Cultivating resilience in challenging times:

Learning from the “heavenly messengers”

This five-week online course offers an opportunity to develop and strengthen our inner resources of kindness, compassion, calm and clarity, through an exploration of what are traditionally known as “the four heavenly messengers.”

In Buddhist teaching, these are four archetypes that symbolise the existential challenges we face, and the way to overcome those challenges. The four are a sick person, an aged person, a dying person, and a contemplative.

At first glance, these messengers might not sound so heavenly, but by learning how to relate to their messages skilfully, they help us to live our lives with more ease, happiness, and peace.

Each two-hour class will include a short dharma talk, some silent meditation practice, dyad (pairs) practice, and small group discussion.

During the five weeks of the course, you will be invited to maintain a regular sitting practice and keep a practice journal, to help inform the discussion during each meeting.

Because this is a group learning process, participants are asked to make a commitment to attend all five sessions of the course, and to allow at least two hours a week for personal study and reflections to be shared with the group.

The course is best suited to people who have sat at least one seven-day silent meditation retreat, but prior Buddhist study is not necessary.

Feel free to contact Jill if you have any questions about this.

Registration fee for all five sessions: $75 + dāna*

Times and dates:

(check online here to confirm your time zone)

Option 1

Auckland NZT 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoons

14 June - 12 July

Sydney AEST 11:30-1:30 p.m. Sunday mornings/afternoons

14 June - 12 July

San Francisco PDT 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday evenings

13 June - 11 July

~~New York EDT 9:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday nights~~

~~13 June - 11 July~~

Singapore SGT 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday mornings

14 June - 12 July

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Option 2

Auckland NZT 7:00-9:00 p.m. Sunday evenings

14 June - 12 July

Sydney AEST 5:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday evenings

14 June - 12 July

~~San Francisco PDT midnight-2:00 am Sunday mornings~~

~~14 June - 12 July~~

~~New York EDT 3:00-5:00 a.m. Sunday mornings~~

~~14 June - 12 July~~

Singapore SGT 3:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday afternoons

14 June - 12 July

London UKDST 8:00-10:00 am Sunday mornings

14 June - 12 July

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Option 3

Auckland NZT 10:30-12:30 p.m. Monday mornings

15 June - 13 July

Sydney AEST 8:30-10:30 a.m. Monday mornings

15 June - 13 July

San Francisco PDT 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoons

14 June - 12 July

New York EDT 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday evenings

14 June - 12 July

Singapore SGT 6:30-8:30 a.m. Monday mornings

15 June - 13 July

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*The registration fee covers only a contribution to course administration and booking fees.

In keeping with Buddhist tradition, the teachings are offered on a dāna basis which means the teacher is not paid to offer this workshop. Instead, they rely on the generosity of the participants to help them continue to share their teachings with others, and there will be an opportunity at the end of each class to offer donations to support their ongoing teaching.

Contact the host of Five-week online Dharma Study and Practice course 2026

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