Joy of Living 1

The course runs on Monday evenings, 6:00-7:30 PM, from 6 October to 10 November, and be hosted in person at three locations (Select your venue at Checkout)

• Michael Oak Waldorf School, 4 Marlow Rd Kenilworth, hosted by Janni and Luke
• ROKPA UNIMA Indawo Yobomi (Centre for Life), 113 Folokhwe Crescent, Makhaza, hosted by Samkelo Zihlangu and Siyamthanda Sinani
• Heartcore’s contemplative studio, 103 Robyn Street, Jukskeipark 2188 Randburg hosted by Angelic Pieplenbosch

Tergar guide Robin Harris will be joining us live via Zoom to lead these sessions, while each location will be supported by in-person facilitators. This setup allows us to experience both the depth of shared teachings and the vibrancy of communal presence.

It’s a meaningful opportunity to get to know one another as a practice community, and to explore the power of meditating and engaging together in the same physical space, while receiving instruction from a qualified Tergar guide.

The goal of this program is to help us discover a lasting contentment that is not subject to the fluctuating conditions of our lives and to nurture the qualities of wisdom and compassion that naturally manifest from awareness itself. Meditation is taught as a practical tool to explore the landscape of the heart and mind and uncover the richness of the present moment.

The practices taught in the Joy of Living, though rooted in the ancient Buddhist teachings of Tibet, are not religious in nature. They address basic qualities of the mind, such as mindful awareness and the movements toward happiness and away from suffering. By working with these qualities of mind, we gradually transform our relationship to present–moment experience, learning to approach every thought, feeling, and sensory experience with unconditional warmth and acceptance.

What is meant by “joy” in the Joy of Living?

Mingyur Rinpoche’s intention in the Joy of Living program is to help us develop familiarity with awareness. As our practice progresses, our mind will naturally return on its own to its naturally vast, spacious state. Experiences of all kinds will continue to occur in our lives — thoughts and feelings will continue to come up — but we’ll be able to view them from a more expansive perspective. This makes it possible to live a life rooted in well-being, regardless of the inevitable ups and downs of experience. This lasting, fundamental well-being is what is meant by “joy” in the Joy of Living.

Joy is not the absence of suffering, the absence of challenges, or the absence of anything else. Living with joy means developing a sense of inner well-being that allows us to embrace whatever the present moment offers.