Loading Events

Pain and Freedom
Finding peace in the midst of pain

A six-week course led by Shaila CatherineSharon Allen, and Janetti Marotta.

February 28 – April 11, 2019
7:15 pm to 9:00 pm
Silence begins at 7:00 pm
Arrive early (around 7:00) to enjoy the optional pre-class meditation period.

Life is uncertain and our bodies are vulnerable to illness and pain. In this 6-week class, we will develop a meditative approach to working with pain that is based on selections from How to be Sick: A Buddhist-inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers, authored by Toni Bernhard (ISBN: 978-1-61429-478-8). We will clarify the difference between physical pain and a response to pain that produces suffering.

Drawing from Buddhist principles, these pragmatic and straightforward teachings distinguish between the present experience of pain or disability, and our response to those conditions. This course is intended for everyone—those who are healthy and experience only mild discomfort, as well as those who are living with chronic pain and illness. Regardless of your circumstances, you can learn to live with joy, compassion, and purpose. In the face of pain, you can abide free from suffering.

  • February 28 – The Medicine of Mindfulness with Sharon Allen
  • March 7 – Accepting the World of Change with Shaila Catherine
  • March 14 – Insights into Impermanence with Sharon Allen
  • March 21 – Touching the Heart of Kindness and Compassion with Shaila Catherine
  • March 28 – Understanding Brings Equanimity with Shaila Catherine
  • April 4 – Mindfulness and Letting Go with Janetti Marotta
  • April 11 – Mindfulness Meditation: A drop-in evening for meditation practice with Janetti Marotta

COURSE MATERIALS: The required text book for the course is How To Be Sick, by Toni Bernhard (ISBN: 978-1-61429-478-8). Please purchase a copy from your favorite bookseller or buy one at the table at an IMSB event. If you want us to reserve a copy ($20 includes tax) to pick up at our first class session February 28, please notify the registrar.

WHO SHOULD JOIN: This course is open to all practitioners.

COURSE LEVELS: It 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.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!