Class Series
Spirit Rock offers weekly and monthly online class series to integrate practice and study into the flow of your life. Series can be a beautiful way to connect with others in the Spirit Rock community, building saṅgha as you study and practice together.
Classes address a wide range of topics, from the study of Buddhist texts to applications of the Dharma to social action, psychology, and professional development. Many series offer Continuing Education Credits. Series are an accessible way to deepen your understanding of the Buddha’s teachings, prepare you for the immersive experience of a Retreat or Dharma Training Program, or help to sustain the momentum of practice between retreats.
Upcoming Class Series
Class Series | Online | Dharma Institute
September 5 - October 3, 2024 | 5 Thursdays | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Compassion & Equity: The Buddha's Approach to Social & Political Life
In this 5-week class, part of our ongoing Refuge of Dhamma study series, we look at teachings from the Pāli Canon that reveal the insightful and still valuable approach the Buddha took to issues like caste, commerce, inequality, militarism, and the web of relationships and hierarchy that defines our place in the social order. We will explore how to bring our practices of intention, ethics, and mindful action into engagement with the world, with compassion and wisdom as our guide.
Sean Oakes
Class Series | On-Land | Dharma Institute
September 13 - October 18, 2024 | 6 Fridays | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Mindfulness-Based Nature Connection Course: Enhancing Well-Being through Integrative Meditation Practices
10 CE Credits. In this class series, participants will explore accessible and powerful meditation practices while immersed in the beauty of nature. Each week, we will take our meditation practice outside as a way to deepen our awareness of the natural world and cultivate a natural, mindful attention that can help open our hearts to delight, wisdom, and awe. Along with meditation practice, our time together will also include short talks on various mindfulness-in-nature themes as well as time for discussion and inquiry.
Mark Coleman
Class Series | Online | Dharma Institute
October 23 - November 20, 2024 | 5 Wednesdays | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The Art of Self-Compassion with Chronic Pain
8 CE Credits. Loving a hurting body is not easy. When things are rough, kindness and compassion can soften that experience. For many of us, however, being compassionate to ourselves is challenging, especially when we struggle with chronic pain. Throughout this series you will learn how to use the tools of self-compassion to help your brain and nervous system counterbalance their autopilot modes around pain. Together, we’ll explore the latest research on pain and self-compassion and combine it with ancient wisdom and compassion teachings.
Christiane Wolf