A 6 week course on the Buddha’s teaching on the four divine abodes of metta (lovingkindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (appreciative joy) and uppekha (equanimity).
The Buddha taught that the awakened, limitless heart rests in four states:
Metta: often translated as lovingkindness, benevolence or gentle friendliness
Karuna: translated as compassion, or the hearts quivering in response to pain
Mudita: appreciative joy, or joy at the good fortune of others, and
Uppekha: usually translated as equanimity- a sense of poise or balance.
In this six week course we will explore each of these in great detail- how they arise naturally out of our practice and how they can be intentionally cultivated.
Each week, on our live call, we will explore each of the brahma viharas- uncovering what it means for us and our lives, what gets in the way of its unfolding and what impact living with this heart quality has on our human experience.
During the week, you will be given a specific meditation practice aimed at cultivating each quality that you will be encouraged to do daily.
The layout will be as follows:
Week One: Metta: lovingkindness toward self and other
Week Two: Metta: Formal forgiveness practice and barriers to metta
Week Three: Compassion: when the loving heart meets suffering
Week Four: Mudita: Gratitude as an expression of joy toward the self
Week Five: Mudita: Appreciative joy for others
Week Six: Equanimity: Finding balance and non-reactivity
The course is aimed at anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of buddhist wisdom, or who simply wants to delve into the beauty of their own heart. The recommended prerequisite is Meditation for Beginners- or equivalent level of experience and understanding of the basics of meditation as demonstrated by the student.
Included in your course is:
+8 hours live calls (including guided meditations and Q&A)
+course manual
+6 different meditation practices to keep
+plentiful live support from me
This course can be taken in line with the ancient tradition of generosity, or Dana.
Dana is an ancient practice, dating back to the time of the Buddha, which respects that the dharma- the deepest teachings- are priceless. These teachings are offered freely, and in return the student offers generosity at the end to support the teacher. There is no recommended amount and the student is free to choose whatever they can comfortably afford, via direct deposit. Dana allows those without financial means to still attend, while those who feel abundant may contribute more. This is a personal exploration that each students engages in on their own.
In these modern times, generosity is not well understood. It is my aspiration to offer all of my courses on dana, however this has so far been unsuccessful. Often, students are confused and stressed about having to come up with their own amount. Thus, as a guideline, I have placed a dollar amount of $299 on the course and for many, simply paying a fee in return for the course is an easier practice. Please feel free to take this option if you wish.
The other very common result is that when paying by Dana, the students are less committed to the course and fail to show up. Thus, if you pay by Dana I will be specifically asking that you show up FULLY, for the duration of the course, regardless of how much you choose to pay.
To pay by dana, please contact me directly at kate@kateduncanyoga.com or by using the contact me page on this website. You will be required to register with a $50 commitment fee, then you will offer dana at the end of the course.
A 6 week course on the Buddha’s teaching on the four divine abodes of metta (lovingkindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (appreciative joy) and uppekha (equanimity).
