Course: The Development of Happiness

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Event Series Event Series: Course: The Development of Happiness

A six-week course led by Kim Allen

A practical approach to training in happiness.

April 25 – May 30, 2019
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.

The Buddhist path can be viewed as the cultivation of deeper and deeper forms of happiness. When suffering is progressively removed from experience, the mind naturally realizes greater ease, joy, happiness, and peace; they are two sides of the same coin. A great depth of happiness is available to the trained mind. This six-week course will explore several levels of happiness through teachings (including sutta readings), meditation instruction, reflections, and small-group discussion. We will nurture practical skills that bolster positive states of mind, and learn to recognize, appreciate, and extend the experience of happiness.

  • April 25—Happiness and the Three Trainings with Kim Allen
  • May 2—The Happiness of Ordinary Pleasures with Kim Allen
  • May 9—The Happiness of Benefit and Service with Kim Allen
  • May 16—The Happiness of a Calm and Focused Mind with Kim Allen
  • May 23—The Happiness of Wisdom and Insight with Kim Allen
  • May 30 —The Happiness of Liberation and Living in Peace with Kim Allen

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

COURSE LEVELS: It is designed as a level 2-3 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 Ticketsheading 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 $90 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 $90 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 $45 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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