Queer Dharma Meditation Group (LGBTQI+)

In the process of writing his book, Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom from a Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, author Andrew Holecek had the great opportunity to interview a number of Buddhist meditation masters and ask, "What is the best way to prepare for death?"

We will contemplate the profound “heart-advice” given by four of these masters, allowing for ample time to discuss their teachings. ”All emphasize the fundamental importance of one’s state of mind: for those who are dying, letting go, and for those who attend them, love.” (quote from Francesca Fremantle, translator of The Tibetan Book of the Dead)

This program is part of a monthly series hosted by the Before I Die group. Each month we will have an opportunity to explore our relationship to various aspects of death and dying through specific topics often presented by guest speakers. All are welcome!

"There is no advice separately for death and for life. Same advice for life and for death. If you don’t know how to live then you don’t know how to prepare for death either. So the question is: how do you want to live?"
-Anam Thubten Rinpoche

No prerequisites. Open to all levels of experience.

REGISTER AT:
https://la.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=797332

What is contentment? Generally, we think it's having enough money, enough love, enough sustenance, and security. And yet, somehow, it's never enough. "Contentment," in this sense, remains elusive.

In the Shambhala teachings, we regard "contentment" as simply resting in the moment, acknowledging and being with "what is," a state of simplicity.

Contentment in Everyday Life offers an exploration of genuine contentment through the foundational views of the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings.

In this class we will learn how to:

• Cultivate friendliness towards ourselves
• Meet suffering with gentleness
• Work skillfully with our emotions
• Develop confidence in how to be truly content

This course provides a good introduction for beginning meditators and is appropriate for seasoned meditators as well. Through guided meditation instruction and practice, talks, contemplation, and group discussion, we gain an understanding of unconditional contentment and start to appreciate life as it is.

This program is being offered both in person at our Burbank center (4200 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505) and online via Zoom.

All are welcome. No prior experience is necessary.