Module 1: The Foundation

Module 1: The Foundation

Shamatha & Vipashyana • Fall 2025

“The practice of meditation is not a matter of trying to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss, or tranquility, but simply to see things as they are.” — Chögyam Trungpa

This course introduces the fundamentals of Buddhist meditation. We begin with shamatha (calm abiding) and vipashyana (insight) as practical ways to work with the mind. Meditation is not about escaping or fixing anything. It is about being present with experience, as it is.

We explore the Three Yanas: Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, as a way of understanding how the Buddhist path unfolds. The three marks of existence are approached as insights that arise naturally through reflection and experience.

The course also looks at obstacles to practice, how to meet them without struggle, and how emotions can become workable. We focus on how meditation can be integrated into daily life, not just practiced on the cushion.

Each session includes guided meditation, short talks, group discussion, and readings from The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma.

What We’ll Explore

• The Three Yana map of the path
• Shamatha and vipashyana as foundational practices
• The three prajnas: hearing, contemplating, and meditating
• The three marks of existence: impermanence, suffering, and egolessness
• Common obstacles and how to relate with them
• Emotional energy as a doorway, not a problem
• Weaving meditation into ordinary life

Course Format

• Duration: 6 weeks
• Live sessions: Weekly, 90 minutes on Zoom
• Structure: Meditation, Dharma talk, discussion
• Access: Recordings available after each session

Open to all. No previous experience required. Join one module or walk the full path.