Foundations For Freedom: The Hinayana - Course IV: The Third Noble Truth

Course Outline

This class presents the third noble truth, Freedom from Suffering, and begins with an exploration of the 3rd Foundation of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of Effort.

Contemplating cessation of suffering, we first see the accessibility of the third noble truth as the gap. We are basically good. Realizing this to be true is that simple, and we are glimpsing this all the time. Joined with this is the full profundity of its meaning: The third noble truth signifies complete liberation from the entire cycle of samsaric existence itself – aging, sickness, death, and rebirth. Its full profundity is four-fold: (1) the cessation of all causes of suffering, (2) the peace of freedom from the suffering of the five skandhas themselves, (3) perfection of complete freedom from suffering and total joy, and (4) definite release - there is no going back to samsara from this state.

This combination of these two perspectives - the immediacy of the path and the view of profound transcendence - is essential. Without both perspectives, the path can become inaccessible, distant, esoteric or, on the other hand, Buddhism can be seen as existential humanism.

Class 1: Introduction to the Third Noble Truth and Mindfulness of Effort, with Acharya Dan Hessey.

This live session will meet on Sunday, November 8 at: 10:00am Pacific / 11:00am Mountain / 12:00pm Central / 1:00pm Eastern / 2:00pm Atlantic / 18:00 UK / 19:00 Central Europe 

Class 2: Non-Struggle, Cessation, and The Gap (Pre-recorded), with Acharya Suzann Duquette

Class 3: Resting in the Gap and Vipashyana (Pre-recorded), with Acharya Suzann Duquette

Class 4: Varieties of Cessation on the Path (Pre-recorded), with Acharya Dan Hessey

Class 5: Discussion Groups - Sunday, December 13

Live session to be announced.

NOTE: Live sessions will be recorded and available within the course.

Click here for the course reading list.

About the Teachers

Acharya Suzann Duquette has been a student in the Shambhala lineage for 45 years and has served as a teacher since the 1980s. Previously a co-director, she is currently Karmê Chöling's Resident Acharya. She is also Rupa Acharya, responsible for Shambhala’s liturgical forms, which includes the training of umdzes and chöpöns through the Shambhala Ritual Academy. Acharya Duquette respects the power of body awareness in deepening spiritual awakening and emphasizes body disciplines in her retreats and programs. She teaches widely, including Shambhala retreats and Mudra Space Awareness, and Daoist-Qigong in the lineage of Dr. Eva Wong.

Acharya Dan Hessey has been a student of the Sakyongs since 1973. He has taught meditation, Shambhala Buddhism, and Yijing related programs throughout North America.  He is currently residing at Karmê Chöling with his daughter who recently graduated from Whittier College. This year, he published two of the four planned volumes of Enlightened Society: A Shambhala Buddhist Reading of the Yijing on Amazon books.

Registration Options (Register at the bottom of this page for Course IV only)

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