Digital Dharma

A Buddhist Approach to Technology

Six Tuesdays | Starts Tue 14 May | 7.15–9.30pm | In person only
Led by Sthiramanas, Sraddhamalini and Jay

To experience the Buddhist vision of reality, we need to apply its teachings to the specific issues of our lives. Nowhere are the dynamics of craving and contentment, suffering and freedom, clearer to see than in our relationship to our phones and other devices.

Screens mediate nearly every aspect of our lives - they can provide wonderful opportunities but all too often lead us into a fog of confusion and negativity.

The Digital Dharma course uses ancient practices and modern tools to help us use technology more wisely, and to clear the way for a more meaningful life.

“There are hundreds of books on mindfulness, but for a practical guide I would turn first to Life with Full Attention by Maitreyabandhu...."

Alice O'Keefe

- The Guardian

Course Description

This course uses our relationship to screens as a practical starting point from which to explore the Buddha’s teachings on the mind.

First we will cultivate awareness -- noticing what our tendencies are and how it feels to reach for distraction. Applying the teachings and practising meditation, we will explore our reactive patterns and discover a way to freedom.

Then, for a three-week period, we will experiment with an intentionally simpler lifestyle. In the space that opens up, we will rediscover how we really want to be spending our time -- and get a taste of the vast potential of human consciousness.

Structure of the Course

Week 1

Recognising the Reactive Mind

Week 2

Letting Go into Creativity

Week 3

Thinking for Yourself

Week 4

Communicating with Depth

Week 5

Acting in Accordance with Value

Week 6

For the Benefit of All

Week 1

Grounding in the Body

We need to learn to stay aware of sensations in the body – particularly around the heart centre and the belly.

Week 2

Noticing and responding to emotions

Just by bringing more awareness to anything in our experience that we intuitively feel takes us deeper.

Week 3

Five stages of the Metta Bhavana

Exploring how life feels – the texture of life. These are the building blocks of our experience, moods, and emotions.

Week 4

Tips for Meditating

Understanding that everything we experience, we experience through the mind. Cultivating our mind towards greater happiness.

Week 5

Metta in everyday life

Training ourselves to notice that when we act out of positive states of mind, we feel happier, more creative, tolerant, and expansive.

Week 6

Deepening our practice

Enriching our lives with art and beauty. Mindfulness is about more life – we need to remember to appreciate and enjoy things.

Is this course for me?

If you're a human being with a smartphone, you'll get something from the course! You don't need any prior experience of Buddhism or meditation to join. If you do have more experience, then you'll explore the teachings from a new perspective and deepen your understanding while addressing a common challenge to practice.

“There are hundreds of books on mindfulness, but for a practical guide I would turn first to Life with Full Attention by Maitreyabandhu...."

Alice O'Keefe

- The Guardian

Led by

Sthiramanas

Sraddhamalini

Jay

Pricing

If you’re not in a position to give the concession rate, get in touch with bookings@lbc.org.uk.

BOOK NOW

Book a place

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get the most from the course?

Here are some top tips for taking part:
‍
Come every week – whether you feel like it or not!
‍
Come early – so you can relax before the class starts
‍
Do your ‘home practice’ every day – then each week you’ll be in a small group to discuss how that went.

What if I can’t make every session?

Often people need to miss a session or two, so feel free to book anyway. We'll send follow-up emails which will recap some of the content you missed.

If you are going to miss a class – Just get in touch so that we know and do come back the following week.

What if I can't afford it?

If money is a barrier to you booking on a course, you can use the concessionary rate or alternatively email bookings@lbc.org.uk or call 02087099978 (10am-5pm weekdays) and we would be happy to discuss other ways to help.

Digital Dharma

A Buddhist Approach to Technology

Six Tuesdays | Starts Tue 14 May | 7.15–9.30pm | £125/£90 conc. | In person only

Led by Sthiramanas, Shraddhamalini and Jay

BOOK NOW

It’s past midnight and you’re watching videos of people you don’t know, talking energetically about things you don’t really care about. It’s not obvious how you got here. You’re not really enjoying yourself, but you can’t quite bring yourself to stop and go to bed. It’s not exactly the life of freedom and creativity you’d imagined, is it?

You’re not alone. In our screen-mediated world, distraction and overwhelm is rapidly becoming the normal state of being. If we want to experience a more expansive consciousness, to feel alive and connected to the world around us, we need to learn how to use technology less and use it better.

With a combination of ancient practices and modern tools, Digital Dharma helps you to simplify your digital habits and learn deep lessons about the Buddhist vision by applying it to this particular area of your life.

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How it works:

Notice

The first step is simply to become aware of how we use technology. How much time are we spending on screens? What do we habitually go to for distraction? How does it actually feel? If we don’t like what we find, there’s no need to worry - it’s the first step towards a change.

Understand

To escape from confusion we need clarity. With teachings from the Buddhist tradition, insights into digital platforms and firsthand experience in meditation we come to understand how it is that our mind gets trapped in reactive cycles. We also learn what else is possible - a way to unlock a new, creative mode of mind.

Reduce

For a three-week period we undergo an experiment together. We identify those platforms that are negatively affecting our lives and make a conscious decision to use them more intentionally, or not at all. With the support of effective strategies and digital tools we reclaim our time and attention to enjoy a simpler, richer way of living.

Rediscover

We now have the opportunity to rediscover the things that truly matter to us. With a clarified sense of purpose we can explore our interests, deepen our connections with others, and engage with the real world in a more meaningful way. By applying the Buddha’s teachings in this specific way, we may also discover something more profound - the limitless potential of human consciousness that he is pointing out to us.

BOOK NOW

What people said about this course last year:

What the course includes:

Buddhist teachings on the areas of life affected by modern technology… and on life itself
Led meditation for all levels of experience – get a taste for the teachings in your experience
Home practices – clear actions to apply what you’ve been learning
The support of a small group with whom you’ll discuss your progress every week
Weekly emails to keep you on track with summaries, guided meditations and links to supportive technologies
Long-term strategies to change your digital life for good

Digital Dharma

A Buddhist Approach to Technology

Alice O'Keefe

Course Description

Structure of the Course

Week 1

Recognising the Reactive Mind

Week 2

Letting Go into Creativity

Week 3

Thinking for Yourself

Week 4

Communicating with Depth

Week 5

Acting in Accordance with Value

Week 6

For the Benefit of All

Week 1

Grounding in the Body

Week 2

Noticing and responding to emotions

Week 3

Five stages of the Metta Bhavana

Week 4

Tips for Meditating

Week 5

Metta in everyday life

Week 6

Deepening our practice

Is this course for me?

Alice O'Keefe

Digital Dharma| Starts Tue 14 May

Led by

Pricing

Book a place

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get the most from the course?

What if I can’t make every session?

What if I can't afford it?

Join our mailing list

Digital Dharma

A Buddhist Approach to Technology

How it works:

Notice

Understand

Reduce

Rediscover

What people said about this course last year:

What the course includes:

Book a place

Join our mailing list