Untangling the Self: Calm Abiding, Insight and the Liberation of Mind

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7 sessions - in person & online

Wednesdays 7 pm (no class 25 November)

In this course we turn to the final two transcending qualities of a bodhisattva: meditative concentration, known as calm abiding (shamatha), and penetrative insight (vipashyana). Together, these form the culmination of the bodhisattva's path, and their union points toward one of Buddhism's most profound discoveries.

We will explore the practical steps for deepening meditative concentration through stabilising meditation, and try on different approaches for invoking insight into the nature of the self. When these two qualities come together, they open the door to a direct experience of emptiness or selflessness—freeing the mind from the illusion of a fixed, independent self, which the Buddha identified as the root source of suffering.

We conclude by reflecting on the role of inspiration and spiritual mentorship in sustaining our growth along the path because no journey of this depth is walked entirely alone.

The course includes guided meditations, clear explanations, and dedicated time for Q&A and discussion. Suitable for those with some meditation experience.

About the Series

The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim) is a time-honoured Tibetan Buddhist roadmap to awakening—one that guides you gently but systematically through each topic, helping you develop genuine personal insight and lasting spiritual understanding.

In this series, you will explore both stabilising and analytical meditation through a sequence of guided contemplations. Drawing on your natural capacity to recall past experiences, imagine new possibilities, reflect on logical reasoning, and examine deeply held beliefs, you will find these teachings coming alive within your own experience.