Taught by Janice Cittasubha Sheppard

This four-week introductory class teaches the basic principles of breath-based meditation as outlined by Gotama Buddha 2,560 years ago. The skill of meditation offers us a way to train the mind and cultivate ease, clarity, kindness, and awareness in our daily lives. Participants will learn techniques for formal sitting, standing, and walking meditation as well as informal practices to establish and cultivate joy, open-heartedness, kindness, balance, and wisdom in any moment and as we go about our daily life.

NOTE: The practices and ideas presented in each series are progressive. Attendance at the prior class is assumed in what is presented at each subsequent class. Those able to attend the complete series are most able to benefit and develop their practice. Participants are asked to register only if you believe you will be able to attend all sessions and are willing to practice between classes, in order to enhance your own comprehension and to build group cohesion for the benefit of your fellow students.

Taught by Janice Cittasubha Sheppard

This continuing meditation class builds upon the introductory class and is intended for those who have an established meditation practice. Participants should have a basic understanding of breath meditation, be comfortable meditating for 20 minutes and be meditating frequently.

While the introductory class (Training the Mind: The Skill of Meditation) offers the strategies and techniques for training the mind, this continuing class (Clearing the Path) focuses on the foundational teachings of the Buddha so you can better understand the benefits and reasons to sustain your meditation practice. The Buddha’s teachings provide many lists for cultivating the path to the end of suffering. This class will introduce teachings on the Middle Way, The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the Five Precepts, the Five Hindrances, and the Five Subjects for Frequent Recollection, as well as others. Each class will include a short period of meditation. This class suggests how we are clearing the path to peace by developing and investigating the mind with greater intention and understanding

NOTE: The practices and ideas presented in each series are progressive. Attendance at the prior class is assumed in what is presented at each subsequent class. Those able to attend the complete series are most able to benefit and develop their practice. Participants are asked to register only if you believe you will be able to attend all sessions and sustain a daily meditation practice, in order to enhance your own comprehension and to build group cohesion for the benefit of your fellow students.

Mare Chapman, M.A.

Lives Unlimited

Classes focusing on issues especially for women and on transforming gender oppression through mindfulness.

For info or to register for classes call(608) 233-7431

Center for Mindfulness

608-265-8325

(at the UW Sports Medicine Clinic, 621 Science Drive)

Madison Insight Meditation Group is supporting individuals registered for the James Baraz online course Awakening Joy, by offering registrants the opportunity to take the class with others here in the Madison area. The group will be led by Janice Cittasubha Sheppard.

To join the small group please do two things:

Register for the class online at: https://awakeningjoy.info/signup.php (and enter the group code of Middleton-013)

Send Jan an email (cittasubha@gmail.com) indicating that you’ve signed up for the class and want to join her small group. She will reply with more details.