Course Description:
“Nothing is hidden, but there is an infinite world we cannot see.”
In this online program we will explore how our sensations and thoughts are projections arising through psyche and soma. The elements of our experience—what are called the five aggregates of body or form, feeling tone, perception, volitional formation, and consciousness—do not give us direct access to reality and can easily mislead us. Still, they are the currents of ungraspable, inconceivable Buddha-Mind and they are our gateways to liberation. We will investigate the analysis of perception and awareness in the Surangama Sūtra and its pertinence to contemporary perceptual neuropsychology and psychotherapy, together with its teaching of the Matrix of the Thus-Come-One in Zen, Yogācāra, and Vajrayāna Buddhism. We’ll practice sense-focused meditations drawn from the sutra, along with movements from Dayan (Wild Goose) Qigong to explore the teachings in movement and stillness.
We’ll examine primary text selections from the sutra, as well as exercises from Bob’s recent book That Is Not Your Mind! – Zen Reflections on the Surangama Sutra.
Listen to Roberts invitation on YouTube.
Prerequisites:
The online program is open to both relative beginners and long-time practitioners: at least one year of established meditation practice is required. The Surangama Sutra has not been widely disseminated in the West, so experienced participants are likely to encounter new teaching stories and practical exercises, while novices will find a good introduction to the joys of meditation and movement.
This program is hosted on Zoom and closed captions are available. You can check the time of the group sessions in your timezone here: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com. The schedule of Zoom meetings for this program (shown in US Eastern Time) is as follows:
Friday, April 21
7:30–9:30 pm ET
Saturday, April 22
10:00 am - 12:00 pm ET
2:30–5:30 pm ET
7:30–9:30 pm ET
Sunday, April 23
10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST
Please note that although sessions will be recorded, they will not be available to participants.
Cancellation Policy:
Registration fees for online programs are nonrefundable after the program start date. Cancellations prior to the program start date will incur a $25 cancellation fee. For intensive, application-based programs, the cancellation fee is $50.
DEI:
As we work to become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, we invite feedback/suggestions you may have regarding ways that we can make participation in the program more accessible and welcoming. Please email us at contact@buddhistinquiry.org.
