E-Vam Institute Program Series:
Buddhism and Meditation In Daily Life

Saturdays 21 June, August 23, October 18
In-person & Online
*Each session is a standalone course, you are welcome to join at any time*

In this Introductory series, we shall considers the essentials of the Buddhist Path. Through deepening our understanding of key Buddhist concepts and practices, we can then apply Buddhism to our lives and enrich ourselves. Offering practical guidance, these courses are relevant not only for those new to Buddhism but also provide an opportunity for anyone to refresh their practice.

The Buddhist approach is asking us to embrace life more fully, more realistically, and with passion…. This is why, if we are really practicing, we cannot separate Buddhist philosophy from Buddhist practice…. [this approach] lays the foundation for the Buddhist philosophy of life.

– Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX, Integral Buddhism: Developing all aspects of one’s personhood

This series explores essential questions about Buddhism:

• What is Buddhism?
• Why do we meditate?
• What is the relationship between Buddhist practice and philosophy?
• What does it mean to be a Buddhist?
• How do I integrate Buddhism into my daily life? 

Course on 18th October

The Effectiveness of Spiritual Practice 

No matter where we are on a path, it is always beneficial to pause and seek orientation. Words like practice, path, and goal are often used as if their meaning were self-evident, yet without reflection they can remain vague. What kind of effect is my practice having? What am I actually moving toward?

This course will explore the meaning and effectiveness of practice in daily life. Our inquiry will unfold around several core questions:

• What is practice?
  Beyond forms and techniques, what do we mean when we speak of practice?
• What is the path?
  Traditions often describe a “path” as if its meaning were obvious, yet what do we actually mean by a path? What is your path? 
• What is the goal of the path?
  How do we understand the goal of our path—both worldly and spiritual?
• How do we know our practice is effective?
  What signs or measures can help us discern whether practice is bearing fruit, in daily life and in deeper spiritual aspiration?

This course will explore these questions from multiple angles, drawing on different Buddhist approaches. Our aim is to clarify not only how practice is described, but how it can be evaluated and embodied—so that its fruits are evident both in ordinary living and in the unfolding of the spiritual path.

Facilitator Bio

Dechen Davies has been a student of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche for more than 25 years. For eight of those years she was ordained as a nun and engaged in several short term retreats. 

She is a provisional psychologist and has a research master’s in youth suicide prevention. She is passionate about bringing joy into dharma practice and learning how to be gentle with our mistakes. 

Event details for 18th October
Session 1: 10am – 11am
Break: 11am – 11:15am
Session 2: 11:15am – 12:30pm

Pricing
Full event: $30
Discount applies! (see below for details)
In-person & Online

Tickets