikkhu Anālayo is a scholar-monk and the author of numerous books on meditation and early Buddhism, such as Satipatthāna: The Direct Path to Realization, Perspectives on Satipatthāna, and Satipatthāna Meditation: A Practice Guide. He is a Faculty Member at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, having retired from being a professor at the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of Hamburg. Bhikkhu Anālayo’s main area of academic research is early Buddhism, with a special interest in the topics of meditation and women in Buddhism. At the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, he regularly participates in online programs and undertakes research into meditation-related themes.
Bhikkhu Anālayo’s teachings for this program are offered through video lectures, guided meditations, and readings. There will be no direct interaction with Bhikkhu Anālayo.
