|
The principles of the course are universal,
although much of the material includes Buddhist philosophy
drawn from the course leader’s 29 years as a
Buddhist meditation teacher. Three of these principles
that work together are at the heart of the program:
| 1. |
Developing and
Increasing Wholesome States: The Buddhist teaching
on Wise Effort includes developing and increasing
wholesome states (ones that lead to true happiness).
We can intentionally invite and cultivate these
healthy states. |
| 2. |
Focusing
on Gladness That Arises with Wholesome States:
While engaged in a healthy activity we experience
an actual positive uplift of energy. The teachings
speak of the value of experiencing “gladness
connected with the wholesome” and of delight
that “gladdens the heart.” By being
very present for this gladness we increase its
impact on us. This gladness is what I’m
calling a joyful heart. |
| 3. |
Inclining
the Mind towards Wholesome States: “Whatever
one frequently thinks and ponders upon will be
the inclination of their mind,” taught the
Buddha. As we incline the mind toward wholesome
states of well-being, such as gratitude or kindness,
they are more available to us. Current brain research
confirms this. As we practice certain states of
mind we actually change our brain structure, deepening
the groove towards depression or happiness. |
(back to top) Each month we will incline the mind towards
a specific wholesome (healthy) state bringing awareness
to the gladness that accompanies it. The monthly themes
are presented in a particular sequence of topics.
There is a presentation on each theme for the month,
along with meditations and experiential exercises.
The on-site meetings are recorded and made available
online for download to your computer or MP3 player.
There will be people from all over the U.S. and abroad
doing the course on the Internet. All participants
will receive access to the letters describing the
monthly themes and practices (about ten pages long),
including email notification of their availability
on the website within a few days of each on-site class
meeting. In addition, mid-way through the month you
will be notified that a mid-month letter (approximately
five pages) is available to help keep you on track.
Participants
are encouraged to do the course with a buddy. The
support of a partner with whom to check in regarding
the themes and practices helps keep the course in
one’s awareness. Also, Internet participants
benefit from doing exercises from the on-site class
with their buddies. The course is even more effective
when done this way. For some, the check-in may be
weekly (5-10 minutes by phone or email). For others,
it may be more or less frequent. (If you do the course
with a buddy, it’s important to honor whatever
agreement you mutually have about checking in.) You
can use our Message Board to find your buddy. (The
Message Board can be found in the Members section
of the website.)
On-site participants will be able to choose their
own buddies at class. Email participants, and people
missing the first class, should use the Message
Board to find a buddy, if they don’t already
know someone they would like to buddy up with.
Although the idea of cultivating more joy
is meant to be an uplifting experience, it takes genuine
intention to develop new habits that begin to naturally
incline the mind that way. The more you put into the
course, the more you will get out of it. However,
you can do it to whatever extent you are able. We
have enough responsibilities to make us feel guilty
as it is. Joy does not follow from guilt. You will
be encouraged to do whatever practices we are focusing
on in a way that works for you.
| 1. |
Quiet time:
You'll be encouraged to take some quiet time regularly.
If you have a daily meditation practice that’s
great. However, meditation practice experience
is not a prerequisite. If you do not meditate,
then even taking a five minute coffee or tea break
to relax and stop the momentum of busyness will
be very helpful. |
| 2. |
Reading: You
will be encouraged to read one book: How We
Choose to Be Happy by Rick Foster and Greg
Hicks. You can order it from your local
bookstore. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Spirit
Rock Meditation Center, along with Cody’s,
and Black Oak Books in Berkeley, have ordered
the book. It is also available in paperback from
Amazon. |
| 3. |
Other supportive
practices: You will be encouraged to do other
practices regularly, including some body exercise
or movement (yoga, exercise, walking), some regular
creative expression (singing, drawing, writing,
dancing, etc.) and keeping a journal. Remember
these are all suggestions. No guilt. No pressure
to do everything or anything. Just do what you
do in a way that works for you. The more you do
the more you will get out of it. However, it’s
completely up to you. |
The word "joy"
may be a stretch for some. Perhaps you can’t
imagine yourself skipping through a meadow with childlike
exuberance. Don’t worry. Truly happy people
are not happy all the time. They feel sad and angry
and have the whole range of human emotions. We’re
not talking about having a syrupy facade or being
in denial. What we’re calling joy is a general
feeling of aliveness and well-being that is characterized
by engagement with life, meeting its ups and downs
with authenticity and perspective. It can look very
different from person to person, from a quiet sense
of contentment to bubbly enthusiasm. That will be
one of your discoveries—identifying how joy
expresses itself uniquely through you.
(back
to top)
COURSE
SCHEDULE AND LOGISTICS
We
will have eleven monthly sessions (ten themes and
one final closing session). All participants will
receive access to the monthly themes and practices,
including email notification of their availability
on the website within a few days of each on-site class
meeting.
For
those who can come to the meetings in person in Berkeley,
CA, there will be two separate classes each month,
one on Tuesday night and the other on Wednesday night.
People will be registered for one or the other as
they sign-up for the course as an on-site participant.
| Time: |
Time: 7:00-9:30
PM the last Tuesday of each month, and the last
Wednesday of each month, except June and September,
as shown below. |
| Location: |
Berkeley,
CA/Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda.
The location is between Marin and Solano Avenues
in North Berkeley, with plenty of parking in the
lot and on the street. |
| January
29 |
July 1--No
meeting in June |
| February 26 |
July 29 |
| March 25 |
August 26 |
| April 29 |
September
23--the 4th
Tuesday,
not
the last one |
| May 27 |
October 28 |
| |
November 18--the 3rd Tuesday,
to avoid Thanksgiving week |
| January
30 |
July
2--No meeting in June |
| February 27 |
July 30 |
| March 26 |
August 27 |
| April 30 |
September
24
|
| May 28 |
October 29 |
| |
November 19--the 3rd Wednesday,
to avoid Thanksgiving week |
(back
to top)
No
one is turned away from the online course due to lack
of funds.
The
suggested donation for the course is $250. (There
are 10 monthly themes and practices.) We do not want
financial considerations to keep anyone from participating.
Keep in mind that you will get out of it what you
invest into it. If the full amount is not something
you feel you can do at this time, please consider
offering what, for you, is a workable investment.
You are welcome to offer anything that works for you.
Because seating may be limited at the on-site meetings
in Berkeley, first preference will be given to those
who pay the entire course fee at the time of registration
on a first come, first served basis. We will have,
however, a limited number of scholarship slots available.
We hope that those admitted to the live classes all
have a commitment to attend regularly. You will hear
from the course administrator as to whether or not
you have a confirmed seat as the first class date
approaches.
Please
do not come to the on-site meetings in Berkeley if
you do not have a confirmed seat. We will begin a
wait list when we reach capacity and you will be informed
if you are on it. Those on the wait list will be notified
if seats become available. People on the wait list
for the live meetings are still fully enrolled in
the course as online participants. This means you
have full access to the course materials on the website,
including audio recordings of the on-site meetings
and all of the written materials.
If
possible, it helps if you pay for the entire course
at the beginning. This will increase the likelihood
of sustained individual and group commitment, which
is important in doing this together. It also greatly
simplifies the bookkeeping. If, however, it is more
workable for you to do it in two or three or even
monthly segments, please indicate that as you sign
up. The course can be paid online by credit card,
or by check. (See How to
Enroll, below.)
(back
to top)
HOW TO ENROLL
To enroll, please follow these steps:
| 1. |
First, enter
the email address, admin@awakeningjoy.info,
into your email program's address book. Otherwise,
the spam filter at your Internet service provider’s
site may block as spam our email messages, which
notify you of the availability of the monthly
themes and practices that are integral to the
course. |
| 2. |
Click this Sign
Up link to enroll. Fill out the
Sign Up form with all the required information.
|
| 3. |
After
you fill out the Sign Up form, you will be automatically
directed to the Payment Options page, where
you will be able to select 3 different ways
to pay for the course. There are no discounts
for missed classes, since all participants have
access to the material covered in the classes.
No one will be excluded
from the online course due to finances. If the
suggested donation is a consideration, you are
welcome to offer whatever works for you, whether
a one-time offering or over time. |
| 4. |
Once your payment
or your payment plan is received, you will be
given log in information. Then you can go
to the Members section
and log in to view the course materials and begin.
If you have any questions, email us at admin@awakeningjoy.info
and we will do everything we can to help. |
The
course is intended to be a fun and nourishing experience
for you. Think of it as a gift you're giving yourself,
rather than one more thing you have to do. May you
find the course helpful in bringing more well-being,
happiness and joy to your life.
(back
to top)
|
