Awake in the World | Course One
The Six Perfections
Sundays | June 7, 14, 21
10 AM - 12 PM Pacific
Online Only
Led by Susan Shannon
A disciple asks the Buddha, "How many bases for training are there for those seeking enlightenment?" The Buddha replied, "There are Six: Generosity, Ethical Discipline, Patience, Enthusiastic Effort, Concentrative Meditation, and Wisdom."
- from the Large Sutra on the Perfection of Wisdom (Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita)
Of all the practices you can do as a Buddhist practitioner, the practice of the Six Perfections (paramitas) is one that will supercharge your Awakening.
These Six Perfections describe the true nature of an enlightened being, which is to say they are our own true nature. If they don't seem to be our true nature, it is because the perfections are obscured by our delusion, anger, greed, and fear.
The first three paramitas are said to be tools of relation - how we relate to others.
Generosity includes setting good and honest boundaries around our giving to others and ourselves.
To do that employs Ethical Discipline, said to be the fuel that keeps us on the Bodhisattva path.
And Patience–this is the big one that gives us the scope of practice that includes all past and future lifetimes!
The next three: Joyful Diligence, Meditative Concentration and Wisdom are more about refining ourselves to truly walk the Bodhisattva's Path. We could say we've amended the soil of us, planted our basic crop and have begun to reap some harvest.
Tending to the roots gives us Joyful Diligence, the boundless energy of a child at play. (Or Tigger, bouncing on his tail in celebration of being alive.)
That energy provides the octane necessary to develop the focus of Meditative Concentration
Which in turn, becomes the basis for insight, and with the awakening of Bodhicitta, becomes a true spiritual practice, steeped in the Wisdom.
None of this is easy, or we wouldn't be here. Together we will refine our path, weaving our confusion, skill, practice, apprehension, doubt, confidence etc, into the complex tapestry of our lives.
Fees:
$150 (series fee)
$175 (series fee + support)
$100 (Sukhasiddhi Member
The deadline to register is Friday, June 5 at 12 PM (Pacific).
**Please Note: This Awake in the World class series is included in the Dharma Training Program as part of the curriculum. If you are already enrolled in DTP, you do not need to register separately for this series. **Please Note: This Awake in the World class series is NOT included in the Bodhi Program.
If you are enrolled in Bodhi and are interested in this series, you will need to register separately.
MEET THE TEACHER
Susan Shannon, M. Div. is a seeker, teacher, earth and animal steward, and devotee of the heart. She has worked in the fields of Emotional Literacy and Restorative Justice for over 20 years, incorporating over 45 years of Buddhist practice and study from the Tibetan tradition. She’s worked with various diverse populations all her life including inmates, Tibetan refugees, the homeless, the differently-abled, at-risk youth, and has served as the Buddhist Chaplain to the men in San Quentin State Prison and Death Row. She currently resides in the San Juan Islands where she writes, provides spiritual coaching and tends her land.