Buddhism Made Easy: a Practical Introduction What is Buddhism? What are the fundamental teachings and the history of this spiritual tradition?
In this series Jon Landaw will cover the main concepts of Buddhism without overwhelming you with technical jargon. The topics are loosely based on his best-selling book “Buddhism for Dummies”.
Everybody is welcome. No background required. There also will be time for Q&A.
Class 1: Introduction to Buddhism and its various traditions - Life of the historical Buddha
- How Buddhism spread
- The emergence of different Buddhist schools and traditions
- Introduction to the Four Noble Truths: the fundamental Buddhist teachings
Class 2: How our mind creates our experience
- The nature of the mind
- The causes of happiness and suffering
- How karma works
- Reincarnation and the various realms of experience
Class 3: Fulfilling our highest potential
- Gaining liberation through the three higher trainings
- Cultivating the compassionate heart
- Practicing the six perfections on the path to Enlightenment
- Introduction to the Vajrayana: the lightning vehicle of Buddhist tantra
Class 4: Practicing Buddhism in everyday life
- How to deal with life's problems
- Avoiding common misconceptions
- Starting a daily practice
Jon Landaw was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1944. He received his A.B. degree in English Literature from Dartmouth College in 1965 and spent three years teaching English as a Second Language with the Peace Corps in Iran (1966-69).
Jon worked as English editor for the Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (1972-77) producing numerous texts under the guidance of Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey. As a student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche since the mid-1970's, he has edited numerous works for Wisdom Publications, including “Wisdom Energy” and “Introduction to Tantra.” He is also the author of “Prince Siddhartha,” a biography of Buddha for children, “Images of Enlightenment,” published by Snow Lion in 1993 and “Buddhism for Dummies”. As an instructor of Buddhist meditation, he has taught in numerous Dharma centers throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.
Jon is known for his ability to present traditional Buddhist ideas in ways that are accessible and relevant for everyday life. He and his wife currently live in Capitola where he teaches regularly at the nearby Land of Medicine Buddha center.
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