The Dharma and a Meaningful Life: An 8-Month Program with Dave Smith IN PERSON & ONLINE

Name: The Dharma and a Meaningful Life: An 8-Month Program with Dave Smith IN PERSON & ONLINE
Start: 2025-03-16T19:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-03-16T22:00:00-06:00
Location: 1800 E 3rd Ave, Ste 109, Durango, CO AND ZOOM

Schedule

Sun Mar 16 2025 at 07:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

1800 E 3rd Ave, Ste 109, Durango, CO AND ZOOM | Durango, CO

The Dharma and a Meaningful Life
An Eight-Month Practice and Study Program with Dave Smith
IN PERSON & ONLINE
March-October 2025

During this eight-month practice and study program, students will engage in an in-depth study and practice of the Dharma. We will develop essential aspects of the Buddhist path, such as the noble eight-fold path, the four foundations of mindfulness, the brahma viharas and other core tenets of Buddhist philosophy and psychology.
The essential teachings will also be investigated through our current understanding of Western psychology, emotional intelligence, mental health, and meaning. Together we will discuss and inquire into the full implications of what it means to live a middle way in the context of an ever evolving and complex world. How can we use the Dharma to cultivate a meaningful life?
The program includes:
-Five 90-minute Zoom teachings
-Three daylong retreats held at the Durango Dharma Center in person with an online option
-Access to a self-paced online teaching curriculum, which includes audios, videos, readings and more. This will act as a road map to the course material and structure.
-Opportunity to connect and create friendships with like-minded practitioners
The Zoom meetings and online content are included in the program fee. The in-person daylong events will be offered on a dana basis.
This program is suitable for anyone interested in the topic. No prior experience is needed.
COST: The Dharma Center operates on the gift economy and the cost of this program is on a two-part sliding scale. The fee that you offer through the registration system ($325, $450, $575, or $700, or a scholarship in the range of $50 - $300) is split between Dave and the Dharma Center. The fee supports Dave in offering the monthly Zoom teachings and in preparing all of the course materials, such as videos, audios, readings and more. It also sustains our non-profit, which pays the costs of the building, website, administration, etc. An option to pay this fee in installments is available.
In keeping with our 2,600-year-old tradition, for the in-person daylong retreats, Dave will offer the teachings based on the ancient practice of dana, or generosity. You are invited into this "gift economy" system that has been alive since the time of the Buddha. During or after the daylong retreats (or at any time), you are invited to make a donation to support the teacher in continuing his valuable work. Donations in any amount whatsoever are gratefully received.
DATES:
Sunday, March 16, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Introduction to the Program (Zoom)
Saturday, April 26, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Daylong Retreat 1 (In Person & Zoom)
Sunday, May 18: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Monthly Teaching (Zoom)
Sunday, June 22: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Monthly Teaching (Zoom)
Saturday, July 12: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Daylong Retreat 2 (In Person & Zoom)
Sunday, August 10: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Monthly Teaching (Zoom)
Sunday, September 7, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Monthly Teaching (Zoom)
Saturday, October 4, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Daylong Retreat 3 (In Person & Zoom)
NOTES ON REGISTRATION:
Registration is limited for Zoom attendance in the three daylongs. If you are remote and know that you will not be in Durango for the daylongs, please consider registering soon and select the ‘Zoom’ option in the registration form to ensure your spot.
This class has a registration cap, whether attending the daylongs on Zoom or in person, and may go to a waiting list if that cap is reached before February 1st.
LOCATION: Durango Dharma Center, 1800 East Third Avenue, Suite 109 in Durango and Zoom.
QUESTIONS: If you have questions, please reach out to the registrar, alena, at [email protected] or 970-426-8983.
ABOUT DAVE SMITH: Dave Smith is a Buddhist meditation teacher, addiction treatment specialist, and author of Ethical Mindfulness. His background is rooted in the insight meditation tradition, and he was empowered to teach through the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. He has extensive experience bringing meditative interventions into jails, prisons, youth detention centers and addiction treatment facilities. Dave teaches residential meditation retreats and classes, provides training and consulting in both secular and Buddhist contexts, and works with students through his meditation mentoring program. He recently founded the Secular Dharma Foundation and lives in Paonia, Colorado.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: https://www.durangodharmacenter.org/events/#!event/2025/3/16/the-dharma-and-a-meaningful-lifean-eight-month-practice-and-study-program-with-dave-smithin-person-online