Focused and Fearless: A Concentration Course
August 22, 2019 @ 7:15 pm PDT - 9:00 pm PDT
An event every week that begins at 7:15 pm UTC on Thursday, repeating until October 3, 2019
Cultivating the conditions for deep concentration in the midst of daily life
A six-week course led by Shaila Catherine and Sharon Allen
August 22 – September 26, 2019
7:15 pm to 9:00 pm
Silence begins at 7:00.
Arrive early (around 7:00) to enjoy the optional pre-class meditation period.
This six-week course is designed to strengthen the conditions that make the mind conducive to concentration. We will refine our concentration using practical techniques to help us reduce distraction, anxiety and stress. We will also clarify the experiences and qualities that arise with the deep meditation states known as jhāna and samādhi.
This course will include sitting meditation, readings, and discussion, and will follow the early chapters of Focused and Fearless, our primary course text.
Required Reading: Focused and Fearless: A Meditator’s Guide To States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity, by Shaila Catherine
August 22 – Creating Conducive Conditions led by Sharon Allen
August 29 – Joy of Seclusion led by Dawn Neal
September 5 – Pleasure and Happiness led by Sharon Allen
September 12 – Equanimity and Balance led by Dawn Neal
September 19 – Intensifying Factors led by Ying Chen
September 26 – Transformation of the Object, Access and Absorption led by Shaila Catherine
October 3 – Bonus Class—Mindfulness Meditation: A drop-in evening for meditation practice led by Janetti Marotta
Samadhi is the beautiful state of an undistracted mind, described in the Pali texts as “internally steadied, composed, unified, and concentrated.”
— Shaila Catherine, Focused and Fearless, page 3
WHO SHOULD JOIN: This course is open to all practitioners.
COURSE LEVELS: This is designed as a level 1-2 course. Click this link for a key to course level designations.
Visit our Teacher Page for teacher biographies and photographs.
REGISTRATION: Registration is required for this course. Registration fees are non-refundable. To register, select an option under the Tickets heading at the bottom of this page. (If you are viewing this page more than two months in advance of the course, the Tickets heading might not yet appear, so please check again later.) To register for a course, you purchase one ticket, which registers you for the entire class series. You only need to register once; you do not need to register separately for each class session.
Course Fee: The sliding scale fee range is from $360 to $90 and will be shared between IMSB and the teacher(s). The lower end of the sliding scale is intended for those with limited financial means. The low rate of $90 is estimated to cover the most basic costs such as rent and insurance for the specific class period. This base rate does not factor in compensation for teachers or ongoing administrative expenses for IMSB. If you pay at the mid to high range of the sliding scale, your generosity supports those with limited income in attending our programs and also supports IMSB and the teachers, enabling the dhamma to thrive in the South Bay area. We encourage you to choose the highest level that is appropriate for your economic situation.
Scholarship Assistance: A scholarship rate of $45 is offered for those with very limited financial means. If you need additional assistance, or if you would like to volunteer to help out, please inquire with the registrar by contacting ThursdayClass
.
Tax Deductions: The basic registration fee is not tax deductible. Donations above the base rate will be considered voluntary contributions and are deductible for any amount that is over the base rate. Each January, the IMSB treasurer sends donors letters that acknowledge the amount given for the previous year that is above the basic rate; this serves as documentation for tax deduction purposes.
Cancellation Policy: All fees and payments are non-refundable. If it becomes necessary to cancel participation in a course, and the registrar is notified prior to the start of the first class meeting, your registration fee will be converted into a voucher creditable towards the fee for a future IMSB Thursday class. Vouchers must be used within one year of the initial course start date, and may be transferred to only one future course. Cancellations that occur after the start of the first class are not eligible for the voucher credit.