Wise Effort in Working With Fear and Anxiety: A Practical Guide

Instructor(s): Michael Grady

Program Description:

How can we respond skillfully when fear or anxiety arise? In this program we will explore practices of calming and insight/wisdom (samatha and vipassana) that offer the potential for discovering freedom even during times of fear or anxiety, both in our formal practice as well as the challenging conditions of our daily lives.

We will investigate ways of calming the mind while seeing into the impermanent and not-self nature of fear and anxiety. Instead of being lost in identification with or overwhelmed by aversion, this shift in attitude and approach can facilitate faith in our capacity to live our lives unburdened by the limitations of these habits of mind.

Each week we will learn and deepen practices and explore what arises through these practices and through our mutual exploration and sharing. Together we will apply Wise Effort to working with fear and anxiety through practice, discussion, guided meditation, and developing a compassionate attitude towards these adverse feelings.

Online Schedule:

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:

Meeting Time: Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 PM ET

Meeting Dates, October 19, 26, November 2, 9, 16

Please note that sessions will be recorded and made available to participants within 48 hours of each session. Recordings remain available for two weeks from the program end date with the exception of one-time events, available indefinitely on our website.

Cancellation Policy:

Registration fees for all online programs are nonrefundable after the program start date. Cancellations prior to the program start date incur a $25 cancellation fee. Application-based and online path programs incur a $50 cancellation fee in 2023 and a $100 cancellation fee beginning 2024.

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.

About the Instructor(s):
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  Michael Grady

  Michael Grady began practicing Insight Meditation with Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg in 1974 when they first returned from Asia. He has also been a student of the late Chan master Sheng Yen who taught the practice of Silent Illumination - a practice that emphasizes relaxing the body and mind while practicing awareness without expectations or an agenda. Michael is a Core teacher at IMS in Barre, Ma, and was a Guiding teacher at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center for over 20 years. Having taught extensively in both intensive retreats and in an urban dharma center, Michael encourages an attitude towards practice that is wholistic - that all of life is viewed as an opportunity for awakening to freedom.