This weekly event includes group meditation, followed by reading of a chapter from the current book, followed by group discussion on the material,  plus refreshments and social time at the end.

 

Readings and discussions are based on the book, “Smile at Fear, Awakening the True Heart of Bravery”, by Chögyam Trungpa.  Many of us, without even realizing it, are dominated by fear. We might be aware of some of our fears—perhaps we are afraid of public speaking, of financial hardship, or of losing a loved one. Chögyam Trungpa shows us that most of us suffer from a far more pervasive fearfulness: fear of ourselves. We feel ashamed and embarrassed to look at our feelings or acknowledge our styles of thinking and acting; we don’t want to face the reality of our moment-to-moment experience.  It is this fear that keeps us trapped in cycles of suffering, despair, and distress.  In Smile at Fear, Chögyam Trungpa offers us a vision of moving beyond fear to discover the innate bravery, trust, and delight in life that lies at the core of our being. Drawing on the Shambhala Buddhist teachings, he explains how we can each become a spiritual warrior—a person who faces each moment of life with openness and fearlessness.

 

You won’t need to have your own copy, but if you’re joining remotely, it would be good to have it to help you follow along… We’ll read aloud together.  Join the class by Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/ryj-qvkf-jrt or attend in person at the Shambhala Center.