Bangkok Shambhala Meditation Group

Join us for a meditation, reading and discussion class every Wednesday evening from 6:30pm - 8pm. Join by Google Meet or attend the class in person at the Shambhala Center.

This weekly event includes group meditation, followed by reading of a chapter from the current book, followed by group discussion on the material, plus refreshments and social time at the end.

Readings and discussions are based on the book, "The Essence of Buddhism: An Introduction to Its Philosophy and Practice" by Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche. This lucid overview of the Buddhist path takes the perspective of the three "vehicles" of Tibetan Buddhism: the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. While these vehicles are usually presented as a historical development, they are here equated with the attitudes that individuals bring to their Buddhist practice. Basic to them all, however, is the need to understand our own immediate condition. The primary tool for achieving this is meditation, and The Essence of Buddhism serves as a handbook for the various meditative approaches of Buddhist practice.

Beginning with the Four Noble Truths, Traleg Rinpoche incorporates the expansive vision of the bodhisattva path and the transformative vision of Tantra. The final chapters present the transcendent view of Mahamudra. This view dispenses with all dualistic fixations and directly realizes the natural freedom of the mind itself.

This is a drop-in class. No previous attendance, registration, or fee is required. Donations are always appreciated, but not mandatory.
Suggested Donation range 150 - 300 Baht. The Bangkok Shambhala Center (which is a Thai non-profit Association) remains open because of the ongoing generosity of our members and program participants. Please be generous.

What does it mean to practice mindfulness beyond the meditation cushion?

Join international meditation teacher Jeff Oliver for an introduction to Freestyle Vipassana, an approach to mindfulness and insight meditation that emphasizes awareness of whatever is arising in the body and mind, here and now.

As Jeff explains, Freestyle Vipassana is not a new system, technique, or school of meditation. Rather, it is a way of practicing that moves beyond fixed forms and postures, encouraging us to bring awareness into everything we do.

While formal meditation provides an opportunity to cultivate mindfulness, the practice does not end when we get up from the cushion. Our thoughts, emotions, and habitual reactions throughout the day offer continual opportunities to develop greater awareness and insight.
Through this approach, we can begin to recognize our patterns more clearly, make wiser choices, and cultivate greater freedom in how we relate to ourselves and the world around us.

This session is open to everyone, regardless of religious background or previous meditation experience. Whether you are an experienced meditator or simply curious about mindfulness, you are welcome to join us for this opportunity to explore a practical approach to meditation that can be integrated into everyday life.

### About Jeff Oliver

Jeff Oliver is an international mindfulness meditation teacher, speaker, intensive retreat facilitator, author, spiritual advisor, and founder of Freestyle Vipassana.

From 1993 to 2002, Jeff lived as a Buddhist monk in Myanmar, where he immersed himself in the Theravada Buddhist tradition and the practice of Vipassana meditation.

Since leaving monastic life, he has continued to share his experience and understanding of meditation through teachings, talks, and intensive retreats. His approach emphasizes the practical application of mindfulness and insight in daily life, alongside the cultivation of unconditional love, forgiveness, compassion, wisdom, and harmony.

Jeff's teaching encourages us to look directly at our experience, learn from the insights that arise, and bring greater awareness to the choices we make and the way we live. His motto is: Live and Learn, Laugh and Love.