Curriculum Information

Buddhist theories of mind and character; meditation methods and systems; models of the path; meditation and therapy; attitudes to the body; comparative mysticism within and beyond Buddhism.

The mind's potential and hindrances to its growth; Some principles of meditation; Samatha (Calm) meditation: role and goals; Mindfulness of breathing for calm; Developing the 'immeasurable' emotions; Other Samatha meditations (on the three refuges, deities, death, the body, foulness, the 32 marks); Character types; Samatha-yana and Vipassana-yana; Vipassana (Insight) meditation: methods and goals; Mindfulness of the body for insight; Mindfulness of feelings, citta and dhammas; The thirty-seven factors conducive to awakening; Skilful, unskilful and neutral mental factors in Abhidhamma thought; Models of the path: the seven purifications, the five paths; Samatha and Vipasyana in Northern Buddhism; Samatha and Vipasyana in Eastern Buddhism; Pure Land visualizations; Chanting as meditation; Tantric visualization methods and symbolism; The variety of ma??alas and their uses; The five tantric 'families'; The six yogas of Naropa; Mahamudra and Dzogchen; Zen: some general principles; Zen Just Sitting meditation; Zen koan meditation; The role of the teacher in meditative training and the ethics of the teacher-pupil relationship; Problems and dangers experienced by meditators; The meeting of Buddhist meditation and western Psychology.