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Ashoka's Courses
Ashoka courses offer a rich mixture of reading, listening (audio), viewing (video), contemplation, and meditation. Our courses guide and encourage you to reflect on and apply what you are learning.
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The Buddha's Teaching As It Is
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Taught by Bhikkhu Bodhi, Bodhi
Monastery
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this introduction to the Buddha's teachings, Bhikkhu Bodhi
presents the basic teachings of Buddhism from the Theravadan
perspective. This course includes the life of the Buddha, the
four noble truths, the nature of existence, dependent
origination, kamma, the eightfold path, meditation, and the
sangha. |
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Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind
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Taught by Robert Thurman, Columbia
University & Tibet House
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Thurman teaches the "preliminary" contemplations that
help you develop a solid basis for listening to the teachings
and developing a practice. Reflecting upon the precious human
birth, impermanence, karma, and the sufferings of samsara frees
one of the attachment to life in the realms of samsara. |
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The Koan of Everyday Life: Dogen-Zenji's
Genjo Koan
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Taught by Dairyu Michael Wenger
, San Francisco Zen Center
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Genjo Koan, Dogen-Zenji's concise, poetic expression of the
practice of the Buddha’s dharma, is one of the most treasured
texts in the Soto Zen tradition. Dogen's basic philosophy of our
day to day lives as practice in the bodhisattva way is precisely
presented in this guide to the integration of training with
zazen and daily life. |
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The Legacy of Chan
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Taught by Dharma Drum Mountain
(Master Sheng Yen)
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This course provides an introduction to the
nature and style of Chan Buddhism, which has been practiced in
China since around the 6th century C.E. and, when exported to
Japan around the 11-12th century, became the source of
"Zen." In this course we look at Chan from three
perspectives: the teachings, the methods, and the lineage of the
patriarchs, masters, and teachers.
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Liberating the Heart: The Brahma Viharas
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Taught by Sharon Salzberg, guiding
teacher, Insight Meditation Society
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Buddha taught "the liberation of the heart which is
love," and he taught a systematic, integrated path that
moves the heart out of isolating contraction and into true
connection: the brahma-viharas, meditation practices that
cultivate love, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.
These four qualities are among the most beautiful and powerful
states of consciousness we can experience. Sharon Salzberg,
Insight Meditation Society co-founder and guiding teacher,
offers a profound exploration of the deepest meanings of
brahma-viharas, bringing light to the spiritual value, practical
utility and psychological insight that most Westerners are
longing for.
Sharon Salzberg,
Insight Meditation Society co-founder and guiding teacher,
offers a profound exploration of the deepest meanings of
brahma-viharas, bringing light to the spiritual value, practical
utility and psychological insight that most Westerners are
longing for.
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The Metta Sutta:
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Taught by Andrew Olendzki, Executive
Director, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
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This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace...
The Metta Sutta is one of the best-loved
poems of the Buddhist tradition. Its message and appeal are
truly timeless. The Metta Sutta speaks of universal good will
towards all creatures, giving shape to one of the most beautiful
and fundamentally wholesome states of mind of which the human
being is capable.
When we read the words of the Buddha, we
are, of course, reading someone's translation of those words.
How does translation influence the meaning and effect of the
teachings? In this course you explore the Metta Sutta, the
Buddha's discourse on loving-kindness, with Andrew Olendzki,
executive director of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.
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Rest Your Weary Mind: Letting Go of the
Hindrances
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Taught by Joseph Goldstein, guiding
teacher, Insight Meditation Society
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Buddha clearly pointed out those mental states that hinder our
concentration and obscure the natural ease of mind. When these
states are not understood, they obstruct our meditation practice
and cause confusion and suffering in our daily lives. In this
workshop, you explore in some depth how these seductive energies
manifest in your day-to-day experience, and how, through
investigation, wise attention, and humor, you can come to a
place of greater freedom. |
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The Story of Zen
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Created by Ashoka
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course offers an introduction to the stories of Zen's 1500-year
innovation and transformation within the ever-changing cultures
of China and then Japan.
This course offers a treasury of Zen
tradition: teachings, anecdotes, stories, legends, sayings, and
wisdom culled from the classic texts of Chinese Chan and
Japanese Zen.
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Taming the Mind: Cultivating Peaceful
Abiding
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Taught by Sakyong Mipham
Rinpoche, head of Shambhala Buddhist lineage, and Acharya
William McKeever
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the natural strength of the mind through meditation. This course
offers a universal guide to "peaceful abiding"—the
simple practice of sitting meditation. A step-by-step guided
exploration of the practice of shamatha meditation with which to
strengthen, clarify and stabilize the mind.
In this course you will learn:
• Why meditation is proactive and completely natural
• How to gather in a scattered mind and dismantle emotions
• How to overcome common obstacles to practice, from muscles
aches to boredom
• How to establish a meditation practice
Bill McKeever guides you through a workshop
in peaceful abiding, based on the first section of Sakyong
Mipham Rinpoche's book Turning the Mind Into an Ally. (A
future Ashoka course will continue this exploration, teaching
contemplative meditation.)
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View: The Role of Correct View
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Taught by Traleg Kyabgon
Rinpoche , Evam Institute
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this brief lesson Traleg Rinpoche guides you in exploring some
of the ways in which you can make use of basic Buddhist concepts
in order to make sense of and make the most out of your
meditation practice. In Mahayana Buddhist literature, conceptual
understanding is always a precondition for the dawning of gnosis
or jnana. Therefore, unless we have a correct view, we will
never have a proper understanding of spiritual matters. |
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Zen Meditation: Entering the Path
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Taught by John Daishin Buksbazen
, Zen Center of Los Angeles
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Daishin
Buksbazen of the Zen Center of Los Angeles presents a clear and
insightful path into the philosophy and practice of Zen by
providing a practical introduction to Zen meditation. Daishin
presents the essentials that any new practitioner needs to know
to enter the way of Zen meditation. Topics include:
- Zen Meditation Is...
- To Be Awakened to All Things
- What Zazen Is and Is Not
- Think Non-Thinking
- Body and Mind
- The Practice: Posture, Breathing, Awareness/Mindfuless
- Zazen Is Not Only Sitting
- Developing a Practice
- If We're Already Awakened...
- Faith, Inquiry and Perseverance
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