Meditation Saturdays in Amsterdam

	Kaye & Gordon

with Kay Cooper en Gordon McDougall

In April we will start with five Saturdays on meditation. The focus is on meditation with some discussion on the topic - sharing practical advice on the actual meditation and an ongoing practice from setting up an altar to how to deal with sore knees! The course is ideal for somebody doing all five but each day can stand alone. As always with our classes come prepared not only to meditate but also to share any challenges with meditation and how you integrate it into your life!

How to Meditate - the methods and processes of Buddhist meditations

This Saturday we focus on the three main types of meditation: calming and centering, analytical and visualisation.
We ask ourselves why we meditate and what our motivation has to do with it. And on the practical side, we look at how to sit properly and how to create a space, or an environment for daily practice.
Saturday, April 14
Time: 10.00 – 17.00 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 40,- includes tea and soup, bring your own sandwiches

Inspirational Meditations - looking at the Buddha

Today, with the help of Shakyamuni Buddha practice, we mainly look at calming/centering and visualisation meditation. We introduce the concepts of the purification aspect of meditation. We look at the Buddha as an object of inspiration, a refuge (reliance), a friend, a role model. And we learn how to set up an altar, either creative or traditional.
Saturday, May 5
Time: 10.00 – 17.00 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 40,- includes tea and soup, bring your own sandwiches

Meditations for Life - focusing on analytical meditations that help us in our daily lives

On the third Saturday we look at specific methods in meditation that can help us with disturbing emotions such as anger or low self-esteem, etc.
We discuss how we can deal with those emotions off the meditation cushion. And we learn how to allocate time for meditation and how to integrate it into our lives.
Saturday, May 19
Time: 10.00 – 17.00 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 40,- includes tea and soup, bring your own sandwiches

Meditations for Others - focusing on analytical meditations that shift the emphasis of our lives from ourselves to others

This time we will do analytical meditations on equanimity, love and compassion. We will look at the benefit of a good heart and the concept of bodhicitta will be introduced. Also we learn the importance of making our motivation and dedication as vast as possible. We will discuss how to open ourselves to others. On the practical side we will learn today how to establish a complete daily practice and how to stick with it.
Saturday, June 9
Time: 10.00 – 17.00 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 40,- includes tea and soup, bring your own sandwiches

Fast Lane Meditations - focusing on developing a tantric practice as a means for developing our potential quickly

On this last Saturday we focus on Green Tara practice, compassion in action, and how female deity practice can be used in any life situation.
We discuss why we would practice tantra and see how tantra incorporates all the other types of meditation. Also get some practical advice on tantra.
From a practical point of view we look at how to deal with laxity and excitement in our mediation.
Saturday, June 23
Time: 10.00 – 17.00 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 40,- includes tea and soup, bring your own sandwiches