Buddhist Psychology ๑ The Six Realms In Buddhist Cosmology
ABOUT BUDDHISM
Buddhism is much more than just a handful of meditations. These ancient teachings are in fact of all times, still very applicable to our present experience. I myself experienced a great sense of relief and a joy of recognition when I started to learn about it.
The Buddha Gautama by his own introspection, gained deep insight in how the human mind works. He understood that suffering is an inevitable aspect of life. We gain and lose, enjoy and suffer, succeed and fail, and in any case grow old to die eventually. No-one can escape this. But what the Buddha clearly saw, is that the degree of suffering we experience mostly depends on our attachment to feelings and opinions. As long as we desire to have things differently than they are, we will experience a sense of struggle and unfulfillment.
The good news is, there is a way out! It is possible to flow with life with all its ups and downs, and not get stuck in our ideas about it.
To hear that life is not so satisfactory to the majority of people - and in fact, kind of a struggle - can be a great relief. There is nothing wrong with you in particular, it's not that you are the only one who is not getting it right... you are just discovering that life is mostly uncontrollable.
If you can accept this, it ceases to be a problem.
The Buddha knew how to expound his wisdom in a clear and direct way, always adapting his manner of speaking to his audience. Buddhist Psychology therefore is elaborate and precise; it covers all aspects of the human experience.
THIS WEEK’S THEME
The Six Realms In Buddhist Cosmology - Gods, Hungry Ghosts, Animals and other states of mind.
In Buddhism (as in some other traditions) there is awareness of other realms that are not visible to the common eye.
We are normally only aware of the human and animal realms. But some sages and seers can perceive the realms of demigods and ghosts.
In any case, the Buddhist world view can be wonderfully helpful to understand ourselves: sometimes we are like animals, just following our instincts; at other times we are like ghosts, obsessed with our cravings, or like the angry gods, indulging in self-righteous anger, and so on.
In this Buddhist talk, you will learn about the six realms that Buddhism describes and get to understand their deeper meaning. This will allow you to look at yourself from a new perspective, to become more aware of your drives and make wiser decisions.
This lively talk will be laced with stories and moments of reflection.
About the facilitator:
Ciska Matthes is a keen student of Buddhism for about 25 years. She has practiced intensively under many teachers in various traditions worldwide. In her talk, she will refer to her own experiences and make you practice a little introspection yourself as well.
DATES:
» Sunday the 8th of August // 15:30 - 16:30
» Saturday the 29th of August // 13:45 - 14:45
» Sunday the 6th of September // 17:00 - 18:00
» Sunday the 4th of October // 17:00 - 18:00
» Sunday the 18th of October // 17:00 - 18:00
» Sunday the 8th of November // 17:00 - 18:00
» Sunday the 27th of December // 17:00 - 18:00
Facilitator: Ciska Matthes
Date: Once a month on Saturday or Sunday
Time: Different times, see dates above
Location: The Conscious Club
Tickets: https://theconsciousclub.com/book-online
GOOD TO KNOW
» The check-in closes 2 minutes before the start of each class with no exceptions. Make sure that you’re 10 minutes early to be able to enter, avoid queues and enjoy our classes.
» Please keep a 1,5-meter distance at all times and bring your own towel to cover the props.
» No face masks during class. We don’t allow face masks in our classrooms since it’s not safe to do your practice wearing one.
» Come fully dressed to ensure easy entry & exit. You can leave your belongings in our dressing rooms, but changing and showering are not permitted.
» We don't allow cell phones & bags in our sacred spaces. You are welcome to leave any valuable items secured at our reception desk.
» About clean air at the club: We have a wonderful ventilation system that constantly refreshes the air inside our building. We also use humidifiers! This means aerosols cannot travel outside of your mat, as all the water in the airflow weighs the air molecules down. That makes us a super safe space to be in!
» Dress warmly. The weather is getting colder, and ventilation in our classrooms means it can get a bit chilly. Make sure you’re dressed accordingly.
» We don't do refunds. You can cancel a class up to 8 hours before the start time in order to use your ticket again. In case of a later cancellation, you will be charged. Please be mindful when you book a spot as we have limited space available.
PRICES
» Single Class | €15,50
» 5-Ride Pass | €65 instead of €77,50 | valid for 3 months
» 10-Ride Pass | €115 instead of €155 | valid for 3 months
» New Member Introduction Card | €55 for 10 classes | valid for 1 month