Liberation from the Cycle of Suffering

 Observing our lives, we may ask, “Why do I suffer so?”

Looking directly at the experience of mind, we begin to understand our suffering to be the result of confusion about ourselves and the phenomena of our world. Renouncing the painful cycle of confused action (karma), we use the natural inquisitiveness of mind to see how confusion arises, and therefore how it could simply cease, allowing awake wisdom to manifest.
 
This class will be an in-depth study of the origin of suffering (ignorance of the true nature of reality), the sequential steps (nidanas) of increasing confusion and mental suffering, and resulting actions (karma) which are unskillful at best, and harmful to oneself and/or others at worst.   This psychology applies to the full range of human suffering, from the causing of the tiniest hurt feelings due to an unkind word to the causing of international warfare.  Fortunately, the sequential steps of increasing confusion and suffering can be reversed such that the original ignorance can be eliminated.  Once this occurs, the natural, brilliant and positive aspects of the mind are free to express themselves unhindered.  This is liberation.    

A generosity policy applies for those for whom the full price would prevent attendance. Please contact Charlotte Brodie at  [email protected] 

Director: Charlotte Brodie

Charlotte Brodie began studying and practicing Buddhism at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1983. She joined the Tibetan Buddhist lineage of Chogyam Trungpa in 1984, and has been practicing and studying under Trungpa Rinpoche and his dharma heir, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, ever since. She teaches classes on Buddhist meditation and philosophy regularly at the Burlington Shambhala Meditation Center.