Perception (saññā) is one of the five aggregates. It is the activity of mind through which we receive, sort, and interpret sensory data. Depending on our ability to see perception and relate appropriately, we either remain bound to old patterns and conditioning, diversions, and distortions of view, to past and future concerns, even to quarrels and disputes –OR– we learn to skillfully relate to perception and use it to step up the process of liberating the mind. Much hinges on our ability to see and understand the workings of perception and to break up old patterns of attachment and identification.
In this course, we’ll examine the Buddha’s teaching on perception. We’ll work:
- to understand what the Buddha means by perception and the significant role it plays in our lives. It is a key player in keeping us bound or helping us get free
- to directly observe the simple and more complex forms it takes, so we can be more aware of its activity,
- to highlight where our attachment to perception gets us into trouble and the impact of attachment and unclear seeing,
- and to discover how our practice helps us navigate around attachment to perception, how it strengthens our capacity to relate in a way that supports the realization of freedom.
Course Prerequisite
All participants are required to have completed the 12-week Entering the Path online program.
Guiding Teacher
Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia has been a Dhamma teacher since 1990. She is a student of the western forest sangha, the disciples of Ajahn Sumedho and Ajahn Chah, and is a Lay Buddhist Minister in association with Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California. She served as resident teacher of IMS in Barre, Massachusetts from 1996 through 1999.
Commitment
This course requires considerable commitment from participants. We require attendance at weekly virtual meetings, as well as completion of small writing prompts throughout the program. The required time commitment is roughly 5-7 hours per week.
Each week includes:
- 1 hour of video lecture
- 1 hour of small group meeting
- 1 1/2 hours of personal time for reading suttas, reflections and key pointw
- Daily practice and digestion
- In addition, Taraniya will be offering optional one-on-one practice discussion opportunities.
Program Fee, Teacher Dāna and Scholarships
The course fee is $250. This does not include financial support for the Guiding teacher. As is customary at BCBS, there will be an opportunity to offer dāna to the teacher at the end of the program.
We are committed to making this program accessible to all. Scholarships are available to help supplement the course fee.
Course Registration
Registration will be conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis with no application required.
Upcoming Iterations
There are no planned upcoming iterations of this course.
