Self and Not-Self
An eight-week online program exploring the intersection of Self and the Buddhist teachings on Not-Self.
Are you curious about how the Buddhist teachings on Not-Self figure into how we live our daily lives?
Have you ever wondered about the role identity plays on a spiritual path?
This online course offers:
Lecturing Teachers
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Curriculum
Week 1: Introduction & the Relevance of this Course for Modern Buddhist Practice
Brian Lesage
Week 2: Introduction to the Teachings on Not-Self
Joseph Goldstein
Week 3: Freedom from the Self Created through Craving & Views
Brian Lesage
Week 4: Freedom from the Self Created through Conceit
Bonnie Duran
Week 5: Interweaving Not-Self and Identity within Early Buddhism
Brian Lesage
Week 6: The Psychological Importance of Identity
Jack Engler
Week 7: Examining Cultural Spiritual Bypassing
Sebene Selassie
Week 8: Conclusion
Brian Lesage
Commitment and Attendance
This course requires attendance at small-group meetings via video conference every week. We do not require attendance for large-group Q/A sessions on occasional weeks. These sessions will be recorded. Including the meeting times and time for reviewing other materials, the required time commitment is roughly 3 hours per week.
Each week includes:
- 30 minutes of video lecture
- 30 minutes of guided meditation
- 1 hour of small group or large group meetings
- 1 hour of personal time for reading suttas, reflections, and key points
- Additional time for personal practice and digestion
Over the course of the program, participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the facilitating teachers for sign-up sessions of 15-30 minutes each.
Registration Process and Pre-Course Conversation
This course requires an application due to limited space. If you are accepted, we require a short (10 minutes or less) video conference with a BCBS staff member to ensure clarity of commitment and comfort level with technology. There is a prerequisite of one-week of continuous silent meditation retreat experience or a familiarity with vipassana meditation practice and Buddhism.
Program Fee, Teacher Dāna, and Scholarships
The course fee is $325. This does not include financial support for group and individual meetings held by the facilitating teachers. As is customary at BCBS, there will be an opportunity to offer dāna to the teachers 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.
Upcoming Iterations
This course has no planned future iterations.
