2019 Meditation Instructor Training Schedule of Classes

OVERVIEW OF TRAINING SCHEDULE

Welcome to 2019 Meditation Instructor Training – Online.
Below you will find all the resources and materials for this course.

We recommend you bookmark this page in your web browser for ease of returning.
Links to video Lessons are Live, though Daily practice and Journaling must be completed daily.

Welcome and Action Items

Saturday, Sept 14th Live Online Orientation
10am – 1pm Pacific Time (UTC-7)

  • Welcome
  • Meditation with Aruna Rig’dzin
  • Introduction with Pema Khandro Rinpoche
  • Technical Overview Taught by Satya Shiva
    • Meeting the participants and expressing the purpose of the training
    • Overview of the Practicalities of the Course
  • Meet the participants
  • Meet the TAs
  • Answers to Technical Questions

MIT Introduction: What is Mind?

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
    • What is Mind According to Buddhist Thought
    • Understanding the factors of perception, experience, unconscious and identity
    • How the ten factors of mind take place
    • How does meditation work with the factors of mind?
    • Tibetan Yoga – Naljorpas – Remaining in the Real

Sunday, Sept 15
MIT Lesson 1: How to Sit – The Seven Point Posture of Vairocana

  • Taught by Satya Shiva
  • Detailed introduction to the 7 Point Body Posture and Bodhisattva posture
  • A good seat – a good mind
  • Daily Practice
    • Guided Calm Abiding – 21 Breaths Meditation

Monday, Sept 16
MIT Lesson 2: What is Meditation – Why Meditate?

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Popular Goals for Meditation
    • Meditation for relieving stress
    • Health benefits for meditation
    • Meditation as a spiritual practice
    • Meditation as withdrawing the senses
  • Goals for Meditation in Buddhism
    • What is wakeful presence?
  • What is Calm Abiding Meditation?
    • Settling, Tranquility and Equanimity
    • Why is calm abiding necessary?
    • Is calm abiding enough?
    • Is non-thought the goal? Why or why not?
    • The function of calm abiding
    • The benefits of finding calm when coping with change, illness and death
  • Daily Meditation
    • Calm Abiding 21 Breaths

Tuesday, Sept 17
Group 1 Online Practice Session 
10am – 11am Pacific time (UTC-7)

Lesson 3: Tradition & Context of the Practice

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • The Orientations of Buddhist Meditation
  • Tibetan Buddhism: Distinctions in the Practice
  • Tibetan Yogis and Contemplation (Nyingma Ngakpa)
  • Overview of frameworks of contemplative traditions
    • Why different methods to meet different needs
  • Calm Abiding vs Insight Meditation
    • Calm Abiding (Tib. Zhine, zhi gnas; Skt. Shamatha)
    • Sequence of calm abiding and insight
  • Preparing for Calm Abiding
    • The importance of enlightened intent (Skt. Bodhichitta)
    • Methods for cultivating enlightened intent
    • Lifestyle and ethical considerations
    • The goal of discovering self-existing wakefulness
  • The Body Context
    • Introduction to the mind-body relationship framed as winds, channels and spheres. (Skt. prana, nadi, bindu; Tbtn. rtsa, rlung, thigle)
    • The importance of phases of meditation practice
    • Brief introduction to the opening and closing contemplations
    • The Meditation Tradition & Establishing Context for Clarity & Calm
  • Daily Practice
  • Preliminary Practice 2: Double the Exhale
  • Calm Abiding Exercise 1: Twenty-one Breaths

Wednesday, Sept 18
Graded Exam #1

Lesson 4: Ideal Place and Time

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Ideal Times to practice
  • Ideal Durations of Practice
  • Ideal Clothing
  • Ideal Seat
  • Teaching in Non-Ideal Conditions
  • Overview of the prayers for opening and closing the Practice
  • Ideal Place – Traditional & Modern Considerations
  • Preliminary Practice 4: Tactile Sensations

“If the conditions of tranquility are impaired, one may meditate intensively for as long as a thousand years without achieving tranquil absorption.” -The Bodhipathapradīpa

  • Daily Meditation
    • Finding a stable posture
    • Preliminary Practice 1: Regulating the breath
    • Calm Abiding Exercise 1: Twenty-one Breaths

Thursday, Sept 19
Group 2 Online Practice Session
6pm -7pm Pacific time (UTC-7)

Lesson 5: Mastering the Posture

  • Taught by Aruna Rig’dzin
  • Preparatory practices for sitting
  • Secrets to the 7 Point Posture
  • How to sit on the cushion
  • How to sit in a chair
  • Helping Others to Sit
  • Props as Sitting Support for Tight Hips or Back Problems
  • Half Lotus and Full Lotus
  • Correct placement of the ankle in half lotus and full lotus
  • Solutions for Pain and Body Limitations

Friday, Sept 20
Lesson 6: Preparation for Practice

  • Taught by Satya Shiva
  • Introduction to the preliminary somatic practice
  • Preliminary Practice 3:  Nine purification breaths
  • Why Inner Yoga Practices settle the mind

Saturday, Sept 21
Live Online Group Workshop
10am – 1pm Pacific Time (UTC-7)

Lessons 7: Abiding in Peace and Calm 1

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Overview of the five main methods for finding calm
  • Common factors in all the Calm Abiding Methods
  • Structured exercises, unstructured spaces and non-elaborate meditation techniques
  • Importance of periods of non-guided meditation
  • What is ‘bad’ meditation, making sense of the dullness, agitation and impulses
  • Meditation as a space for encountering what we are

Sunday, Sept 22
Lessons 8: Abiding in Peace and Calm 2

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Overview of the five main methods for finding calm continued
  • Overview of four of the five preliminary exercises for synchronizing body and mind
  • What is calm or tranquility? How is it distinguished from dullness?
  • Step by Step Detailed Instructions for the 5 Main Methods to teach for accessing meditative presence
  • Does meditation make the mind more busy?
  • Practicing in ease versus practicing in tension and aggression
  • Dealing with fidgeting and body movement, how much movement or stillness is required?
  • Discerning distractions as soon as they arise
  • The liberating power of focusing the mind
  • Defining mental freedom as the power to concentrate on chosen objects
  • Balance between effort and relaxation
  • Quality vs Quantity – why it’s important
  • What to do if the students are all distracted or struggling in the middle of the session
  • Sticking with one method at a time

Monday, Sept 23
Lessons 9: Abiding in Peace and Calm 3

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Overview of the five main methods for finding calm
  • Samten (Dhyana) meditative stability
  • Daily prayers opening prayers part 1 and Refuge prayer
  • Refuge prayer without the word Refuge
  • Concrete objects to tune into the non-concrete presence
  • Rigpa – the Intrinsic quality like the wetness of water
  • How to calm the emotional poisons which distort our vision, disturb our mind
  • Formless meditation instructions and theory

Tuesday, Sept 24
Group 1 Online Practice Session #2
10am – 11am Pacific time (UTC-7)

Lesson 10: Abiding in Peace and Calm 4

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Overview of the five main methods for finding calm continued
  • What is the difference between Tibetan Buddhist Meditation and other meditation techniques
  • How does lifting the gaze change the meditation
  • Meditating on an external object
  • The forceful aspect of Forced Calm Abiding
  • What is the Ah Thigle? What is the benefit of using the Ah Thigle as an Object
  • Step by Step Detailed Instructions for the 5 Main Methods to teach for accessing meditative presence
  • Tips for Instructing Meditation for beginners and advanced audiences

Wednesday, Sept 25
Graded Exam #2

Lesson 11: Abiding in Peace and Calm 5

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Two factors that lead to the meditative state
  • The importance of enlightened intent (bodhichitta)
  • The intentional factor that leads to the meditative state
  • Subtle Body as Mind
  • Mind riding the Wind
  • The Five Vital Winds
  • Practicing with Body Speech and Mind
  • The Symbolism and meaning of Om Ah Hung Practices
  • Expressing enlightened intent in the opening and closing of practice
  • Calm Abiding Practice with Sending Light

Thursday, Sept 26
Group 2 Online Practice Session
6pm -7pm Pacific time (UTC-7)

Lessons 12: Obstacles and Antidotes

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Primary obstacles to meditation and their remedies
  • Considerations for preventing obstacles to meditation
  • Recognizing the source of obstacles
  • Working with special cases – tips for students with depression, addiction, and trauma
  • Uprooting every teacher’s worst obstacle
  • Cultivating ethics & Discovering consciousness as ethical

Friday, Sept 27
Lessons 13: Obstacles and Antidotes (continued)

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Primary obstacles to meditation and their remedies
  • Considerations for preventing obstacles to meditation
  • Recognizing the source of obstacles
  • Working with special cases – tips for students with depression, addiction, and trauma
  • Uprooting every teacher’s worst obstacle
  • Cultivating ethics & Discovering consciousness as ethical

Saturday, Sept 28
Live Online Group Workshop #3
10am – 1pm Pacific Time (UTC-7)

Lessons 14: Obstacles and Antidotes (continued)

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Primary obstacles to meditation and their remedies
  • Considerations for preventing obstacles to meditation
  • Recognizing the source of obstacles
  • Working with special cases – tips for students with depression, addiction, and trauma
  • Uprooting every teacher’s worst obstacle
  • Cultivating ethics & Discovering consciousness as ethical

Sunday, Sept 29
Lesson 15: Obstacles and Antidotes in Diet & Lifestyle

  • Taught by Satya Shiva
  • Dietary & Lifestyle Considerations for preventing obstacles to meditation

Monday, Sept 30
Lesson 16: Teaching Methodology

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Avoiding common pitfalls in teaching
  • Discovering your authentic voice
  • Integrating Meditation Teaching into your coaching practice, medical practice and other careers
  • Facilitating groups in welcomes, check-ins, and discussions
  • Avoiding sexist language and actions
  • Skills for addressing Racism & Bigotry
  • Remaining relevant

Tuesday, Oct 1
Group 1 Online Practice Session #3
10am – 11am Pacific time (UTC-7)

Lesson 17: Tips for Teaching in the Meditation Practicum

  • Taught by Aruna Rig’dzin and Satya Shiva
  • Finding places to teach classes
  • How to set up your 3 hour meditation practicum
  • The importance of serving under-served communities
  • Identifying and approaching underserved communities

Wednesday, Oct 2
Graded Exam #3

Lesson 18: The Stages of Meditation

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Stages of developing practice
  • The nine stages of developing the meditative state of calm abiding
  • Signs of success on the path
  • Practices for adapting to the stages of meditation

Thursday, Oct 3
Group 2 Online Practice Session #3
6pm -7pm Pacific time (UTC-7)

Lesson 19: The Goal of Meditation

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • The Goal of Meditation as a Buddhist Practice
  • Advanced Considerations
  • Understanding the mind, perception and its objects
  • Non-self and open-ended experience
  • Non-conceptuality, bliss, and clarity
  • Working through meditative experiences without grasping

Friday, Oct 4
Lesson 20: Questions and Answers – Taught by Aruna Rig’dzin

Saturday, Oct 5 
Lesson 21: Instructor Parameters

  • Taught by Pema Khandro
  • Secrets to Personal Discipline & Developing a Strong Practice
  • Working with students
  • Teaching Ethics – A Code to Live By
  • Scope of Practice

Sunday, Oct 6
Lesson 22: Bonus Class with Pema Khandro

Monday, Oct 7 – Friday, Oct 18

  • Meditation Practicum – 3 hours of classes in an underserved community, and submit forms
  • Daily Meditation practice and Journaling

Wednesday, Oct 16
Final Graded Exam – Due by 12pm Friday, Oct 18

Saturday, Oct 19
Live Online Final Practicum with Aruna and Satya
9am – 11am Pacific Time (UTC-7)
Each student will lead a Meditation Class and be reviewed for Graduation

Final Transmission and Graduation with Pema Khandro Rinpoche
11am – 1pm Pacific Time (UTC-7)

  • Keeping a discipline after the course
  • Developing ongoing education
  • Values for a Meditation Instructor
  • Heart Advice for Meditation Instructors
  • Final Words of Advice & Graduation

Link to portions of MIT Manual will be posted after each Graded Exam is complete.

Practicum Form will be posted at the bottom of the course content page.

MIT Lingering Questions & Comments Form will be posted at the bottom of the course content page.

Final Exam will be posted at the bottom of Course Content Page.