Toronto Zen Centre

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Courses | Getting Started

Courses

Introductory Workshop

If you are new to Zen practice and wish to learn more, register for an Introductory Workshop, an authentic way to enter practice. Or visit our Getting Started page.

Loving Kindness Course

Mettabhavana is an ancient Buddhist meditation leading to the development of unconditional lovingkindness and friendliness. Metta is something you feel in your heart, a positive emotional state towards others as well as ourselves.

Metta practice helps us:

Bring harmony into our lives and in our relationships

Rid ourselves of internal and external conflicts

Overcome lacerating guilt

Be open to loving acceptance of ourselves and others

Deepen our connections with all beings

As a result of practicing metta we become more empathetic, more considerate, more kind, more forgiving, and in general, more loving, friendly people.

The Toronto Zen Centre periodically offers an extended course in the practice of Loving-kindness Meditation. Sessions are held on consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. Each session includes lectures, meditation instruction, practice periods and discussion.

The next Loving Kindness course will be offered in the Spring of 2008. It will begin on Wednesday evening, March 26 and run until Wednesday, May 07, for a total of six meetings over seven weeks.

To find out more about the course, or to register, please contact the centre.

If you are registered in the course and have missed one of the previous week's sessions, you may download a recording here.

Mastering Breath Awareness Seminar

Periodically the Centre hosts a seminar, given by Larry Johanson of 'Becoming Achievers Seminars', on incorporating breath awareness in dealing with stress found within the work environment, or encountered in daily life. The seminar, called Mastering Breath Awareness--An 'MBA' in Managing Stress will give participants an opportunity to learn about various advantages of practicing breath awareness, including:

How stress affects your physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually;
How to use your breath to create physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being;
How to find and breathe from your core and the importance of doing so;
How to reduce the constant chatter and noise in the mind and increase concentration;
How to live in the present and banish worry and stress;
How to release accumulated stress and get a good night's sleep.

A seminar workbook, and an accompanying CD, will help to provide a bridge to incorporating exercises and techniques done in the seminar with personal life. A lunch will also be provided during the day.

Next Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Time: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Cost: $ 185.00 Cdn

Space is limited, so register early if you are interested. Please contact the centre to find out more about the course, or to receive registration information.

Study Groups

Members and Trial Members may participate in study groups such as the Precept Study group. From time to time, the Centre also offers courses such as taiko drumming. Check the calendar for upcoming events.