LIVING WITH UNCERTAINTY
Online Study, Discussion and Meditation Practise
with Michele Sierra via webinar
Sunday March 29, April 5, 12, 19 (4 sessions) • 4.00-5.00pm (AEDT)
Our study text is:
WELCOMING THE UNWELCOME - Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World
by Pema Chodron
Every one of us is standing on new ground and the path ahead is uncertain. In these last few weeks, I have experienced a whole range of powerful emotions from being suddenly swept away by fear and paranoia to sadness and heart-opening wonder as it becomes clear that the world is forever changed. We are living with uncertainty and that is certain. Cultivating a strong mind and compassionate heart is vital as we begin to walk this unknown path together. I have found Buddhist teachings so deeply valuable in cultivating antidotes to fear and anxiety throughout my life and I would love to explore them with you through Pema Chodron’s book, in this study and meditation practice webinar.
Pema Chodron is a wise woman and western Buddhist nun. In her book, Pema “offers us tools to find common ground, even when we disagree, so we can build a strong and broader sense of community: Sharing common stories from her remarkable life, simple and powerful everyday practices, and directly relatable advice, Pema leads the way in showing us how to become triumphant bodhisattvas- compassionate beings – in even the most difficult of circumstance”.
STUDY & PRACTICE: Each week we will explore different chapters and the themes expressed within. Join in the discussion or be a silent participant - we are all in this together. How can we navigate these challenging times with wisdom and compassion? How can we deal with our own fear, anxiety, and struggles while doing our part to keep the world in balance? We'll talk about practical applications on the practice of meditation, mind training, and how we can apply this to life's most challenging moments. Michele will complete each session with a guided group meditation and breathing practice to ground our reflections.
THE TEXT: Pema Chodron. Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World. Shambala Publications, 2019. Please purchase this book in advance so that you have it as a reference for the discussion. We will read a chapter or two in advance of each week’s discussion. Ebook or Kindle will be the fastest way to obtain text in time for the webinar.
ABOUT THE WEBINAR: Each session will be recorded. If you are not able to make it to the webinar at the scheduled time you will be able to access and keep the video to watch at your leisure. After Registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join and log in to the webinar. For those new to this technology (like me!), it’s easier than you think! There will be a practice session held in advance so that we can all get comfortable with it before the day. Date to be advised.
COST: $95
REGISTRATION: Advance registration and payment is required.
Michele Sierra
Course facilitator Michele Sierra (MA CuPsych), is a yoga teacher, psychotherapist and visual artist. She has more than 30 years’ experience teaching and practising meditation and yoga. Michele continues to deepen her study of meditation and philosophy in the Buddhist tradition and applies current research into the benefits of mindfulness-based meditation, to her life and work. She has facilitated many courses in Australia and internationally with a teaching style that is practical, empowering and insightful. Michele is known in the community for her commitment to working with students and clients during challenging times. Her skilful empathic approach combines self-inquiry methods, Buddhist and Yoga philosophy with practical tools and techniques (such as breathwork for anxiety and depression), yoga therapy and mindfulness Meditation to improve one’s resilience and better meet life’s inevitable challenges.