Course, via Zoom

Practicing Gratitude in Everyday Life

with Peggy Gillespie

2 Mondays: November 8 and 15; 7-8:30pm ET

This course will take place via Zoom.

Suggested donation: $16-40 registration + teacher donation (we encourage you to consider giving teacher dana equal to or greater than what you gave for registration)*

In just two group meetings and home practices during the intervening week and for the rest of our lives, I hope to share with the group one of the essential practices in the Buddhist tradition.  We will explore our feelings of dissatisfaction—judgment of self, of others, and of our life situation—and see clearly the buttons that trigger us to open and dwell in our "complaint department."  This is not, however, a course that seeks to deny,  push away, or "spiritually bypass" suffering, grief, fear, and pain (physical and/or mental).  Instead, I hope it will help us all to recognize these mind states, while simultaneously cultivating the ability to focus on the many ways we can water the seeds of gratitude no matter how difficult our daily lives are!  By cultivating gratitude, we can discover the possibility of more equilibrium as we navigate even our darkest and most fearful times.  Through discussion and practice, my hope is that we will all get closer to following Lao Tzu's advice: "When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."

Peggy Gillespie was the original Assistant Director under Jon Kabat-Zinn, of the UMass Medical Center's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program in Worcester. She is a Community Dharma Leader, trained at Spirit Rock, and teaches meditation locally, including at high schools and colleges. Peggy is the co-Buddhist Advisor at Mt. Holyoke College (along with Adi Bemak).

*In keeping with the Buddhist tradition of dana (generosity), the suggested registration amounts for our classes and retreats do not include any payment for the teacher. The teachers are paid entirely out of the students' generosity. Please consider giving a donation to the teacher in order to support their ability to continue to share the dharma. We encourage you to consider teacher dana equal to or greater than the amount you gave for registration. You may give a donation at the time of registration and give later donations through our teacher dana link. Everyone is welcome to all of our events regardless of ability to donate.

You can give online or send checks to InsightPV, 116 Pleasant Street, Suite 242, Easthampton, MA 01027.

ZOOM LINK:  https://zoom.us/j/9431561684?pwd=YVQ1N1VzNWE3dGR4RERSZ1l3Zks0Zz09  

Dial in by phone for audio only: Call (646) 558-8656. Meeting ID: 943 156 1684. Password: 242.