Discovering Inner Freedom: A Three-Part Course Series

Are you searching for answers to life's deeper questions wondering why you suffer, whether there's another way to live, or how to find more peace, purpose, and resilience? If so, you're not alone. These are the questions that have always drawn people to the Buddhist path and they're the questions at the heart of this three-part series. What if turning inward, honestly examining our restlessness and the mental patterns that keep us stuck could be the first step toward something genuinely different?

Each course can be entered into on its own, in any order, yet together the three courses form a single, unfolding journey. The courses are open and presented in an inclusive way that prior knowledge or background is not required, just an open mind and a genuine curiosity about your own experience. Each course unfolds through open conversation, discussion, and shared meditation practice so you'll be learning not just from the teachings, but from each other.

We begin by turning honestly inward. Using the Buddha's own story as a mirror, we explore together the restlessness and dissatisfaction that so many of us feel and start to see where it really comes from. Through guided meditation and shared reflection, we slowly begin to connect with something deeper: an innate goodness that was always there, waiting to be uncovered.

As that understanding grows, the journey opens outward.  We discover the full landscape of Buddhist thought, three ancient pathways offering stability, compassion, and wisdom and begin to find the approaches that speak most naturally to our own life.

Finally, we go to the heart of the Buddhist view itself. Not as doctrine to accept, but as living questions to explore together: about impermanence, suffering, the interconnected nature of things, and the profound peace that is possible when we begin to see clearly.

Step by step, these courses trace a meaningful arc from understanding yourself and the causes of suffering, to choosing your way forward, to seeing life with fresh eyes. Along the way, you'll discover that you're not just learning about Buddhism, you're uncovering your own potential to live with greater peace, resilience, and purpose.

Course 1: Turning Inward

For many of us, the journey begins with a quiet realization, doing everything right doesn’t seem to bring the happiness we expected, but rather a quiet restlessness, a feeling that something is missing.  In this 8-week course, we look at the life story of Siddhartha Gautama, the man who became the Buddha, as a mirror to help uncover our own search for meaning and true potential.

• Restlessness: Becoming aware of the subtle stress and dissatisfaction we experience when we try to force the world to revolve around us.

• The Root: Seeing how our world-view and mental patterns get in the way of our happiness.

• Unlocking: Tapping into our own goodness; inner fullfilment comes from within, and is already there,

• First Steps: Connecting with others through our inner goodness.

Becoming more aware of what causes our dissatisfaction, we can see beyond our usual ways of being. This allows us to discover a deeper sense of connection with ourselves and others, opening up new ways of relating to the world around us. Through open, collaborative conversation and guided meditation, we’ll learn from each other’s experiences and insights as we explore how our minds really work.

We have two time options for the course, so choose the time that best suits you! The two courses are scheduled for different lengths, one is 1.5 hours and the other is 2 hours, because each is led by a different instructor and utilizes a distinct presentation format.