The quality of our attention shapes our world. If we feel stressed, frustrated, or stuck in harmful patterns of thinking and behaving, our attention may be working against us, making life feel like a constant struggle. This quality of attention sees the world as made up of separate, disconnected things – including ourselves.
Two powerful traditions, Buddhism and Stoicism, offer ways to train our attention. They help us shift our focus to life’s natural flow, creating clarity, peace, and a deeper sense of connection to everything around us. Stoicism is a powerful ancient Greek philosophical and meditative tradition that focuses on wise attending to our way of thinking. Stoicism also develops the contemplative sense of belonging to the whole living and intelligent universe. It offers its own version of mindfulness, which is trained in daily life.
In Buddhism, the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta teaches that our attention and the things we focus on influence and change each other. By gradually training our attention to notice subtler aspects of life, we can cultivate insights into our existence.
Being in nature can boost our mood and improve our health. Integrating time in nature with meditative practice can support cultivating attention and well-being, helping us with depression, feelings of inadequacy, suppressed anger, and increasing joy in our lives.
In this program, we’ll explore the Satipaṭṭhāna sutta, Stoic teachings, and recent research on the relationship between humans and nature. We will integrate what we learn from the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, Stoic teachings, and contemporary research on humans in nature into simple yet powerful meditative exercises, helping us live in tune with nature's rhythms.
Here’s what you can expect:
Learn about human flourishing: Explore the history and key concepts of human flourishing from different philosophical traditions, including Ancient Greek, Indian, Chinese, and modern Western philosophies, focusing on Theravāda Buddhism and Roman Stoicism.
Discover meditative methods: Learn ways to connect with nature’s processes and improve well-being. We’ll focus on exercises that help you tune into the natural rhythms around you and within your own body.
Reflect on your journey: Share your experiences and insights with a supportive community, allowing you to deepen your practice.
Explore the philosophy behind meditation: Gain a deeper understanding of the philosophical roots of meditation and how it enhances life.
This program is designed to explore how meditation and a connection to nature can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life.
Program Format
We will meet once a week for an intensive lecture, meditation, and discussion. In between meetings, participants are expected to read some texts (up to 20 pages a week), explore a chosen contemplative exercise (such as formal meditation session or contemplative writing), spend some time meditatively outdoors (which may be substituted with exercises of attuning to the rhythms of our bodies for those who cannot go outdoors), and undertake a life experiment. An example of such an experiment is a classical Stoic exercise of perceiving each day as the whole life: we imagine being born with waking up and dying with falling asleep.
