Course: Effort and Ease

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Balancing Effort and Ease in Meditation and in Life

A 6-week course led by Shaila Catherine and _______________

Developing the energies that transform and awaken the mind!

Thursdays, November 5 – December 17, 2020
7:15 pm to 9:00 pm
Silence begins at 7:00. Arrive early (around 7:00) to enjoy the optional pre-class meditation period.

Right effort – balancing energy and ease – supports the development of mindfulness, concentration, and insight. By learning to use our energies effectively, we overcome obstacles, transform mental habits, open to a fresh and free way of engaging with experience, and cultivate beautiful qualities that incline the mind toward profound peace.

This course will explore effort with an emphasis on the four modes of “right striving” described in the Sammappadhāna Samyutta, The Connected Discourses on Right Striving (SN 49.1). This brief teaching presents a flexible four-part approach to refining and balancing energy that is relevant to formal meditation practice, and can help us to skillfully meet the demands of daily life.

  • November 5: Introducing Mindfulness and Effort: A Balanced Approach
  • November 12: Effort to Protect
  • November 19: Effort to Free
  • November 26: No class tonight. Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday!
  • December 3: Effort to Cultivate
  • December 11: Effort to Maintain
  • December 17: Reflections on Skillful Effort, Confidence, and Relaxation

WHO SHOULD JOIN: This course is open to all practitioners.

COURSE LEVELS: It is designed as a level 1 course. Click this link for a key to course level designations.


Visit our Teacher Page for teacher biographies and photographs.

REGISTRATION: Registration is required for this course. Registration fees are non-refundable. To register, select an option under the Tickets heading at the bottom of this page. (If you are viewing this page more than two months in advance of the course, the Tickets heading might not yet appear, so please check again later.) To register for a course, you purchase one ticket, which registers you for the entire class series. You only need to register once; you do not need to register separately for each class session.

Course Fee: The sliding scale fee range is from $360 to $120 and will be shared between IMSB and the teacher(s). The lower end of the sliding scale is intended for those with limited financial means. The low rate of $120 is estimated to cover the most basic costs such as rent and insurance for the specific class period. This base rate does not factor in compensation for teachers or ongoing administrative expenses for IMSB. If you pay at the mid to high range of the sliding scale, your generosity supports those with limited income in attending our programs and also supports IMSB and the teachers, enabling the dhamma to thrive in the South Bay area. We encourage you to choose the highest level that is appropriate for your economic situation.

Scholarship Assistance: A scholarship rate of $50 is offered for those with very limited financial means. If you need additional assistance, or if you would like to volunteer to help out, please inquire with the registrar by contacting ThursdayClass.

Tax Deductions: The basic registration fee is not tax deductible. Donations above the base rate will be considered voluntary contributions and are deductible for any amount that is over the base rate. Each January, the IMSB treasurer sends donors letters that acknowledge the amount given for the previous year that is above the basic rate; this serves as documentation for tax deduction purposes.

Cancellation Policy: All fees and payments are non-refundable. If it becomes necessary to cancel participation in a course, and the registrar is notified prior to the start of the first class meeting, your registration fee will be converted into a voucher creditable towards the fee for a future IMSB Thursday class. Vouchers must be used within one year of the initial course start date, and may be transferred to only one future course. Cancellations that occur after the start of the first class are not eligible for the voucher credit.

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