Spacious Mind
Coaching
Coaching
Welcoming Life As-it-is:
Coaching, Conferences and Courses
Contemplative Dialogue based on Non-dual Buddhism and Advaita
Coaching, Conferences and Courses
Contemplative Dialogue based on Non-dual Buddhism and Advaita
COURSES AND EVENTS
Unless otherwise noted, the following events and workshops occur in Amherst. Seating may be limited. Contact Michael Shandler at (413) 549-1670 or by email: michael@spaciousmindcoaching.com
The nine-month Radiant Mind course is fast gaining a reputation as one of
the most innovative training programs for integrating the liberating
wisdom of Asia’s nondual wisdom traditions at a deep level in all
aspects of our life. The Radiant Mind course was developed by Dr. Peter Fenner, a leader in the adaptation of Asian wisdom for Westerners.
Radiant Mind is one of the most unique, powerful, and systematic spiritual learning experiences available in the world today. It is especially appropriate for Westerners because it is refreshingly free of dogmatism and rituals, yet provides step-by-step coaching support and experiential insight into the transcultural wisdom of Mahayana Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta.
In order to give people an opportunity to experience the core principles and practices of Radiant Mind we have designed a THREE DAY INTRODUCTION TO RADIANT MIND.
The INTRODUCTION TO RADIANT MIND workshop explores the experience of intrinsic freedom, where we are neither resisting our experience nor charging it up. This is a state in which we are aware, relaxed and able to fully embrace all experiences, emotions and thoughts without distortion or the need to escape them. The workshop introduces and offers opportunities to directly experience several key principles and practices of the larger course:
• Bridging the Conditioned and Unconditioned Mind.
• Simply Sitting: the Art of Natural Meditation.
• Non-dual Contemplation: Sitting in Presence, favoring neither speech nor silence.
• Understanding Core Fixations and Primary Biases: How we distort experience and perpetuate suffering.
• Expanding the Preference Bandwidth.
• Deconstructive Conversations and Meditative Inquiry
Robert Thurman, the well-known Buddhist scholar and president of Tibet House in New York says:
The Radiant Mind has also been endorsed by Robert Thurman -Founder Tibet House and noted Buddhist author and teacher, Ken Wilber - Founder, Integral Institute, John Welwood - Buddhist Psychologist and Author, Isaac Shapiro - International Advaita Teacher, Allan Combs - Author, The Radiance of Being, Lama Palden Drolma - Founder Sukhasiddhi Foundation, Chuck Hillig, Author, series of enlightening books, and Stuart Sovatsky - President, Association of Transpersonal Psychology.
Fees: $300
To to make inquiries about this workshop or to enroll, please call Michael Shandler (413) 549-1670 or email: michael@spaciousmindcoaching.com
joel.agee@mac.com
SPACIOUS MIND GROUPS
People often experience deep spiritual rest and healing in these contemplative sessions. Sessions are weekly on Thursday evenings.
In these group sessions, we just sit in one another’s presence without a lot of agenda. Usually we start by meditating together, sometimes silently and sometimes with a guided meditation that encourages us to listen openly and let things be just as they are.
As we relax into being together, our experience in the here-and-now becomes an opportunity for learning. We reflect on our attractions and aversions, on our conditioning, how we construct “stories,” or distort reality through our biases and fixations. Sometimes we speak about what is most important to us. Sometimes we talk about death and dying and loss, and sometimes we have conversations about nothing.
Conversation happens in deep quietness and listening. In this open spaciousness, with nothing further to do, insights and humor sometimes spontaneously emerge. And, when there is pain and fear, we open ourselves to that too. Much of the time, we just sit enjoying the spaciousness, without favoring either speech or silence.
And, in this spacious presence, we may read or listen to inspiring teachings from the great teachers of non-dualism, including Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta, Eckhart Tolle, Adyashanti, Gangaji, Buddha, Longchempa, Rumi, Peter Fenner, and others.
"For two years now I've been a part of the Spacious Mind group that meditates with Michael on a weekly basis. The awareness and clarity this inspires is increasingly carrying over to my daily life.
- Annique Boomsma
“As a direct result of these contemplative sessions over the past few years, I have become far less reactive.”
- Samuel Gladstone, M.D.
Thursdays 7:30PM – 9:15PM in Amherst, MA.
For more information to discuss attending a Spacious mind group, call Michael Shandler (413) 549-1670. Or email michael@spaciousmindcoaching.com
- INTRODUCTION TO THE RADIANT MIND (May 16 - 18, 2008 Brooklyn NY)
- I will be facilitating this next Introduction to Radiant Mind with Joel Agee, a senior Radiant mind coach. Joel comes to this collaboration with over forty years experience with psycho-spiritual modalities, especially non-dual Buddhism. He has had relationships with many revered teachers, going all the way back to J. Krishnamurti. He has been working with Peter Fenner for the past five years and has coached many people through the nine-month process of the full Radiant Mind Course. I am honored to be co-facilitating with Joel and look forward to a rich collaboration.
- "I wholeheartedly recommend these Introduction to Radiant Mind workshops to you. Michael Shandler and Joel Agee will lead you directly into the experience of Radiant Mind and offer you opportunities to directly explore several key principles and practices of the 9 month Radiant Mind Course." – Peter Fenner, Founder, The Radiant Mind.
- "... Just being in a space so skillfully held by Michael with love, respect and clarity, doing nothing in particular, was one of the most powerful experiences of my life so far... stories and preconceived notions just fell away. There was a deep sense of resting in each other's presence, resting in Presence..." - Annique Boomsma
- "... a true taste of Radiant Mind. Michael masterfully presented this work from his own authenticity.... opening up the direct experience of pure awareness, a real sense of timelessness, a felt sense of vast spaciousness, deep healing and truly natural contemplation." - Susan Wilson
- ".... By day two two there was such openness and trust that we flowed into natural contemplation with ease. Participants had a high quality experience of love, acceptance, joy, bliss, pure awareness, Radiant Mind. Nothing was missing." - Susan Morton
Radiant Mind is one of the most unique, powerful, and systematic spiritual learning experiences available in the world today. It is especially appropriate for Westerners because it is refreshingly free of dogmatism and rituals, yet provides step-by-step coaching support and experiential insight into the transcultural wisdom of Mahayana Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta.
In order to give people an opportunity to experience the core principles and practices of Radiant Mind we have designed a THREE DAY INTRODUCTION TO RADIANT MIND.
The INTRODUCTION TO RADIANT MIND workshop explores the experience of intrinsic freedom, where we are neither resisting our experience nor charging it up. This is a state in which we are aware, relaxed and able to fully embrace all experiences, emotions and thoughts without distortion or the need to escape them. The workshop introduces and offers opportunities to directly experience several key principles and practices of the larger course:
• Bridging the Conditioned and Unconditioned Mind.
• Simply Sitting: the Art of Natural Meditation.
• Non-dual Contemplation: Sitting in Presence, favoring neither speech nor silence.
• Understanding Core Fixations and Primary Biases: How we distort experience and perpetuate suffering.
• Expanding the Preference Bandwidth.
• Deconstructive Conversations and Meditative Inquiry
Robert Thurman, the well-known Buddhist scholar and president of Tibet House in New York says:
- “Radiant Mind is a brilliant postmodern implementation of Buddhist nondual wisdom. Peter Fenner has taken the refined deconstructive practices that have liberated tens of thousands of Asian contemplatives and adapted them for effective Western use. This course brings the ultimately liberating experience of selfless engagement within the reach of Western spiritual discoverers. I highly recommend it.”
The Radiant Mind has also been endorsed by Robert Thurman -Founder Tibet House and noted Buddhist author and teacher, Ken Wilber - Founder, Integral Institute, John Welwood - Buddhist Psychologist and Author, Isaac Shapiro - International Advaita Teacher, Allan Combs - Author, The Radiance of Being, Lama Palden Drolma - Founder Sukhasiddhi Foundation, Chuck Hillig, Author, series of enlightening books, and Stuart Sovatsky - President, Association of Transpersonal Psychology.
Fees: $300
To to make inquiries about this workshop or to enroll, please call Michael Shandler (413) 549-1670 or email: michael@spaciousmindcoaching.com
joel.agee@mac.com
SPACIOUS MIND GROUPS
People often experience deep spiritual rest and healing in these contemplative sessions. Sessions are weekly on Thursday evenings.
In these group sessions, we just sit in one another’s presence without a lot of agenda. Usually we start by meditating together, sometimes silently and sometimes with a guided meditation that encourages us to listen openly and let things be just as they are.
As we relax into being together, our experience in the here-and-now becomes an opportunity for learning. We reflect on our attractions and aversions, on our conditioning, how we construct “stories,” or distort reality through our biases and fixations. Sometimes we speak about what is most important to us. Sometimes we talk about death and dying and loss, and sometimes we have conversations about nothing.
Conversation happens in deep quietness and listening. In this open spaciousness, with nothing further to do, insights and humor sometimes spontaneously emerge. And, when there is pain and fear, we open ourselves to that too. Much of the time, we just sit enjoying the spaciousness, without favoring either speech or silence.
And, in this spacious presence, we may read or listen to inspiring teachings from the great teachers of non-dualism, including Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta, Eckhart Tolle, Adyashanti, Gangaji, Buddha, Longchempa, Rumi, Peter Fenner, and others.
"For two years now I've been a part of the Spacious Mind group that meditates with Michael on a weekly basis. The awareness and clarity this inspires is increasingly carrying over to my daily life.
- Annique Boomsma
“As a direct result of these contemplative sessions over the past few years, I have become far less reactive.”
- Samuel Gladstone, M.D.
Thursdays 7:30PM – 9:15PM in Amherst, MA.
For more information to discuss attending a Spacious mind group, call Michael Shandler (413) 549-1670. Or email michael@spaciousmindcoaching.com
Space, whose nature is free of concepts,
Encompasses everything.
Likewise, the stainless expanse of the mind's true nature
Permeates all things.
Maitreya-Asanga
Encompasses everything.
Likewise, the stainless expanse of the mind's true nature
Permeates all things.
Maitreya-Asanga
