Discover the workings of the mind and the mechanisms of suffering and happiness. Unlock your potential for mental balance, compassion and wisdom.

   An FPMT Introductory Course

What is it that we all are pursuing? Do we succeed in it? Should we explore more carefully and wisely how to fulfill our deepest yearnings? How could we contribute to others’ happiness as well?
We will explore such questions from an experiential point of view, using both scientific and Buddhist knowledge of the mind and meditation, in a journey that may translate into increasing lasting happiness and a positive impact on oneself, others, and the world.

The course “Cultivating lasting happiness: What Buddhism and science have to say about it” focuses on an exploration of what leads to dissatisfaction and suffering, and what contributes to happiness for oneself and others. The fundamentals of meditation and mind training are introduced, especially in the areas of establishing a meaningful direction in life, balancing the mind with equanimity and a caring attitude, and nurturing warmheartedness and wisdom drawn from the Buddhist tradition. It is complemented by references to current scientific understanding on our nervous system, values, subjective well-being, neuroplasticity and altruism.

The Journey

“Cultivating Lasting Happiness” gradually unfolds as a journey along different topics:

  1. A universal need explores the common ground that we all want to find happiness and overcome suffering, and presents initial techniques to balance body and mind.
  2. Are we pursuing happiness in the best way? is an initial exploration of the Buddhist Four Truths and a suggestion to probe into common ways to pursue happiness—are we succeeding?
  3. Following the scent of lasting happiness encourages us to establish meaningful directions and to find ways to cultivate lasting happiness and activate our potential.
  4. Meditation and mind training presents tools for doing so.
  5. Wisdom and warmheartedness as a source of lasting happiness presents tools to cultivate the fundamental qualities of warmheartedness and wisdom and invites us to explore their contribution to our own and others’ happiness.
  6. Enhancing wisdom and warmheartedness further explores these fundamental qualities.

Requirements and Approach

There are no particular requirements to join this course.

The course is intended to address the needs of modern students, with a fact-based approach to the study of the mind and meditation:

  • It develops with a gradual approach that emphasizes practical integration in daily life.
  • It focuses on both Buddhist and scientific perspectives of the mind and meditation, in dialogue in the fields of meditation, the mind, compassion, or well-being, amongst others.
  • It is intended to provide meditation techniques to help people have more meaningful, beneficial, and happier lives.
  • It is designed for people who may or may not have experience with secular or other forms of meditation.

Structure of the Course

Sessions

Each module consists of three or four 1.5-hour online sessions and can be engaged as a stand-alone course. They include explanations, exercises, reflection, debate, meditation, and time for Q&A. Recordings of the sessions will be made available to students.

Homework

During the week, students will be encouraged to keep a meditative practice, to read through some of the materials, and to complete some exercises. Even though this is not mandatory, it is highly encouraged as this will help make this course practical and relevant.

Materials

The course includes a Course Manual for each module with readings, exercises and meditations, as well as recorded meditations. Slides used during the sessions will be made available to students.

Schedule

The sessions The different modules will be held on Friday on the following dates:

  • Module 1 – 5, 12, 19, 26 April 2024

Depending on the place where you reside, the timings of the sessions are:

  • Europe (Centre de meditació Tushita): 7 – 8:30 PM (CET)
  • USA, East Coast (Shantideva Center and Kadampa Center): 1 – 2:30 PM (EST)*

(* Daylight Savings Time changes might change the EST times on certain weeks, as EU countries and USA do not always do such change on the same week.)

Buddhist Mind Science: Activating Your Potential

This short course is a part of the FPMT «Buddhist Mind Science: Activating Your Potential» series, which introduces the Buddhist knowledge of the mind and meditation to provide practical techniques and insight on the mechanisms of suffering and happiness, finding purpose and mental balance, and how to discover and activate our inner potential for warmheartedness and wisdom, including a comparative modern scientific perspective and with the aim to contribute to the welfare in this world.

This program is offered jointly by:

Register

Click to register to this course