The Buddha taught that to reduce suffering and live a happy life, you must watch your actions and live a life of virtue. Luckily, he laid out a code of ethics to follow that would do just that.
In a world where morality seems to be declining, in this course will learn the reasons to choose an ethical life. How this leads to deeper happiness and fulfillment, and ultimately freedom from suffering.
The Ethical Life covers the Buddhist code of ethics and the relationship between an ethical way of life, meditating deeply, and experiencing ultimate reality.
Topics include: the three trainings; one day vows; the five lifetime lay vows; the individual freedom vows; an outline of novice, intermediate, and fully ordained monastic vows; the essence of vows; the basic nature of vows; reasons to live an ethical life; reasons to take vows; why morality is the key to meditation and seeing emptiness directly; how to keep vows from being damaged; how vows are lost; the specific karma resulting from each of the ten non-virtues; how to find a teacher; the characteristics of a qualified teacher; taking refuge; the four forces of karmic purification; the four truths; and the six perfections.
This class is for students who have taken introductory Buddhist classes. This course is open for the first three weeks, afterwards please wait for the next course to begin attending.
Each class will have a dharma teachings, discussion and meditations. There are optional readings, homework and quizzes for deeper study and understanding.
10 Wednesdays September 5-November 7, 6:30pm-8:30pm
at Diamond Light Meditation Center
2791 24th Street, Room 14 (upstairs), Sacramento CA 95818
parking lot in back, ADA accessible
cost: suggested donation $10-$20 per class, no one turned away for lack of funds
www.diamondlightsac.org
Heather started practicing yoga in 2001 and finished her teacher training in 2008. Yoga is what led her to Buddhism, with her first class taught by Lama Marut in 2008. She has studied with many amazing teachers over the years, her closest teacher being Amie Diller. Heather’s passion is the Tibetan Gelugpa tradition, in the lineage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She recently finished a six year, eighteen course intensive and is excited to share these classes with others.
Heather grew up in Northern California and received her Bachelor of the Arts in Communication at San Diego State University. She also has an Associate of the Arts degree in Visual Communication from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.