Course: From Intelligence to Intuition with Kim Allen

If you are interested in registering for this class, please contact the registrar (ThursdayClass) to express your interest. It has not yet been determined if this class will be offered online, cancelled, or meet as an in-person course in the church garden due to Covid-19 precautions. 

A six-week course led by Kim Allen and Shaila Catherine

Cultivation of Dhamma wisdom that benefits all beings.

Thursdays, September 10 – October 15
Plus bonus drop-in session October 22
7:15-9:00pm
Silence begins at 7:00. Arrive early (around 7:00) to enjoy the optional pre-class meditation period.

Modern life in the West encourages reliance on our “analytical” mind – that which does planning, deciding, evaluating, analyzing, and debating. This aspect of mind, when untrained, is prone to agitation, aversion, anxiety, and other undesirable qualities. It can also be used in healthy ways, such as discerning what is wholesome, and learning and contemplating teachings.

Through various meditation practices and the additional nourishment of heart qualities, the mind learns to reduce its reliance on “reason” as a more intuitive capacity strengthens. Eventually, our mind can manifest the intuitive wisdom, clarity, and responsiveness that are truly beneficial for ourselves and the world.

This 6-week course explores practices that can help to mature the analytical mind. Each week, we will focus on one practice. Together, they form a mandala of skillful means. We will also learn how these practices fit into a path to liberation in Buddhist teachings.

Classes will include meditation, sutta study, teachings, and Q&A.

• Sept 10: Arriving in the Present Moment, with Kim Allen
• Sept 17: Working with Discursive Thinking, with Shaila Catherine
• Sept 24: Skillful Use of Reflection, with Shaila Catherine
• Oct 1: Nourishment for the Path: Opening the Heart, with Kim Allen
• Oct 8: Clear Comprehension and Dhamma Investigation, with Kim Allen
• Oct 15: Intuitive Wisdom, with Kim Allen
• Oct 22: Bonus Drop-In Session – Sitting, Walking, and Reflection, with Kim Allen

WHO SHOULD JOIN: This course intended for people who already have a basic introduction to mindfulness.

COURSE LEVELS: It is designed as a level 1-3 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 $120 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 $120 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 $50 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.