Mindfulness Training Course

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”
Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

Please note we have deferred the start of the course for 4 weeks. The dates listed below are the new dates.

April 20th  - July 21st, 2013
Venue: 38 Urquhart St, Northcote, Victoria

Based on The Buddha's teachings on mindfulness, The Mindfulness Training Course (MTC) is a comprehensive 13 week training on the value of Mindfulness in our everyday lives.

The aim of the training is to develop a community that supports, nourishes and validates ourselves and each other within a framework of awareness. Often meditation is done as a solo venture and the benefits at the time are palpable and nourishing. But then we find ourselves back talking, living and working within a world where our habits of life can pull us in ways that are not always to our liking. In other words, it's easy enough to have a thoughtful insight into what our unhappiness is and even what it's causes may be, but to create and embody effective changes to our lifestyle and habits is another story altogether.

The Buddha spoke to this often when he spoke of community.  One of the often repeated stories of his life goes something like this 

Ananda, The Buddha's long-time personal attendant and monk-disciple, asks The Buddha:
"Sir, is it true what has been said, that good spiritual friends are fully half of the spiritual life?"
The Buddha replied, "No, Ananda, good spiritual friends are the whole of the spiritual life. Find refuge in the community."

What we would like to encourage with this course is learning a way we can have a peer to peer style of friendship that allows space for all of who we are. When this happens the resulting care, connection and self regulation/reflection that evolves is something we all benefit from as it becomes part of our culture. Mindfulness meditation is not only something we do by ourselves to grow and improve our lives. It's a courageous way to live life and engage with everyone we meet.

What to Expect

The primary text for the course will be be based on The Mindfulness Training Course by Christopher Titmuss. Christopher has created a detailed 13 week course that covers many of the important aspects of the teachings of The Buddha. Mindfulness is one of the "Seven Factors of Awakening" The Buddha taught and in this course we will also explore not only Mindfulness, but also other areas of our life that are important and need attention, awareness and nourishment. Food, exercise, friendships, relationships, fun and play.

"I don't believe people are looking so much for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of feeling alive" Joseph Campbell

"Buddh" means awake, alive. Buddha means "The awakened one". In this course the emphasis is on the Buddh part of life within ourselves. So even though we have a structure we will use for the course, the text and teachings will be used to start the process of enquiry into awakening, not a daily "to do" list. Encouragement will ongoing to check in with yourself and find out what each aspect of the teaching may be pointing towards.   

In meetings where we come together, there will be guided meditations, meditation instructions, group and individual exercises and Feldenkrais, awareness through movement sessions.

The text offers daily suggested mindfulness exercises and a space for journaling a summary of the day.

Feldenkrais is about awareness and freedom through movement. This wonderfully practical and accessible modality will be part of our group meetings and will generally be used as the inquiry into movement mindfulness. Seeing as most of our lives are about moving in some way or another, it does seem important to get to know where we might be a bit stuck. Even a little.... For more information on Feldenkrais click here

Everyone who joins the course will have an individual face to face session with both Holly and Anton. These sessions will help us know where you sit now on your path, how we may assist you and if necessary offer guidance on meditation from Anton and body awareness with Holly.

Who can join the MTC?

The course is open to anyone willing to stay with the program for the whole 3 months and open to the challenges it may present. If you are new to meditation or curious, please call us to discuss.  

Photo on right "Curious" by Alice Popkorn

Commitment

Before applying to join us on this adventure, we ask you to honestly consider your ability to take part in group sessions and personal sessions. We ask that you commit to fully attend (that's from beginning to the end of each session) 90% of all group sessions and to have had your individual sessions with Holly and Anton by the end of the third week. Please note, once you have signed up you can have your individual sessions prior to the start of the course.

Facilitators

Anton Eastick and Holly Huon are co-leaders on this course.  We both deeply support the model of Kalyan Mitta, Spiritual friends which this tradition is based on and this is the way we will endeavour to lead the course.

The following passage comes from the Open Dharma website which summarises this important point."The Buddha said that we should be our own refuge, our own light, that he could only point the way but that we had to walk the path of awakening for ourselves.
Facilitators are only guides.
They are still walking on the same path that students walk. They know some of the pitfalls and can help students avoid them or clear up confusion about them. They can inspire students to practice but ultimately it's the students themselves who actually have to do the work and realize the benefits of these practices.

Facilitators are therefore spiritual friends who are willing to share whatever wisdom they have. This is how a facilitator relates to the student.
The point is that no one can free another. Why is that? Because the capacity for freedom is within each of us already. We simply need to discover ways to develop it."  

Holly and Anton will both be participating in the course as well.   

Photo on right "I like you" by Alice Popkorn

MTC Schedule for  2013

All sessions are held at 38 Urquhart St, Northcote, Victoria

Bookings and Enquiries

For all enquiries regarding the teachings contact Anton 0412 018962

For all bookings phone Brian on 0415 496024  or email  

Course Fee

The course fee is $450 plus Dana for the Facilitators

The MTC is run on the tradition of Dana or generosity. The Buddha considered the teachings priceless and refused to put a price on them. This tradition has continued since the time of the Buddha and we're pleased to be continuing this heartfelt offering of Dharma teachings.  

According to the Buddha, Generosity and sharing what we have is one of the central pillars of the teachings. It is the vital resource that supports and keeps the tradition alive.  Read more on Dana here

Even though the teachings are free, we do have direct costs that we need to cover. The course fee covers the basic costs of the course only. This includes costs to set up and run the course ie, venue rental for the course meetings, admin costs like internet, photocopying and printing, teas, milk and coffee, (the list goes on...) the course book and a generous donation to Christopher Titmuss to acknowledge the work that went into creating the MTC.  

DANA ~ Dana is a Pali word. Pali was the language used in the area of India at the time The Buddha lived. Dana means the practice of generosity, or offering. Dana is a completely different way of relating to what is offered. Rather than a commercial transaction, Dana expresses the love and appreciation for what has been received. No teacher receives any kind of salary. The Dana boxes that are put out at the end of each day, support The Teachers and the very tradition itself. DANA is not tips, it is not a token gesture, it is the vital resource that allows these courses, retreats and tradition to continue. Be as generous as you wish...Please, support those who support the Dharma.

There will be a Dana (donation) box at the end of each time we meet for you to offer your support to the teachers.

Concessions and Payment plans are available on request. Please contact Brian.

It is a philosophy of the course leaders that no-one will be turned away because of money. Please contact us anytime to discuss. 

“This body does not advise you to renounce your home and depart for the forest. Wherever you may go, as long as you are not free from desire, there will be your home with all that it entails. No matter where you find yourself placed, you should meditate there itself and engage in your sadhana (spiritual practice). Just as when drops of water keep on falling, even stone is eventually pierced, so by sustained practice the veil of ignorance will finally be seen through." Anandamayi Ma

Images on this page are all courtesy of Alice Popkorn