The Life and Teachings of the Buddha (MAD-V-O-100223)

Registration for this course is now closed.

Although the Buddha lived roughly 2,500 years ago, his life and teachings are as relevant today as ever. The Buddha was born into a life of luxury and privilege but saw that material prosperity alone cannot solve all of life's problems. Acutely aware of the chronic dissatisfaction that often plagues the human mind, he devoted his life to understanding the causes of suffering and to uprooting these causes through meditation, insight, and leading a life of compassion and non-violence. In this six-part class, we will explore the Buddha's life and his core teachings, seeing what we can learn from his timeless example. In each class we will discuss a particular period of the Buddha's life, pairing our discussion with an exploration of the Four Noble Truths. Each class includes a guided meditation, periods of discussion, and video teachings by Mingyur Rinpoche.

This seminar is open to anyone with an interest in Buddhism, including both novice meditators and experienced practitioners. 

Session Topics: 
 An Introduction to the Life and Teachings of the Buddha
 The Buddha's Early Years and the First Noble Truth
 The Pursuit of Insight and the Second Noble Truth
 The Dawn of Enlightenment and the Third Noble Truth
 Turning the Wheel of Dharma and the Fourth Noble Truth, Part I
 Turning the Wheel of Dharma and the Fourth Noble Truth, Part II

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS:

Scott Anderson has a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he is adjunct faculty. Scott’s PhD Minor is in Religious Studies, with a focus on the history of Buddhist Modernism, and his research interests focus on the physical correlates of meditation practice. Scott began meditating over forty years ago as a means to improve his athletic performance. While long retired from high-level competition, Scott has maintained a daily meditation practice since his teens. In addition to daily practice, Scott is dedicated to spending one month of each year in silent retreat. Since meeting Mingyur Rinpoche in 2010, Scott has dedicated himself to the practice and dissemination of Rinpoche’s teachings as one of the founding leaders of the Tergar Madison meditation center. Scott lives in the hill country west of Madison, Wisconsin with his wife and two cats. Together they run a busy Pilates studio in Madison. When not working or researching, Scott loves to work out and backcountry ski.

Kasumi Kato is an experienced educator and meditation practitioner. She holds two Masters degrees from the University of Wisconsin, where she taught Japanese language for nearly two decades. Kasumi's interest in meditation began in her childhood in Japan, where she learned to meditate from a young age. In 2011, she encountered Tergar and Mingyur Rinpoche’s teachings and has been practicing under his guidance ever since. She has completed over a year in solitary meditation retreat, in addition to many group retreats in the Tergar community. Kasumi has also studied with some of the most respected teachers in the Tibetan tradition, including Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, and Thrangu Rinpoche.

Kasumi left her role at the University of Wisconsin in 2021 and currently works full-time for Tergar International, where she serves as a senior facilitator, leading Joy of Living workshops, the Exploring Buddhism courses, and supporting Path of Liberation retreats. She also works as a curriculum specialist, developing meditation programs, including Anytime Anywhere Meditation and Tergar’s Meditation Teacher Program. Kasumi also oversees the activities of Tergar Japan and leads meditation workshops and retreats around the world. Outside of her professional work, Kasumi lives with her husband Cortland and stepson, CJ, in Madison, Wisconsin. In her free time, Kasumi enjoys personal retreats, traveling, and hiking in nature.

When:

6 weeks: Mondays, October 2, 2023 to November 6, 2023
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Central US Time

Location:
Hybird - in person at Tergar Madison, 301 S. Blount St, Madison, WI and Online using Zoom – details and a link will be sent by email a week prior to the start of the workshop.

Cost:

Please note that no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you cannot afford the fees listed, please contact us at madison.coordinator@tergar.org.

*Sponsor fee - $180
*Base Fee - $135
*Reduced fee for those on a limited income (such as seniors and students) - $80

Cancellation Policy:

Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

For further information about the program contact: madison.coordinator@tergar.org