Appreciating Change
How does change impact our lives? Whether our transitions bring us joy or pain, they each inevitably lead to further changes, and more adjustment. With the clarity of meditation we realize how precious each moment is in our lives. This feeling leads us to the exhilaration and commitment which makes life meaningful. Instruction is in a mindfulness meditation used to focus the self in gratitude, openness and wisdom. This seminar explores the three kinds of suffering caused by impermanence, and explains how the three poisons of attachment, aversion and ignorance increase our levels of pain. By exploring the six perfections of generosity, patience, ethics, joyous perseverance, concentration and wisdom, we can begin to see a pathway out of this difficult situation. Once we realize that all sentient beings share our predicament and that we are interdependent, developing the wish and the resolve to assist all of them in achieving the freedom from this suffering allows us to generate bodhicitta; a compassionate loving kindness that is all inclusive. Once these principles have been understood, we will train in concentration meditation on the breath, followed by an insight walking meditation in the gardens outside.