Practical Buddhist Advice
~ A Meaningful Bucket List ~
The idea of a "bucket list," a list of things to do before you die, was popularized in the last 20 years or so and the phrase is linked to the idiom "kick the bucket" (meaning to die). The underlying idea of creating goals before death is timeless, but this specific phrase, popularized by a movie, gave it a catchy name, leading to global adoption.
It is an important question to answer for ourselves because as Geshe Kelsang Gyatso says in his book Living Meaningfully, Dying Joyfully*:
“We have immense freedom to accomplish almost anything we want. We can become a powerful politician, a successful businessman or woman, or a great scientist or artist. We can travel the world or even go to the moon, or we can settle for a simple family life. With so much freedom, we need to ask ourself what is the most meaningful way to use our life. What will make us truly happy? What will benefit others most? And when this life is over, what will help us then?”
In this series of classes we will explore what Buddhism has as answers to these most fundamental questions.
Bucket list #1: A loving mind
Objective: How to develop a loving mind for all living beings and why it makes us happy.
Bucket list #2: A mind of compassion
Objective: An introduction to the Buddha’s teachings on compassion and how to apply them in daily life.
Bucket list #3: A mind filled with patience
Objective: What is patience? In practice what does it mean?
Bucket list #4: A generous disposition
Objective: To understand that we can give in many ways, not only financially, and it is very meaningful and beneficial for both ourselves and others to do so.
Bucket list #5: Mental peace
Objective: To investigate where mental peace comes from, why it is essential during our life and even more so at the time of death.
Bucket list #6: Wisdom
Objective: An introduction to the Buddha's teachings on wisdom and how they are the pathway to ultimate freedom from suffering.
Each class includes two guided meditations and a talk on nurturing deeper inner peace and developing a clear sense of purpose and direction in life. There is also time for questions and discussion. Each session is self-contained, so you are welcome to join at any point. No previous experience is required.
Everybody welcome!
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Each class is self-contained, so you are welcome to join at any point.
Our classes begin with a brief introduction, followed by an initial guided meditation to settle the mind and create a feeling of inner peace. This is followed by a talk on an aspect of meditation practice related to the series topic, and concludes with a guided meditation related to the talk.
After each class, we invite you to join us in our community room for complimentary refreshments and an opportunity to ask questions.
You do not need to be a Buddhist to attend, and no previous experience with meditation is required.
Everybody is welcome!
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These classes are held in the peaceful, spacious and comfortable meditation room at Kadampa Meditation Centre Canada. We also have many books and other meditation materials available at our Temple shop which can help you deepen your understanding of the meditation experience through further study.
Kadampa Meditation Centre Canada
631 Crawford St. Toronto ON M6G 3K1 -
10:30 a.m: Doors open
11:00 - 12:15 p.m: Teaching & Guided Meditations
12:15 - 12:45 p.m: Q & A, Complimentary Refreshments
in the community room -
Kelsang Zopa has taught Buddhist meditation classes and courses for many years. He is dedicated to helping others discover the benefits of meditation and, through his warm, light-hearted, and down-to-earth example, shows how to apply meditation in daily life — improving our happiness, wisdom, and ability to solve everyday problems. Zopa presents Buddhist teachings in a way that is practical, engaging, and easy to relate to.
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Regular: $15 / person
Class pass holders: no charge
(click here for more information about the monthly class pass)How to book: You can book in advance via our website or simply drop in and register upon arrival. Pre-registration is encouraged to allow a smoother registration process and decrease your wait time at the door. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the event.
To book in advance, click on the booking button below and fill out the booking form. At the end of the booking process, you will receive an email confirming your booking.
Promo code: If you are a class pass holder, you may enter your promo code at the top of the booking form to get your discount.
Your promo code has been given to you when you first signed up to become a class pass holder.
Payment methods: For pre-registration via our website, we accept credit cards. For registration on site upon arrival, we accept cash, debit and credit cards.
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Parking spaces are limited in the residential neighbourhood. For this reason, it is easier to come by public transport if this is an option for you.
It is generally not possible to park for more than 3 hours during the day.
Temporary day parking spots nearby: Green P Parking.
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If you have any questions or booking inquiries, please email: [email protected]
Booking