The Wheel of Life

A four-week course exploring key Buddhist teachings

Four weeks starts Wed 5 Jun | 7.15pm - 9.30pm | In person

Led by Suryagupta

Do you ever feel like you're going round and around repeating old habits while true freedom escapes you? Where is the gap that helps us to let go of unhelpful behaviours and how do we transform our everyday lives while cultivating our potential for spiritual liberation?

In this four-week series led by LBC Chair, Suryagupta, we will explore The Wheel of Life -- a symbolic representation of the cycles of life from Tibetan Buddhism. This ancient symbol contains essential dharmic teachings which deal with the most important questions of life, death and freedom.

In this intensive short course, Suryagupta will harness her love of stories, myths, and symbols to share the magical, powerful and transformative image of the Tibetan Wheel of 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

In this four-week series led by LBC Chair, Suryagupta, we will explore The Wheel of Life -- a symbolic representation of the cycles of life from Tibetan Buddhism. This ancient symbol contains essential dharmic teachings which deal with the most important questions of life, death and freedom.

Structure of the Course

In this intensive short course, Suryagupta will harness her love of stories, myths, and symbols to share the magical, powerful and transformative image of the Tibetan Wheel of Life.

Week 1

Forget what you know

Week 2

Staying with sensations

Week 3

Facing difficult emotions

Week 4

Activating loving-kindness

Week 5

Discover a more subtle experience

Week 6

Surrendering to something bigger

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?

This series is ideal for regulars who would like to gain insight into the foundational teachings of Buddhism and understand how best to apply these concepts practically in everyday 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

Led by

Suryagupta

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. If you look for motivation before you do something, you reverse your motivation; mostly you only want to do something when you’re actually doing it. 

Come early – so you can lie down in the shrine room and have a nap, you probably need it and you’ll get more from the class if you do.

Do your ‘home practice’ every day – then each week you’ll be in a small group to check in about how that went.

What if I can’t make every session?

Do sign-up even if you know you can’t make every session, as you will be able to catch-up from the weekly emails.

If you are going to miss a class – email the home group leader so we know and can let others know. And do come back the following week. Don’t feel guilty for not having attended, just come back and start again.