Participants will gather together at the West Loop Center to watch and discuss the online presentations, including Q and A. Or, you can participate online on your own. This course is being offered as a source of information and inspiration for those intending to take the refuge vow with Gaylon Ferguson when he visits this year. All are welcome.

Register Here: Shambhala Online Link (Discounts available based on ability to pay.)  When you register, please use code 2024REFUGE50.

Session Breakdown

Session 1—What is the Refuge Vow? 

Session 2—A personal exploration of why one would consider taking the Refuge Vow—or has already taken it 

Session 3—A deeper exploration of the “three jewels” (Buddha, dharma, sangha)—a key aspect of the Refuge Vow

In the Buddhist tradition, the purpose of taking refuge is to awaken from confusion
and associate oneself with wakefulness…
When we take refuge, we commit ourselves to the Buddhist path.
– Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

About the Teacher

Gaylon Ferguson, PhD, has led group meditation retreats since 1976. He taught at Stanford, the University of Washington, and Naropa University, where he was a Core Faculty Member for fifteen years. The author of two books, Natural Wakefulness (on the four foundations of mindfulness) and Natural Bravery (on fear and fearlessness as path to manifesting bravery), his articles have appeared in Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, and Buddhadharma magazine. He contributed the foreword to the pioneering collection Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us About Race, Resilience, Transformation and Freedom (Shambhala, 2020).

Register Here: Shambhala Online Link (Discounts available based on ability to pay.) Use code 2024REFUGE50