Category Archives: Programs

Class: Dependent Origination

Classes, Insight

Designed for meditators with some experience, this class, taught by Suzanne Colón, will begin with the teachings on the Five Aggregates and build up to an understanding of the chain of Dependent Origination – the Buddha’s map for what’s going on in human experience, how we get caught and why we suffer. The series is designed to be sequential but anyone is welcome to attend sporadically or singly as their schedule and interests allow. No registration necessary.

  • March 14: The Five Aggregates and the Importance of Vedana (feeling tone)
  • March 21: With guest Pamela Weiss: the Genjo Koan exploring paradox and different ways to view this whole enterprise (Zen vs Insight perspectives)
  • March 28: Perception and Mental Formations/Reactivity
  • April 4: The Chain of Dependent Origination, how we get hooked and how we can unhook
  • April 11: The Liberative chain spiraling toward wisdom, insight, compassion and freedom

Event: Kirtan-Style Chanting

SoundGate

Our second SoundGate offering for the month features Kathleen Karlsen! Kathleen is a mantra practitioner, kirtan leader, composer, and artist focused on the transformative power of the arts. CD). She has three levels of training from the Kirtan Leadership Institute and has led regular kirtans, mantra events, and workshops for the last six years.

Chants will be provided for those who would like to chant in unison — this is an evening where your voice is welcome! No registration necessary. Donations welcome; any funds collected will be split evenly with the guest artist.

More about Kathleen can be found on her website.

Class: Mindful Flower Arranging

Classes

This month’s Mindful Creativity class is on Mindful Flower Arranging. Join Erin Strickland on Sunday, March 10 from 1-2:30 PM for a workshop on flower care and maintenance. Learn some simple floral design basics and how to practice mindfulness through the experience of flower arranging. Flowers provided. Please bring shears if you have them and a vase if you want to take your arrangement home. Space is limited; please register here.

Half-Day: Inner Critic Workshop

Half-Day Retreat, Insight

Hosted by Bozeman Insight Community and led by Suzanne Colón, this Inner Critic workshop on Saturday, March 2, will clarify the difference between Wise Discernment and Self-Judgement. We can motivate ourselves, work toward behavior change, and hold ourselves accountable with an Inner Compassionate Voice rather than by beating up on ourselves. Register here.

Event: Tibetan Bowls with Ann Marvin

SoundGate

Ann Marvin returns to our SoundGate program on Friday, March 1, with her glowing Tibetan crystal bowls to treat us to a healing vibrational soundscape. SoundGate meets from 7-8 PM. No registration necessary; donations welcome. Any funds collected will be split evenly with the guest artist.

Retreat: Zen Half-Day Sit

Half-Day Retreat

Join the Bozeman Zen Group for this half-day sit focusing on the Foundations of Mindfulness. Bozeman Zen Group offers half-day sittings appropriate for beginners who wish to try a retreat practice opportunity as well as for experienced practitioners to deepen their practice. Regular retreat practice is a cornerstone of Zen practice. Join us for periods of sitting and walking meditation as well as a dharma talk with Zen priest, Karen DeCotis. Register here.

Class: Buddhism Basics

Classes

Buddhism Basics offers some of the core fundamental teachings in the Buddhist tradition. Great for those new to meditation and Buddhist practice. Join us for one class or the whole series! Register here.

Schedule

Week 1: Buddha’s story, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path
Week 2: What are these different lineages? The three poisons, three refuges, and three marks of existence
Week 3: Precepts, Brahmaviharas

Big Buddha statue at Po Lin monastery Lantau island Hong Kong.

Class: Visual Haiku

Classes

This month’s Mindful Creativity class is Visual Haiku. We will use color and mark making to capture the essence of our present moment experiences. Just as traditional Japanese haiku evokes a moment in time using just a few words, we will practice bringing forth feelings and sense impressions onto paper. You don’t need to know how to draw or consider yourself an artist to participate. Paper and art materials will be provided. There will be crayons, colored pencils and watercolor pencils to play with. Bring an open mind and your good practice! Register here.

Event: Feeding Your Demons

Half-Day Retreat

On Saturday, February 3, Suzanne Colón will lead a 3 hour workshop featuring a guided exercise that uses imagery and inquiry to work with difficult parts of ourselves or our experience. Developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione (Tibetan nun, author and teacher), this exploratory practice of self-compassion has been shared with practitioners across Buddhist lineages, to powerful effect. In this morning workshop, Suzanne will offer the practice, along with guidance for how to use it safely and beneficially. Register here.

Event: SoundGate

SoundGate

February’s SoundGate meditation features Brian Sparks offering a healing symphony of Tibetan bowl harmonics. Brian has received his spiritual teaching from several masters in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His teachers blessed his bowl work by giving him the specific “Prayer of Aspiration” and granted him many Buddhist empowerments. He has toured with notable Tibetan musicians, actors, and at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee.

He offers his practice of playing bowls in service of healing, compassion and awakening. No registration necessary! Donations gratefully accepted. Any funds collected will be split evenly with Brian.