How to See Yourself as You Really Are
with Stephan Pende
Saturdays–Sundays, May 20, 21, Jun 10, 11, Aug 26, 27, Sep 9, 10, Dec 2 & 3, 10:30am–12pm EST ONLINE
“When you fully understand how you enter into and disengage from the round of suffering, you will appreciate and value knowing the way persons and things actually are.” –The Dalai Lama, How to See Yourself as You Really Are
Though it’s not obvious, our minds are constantly constructing our realities. Rather than the neutral observers we take ourselves to be, our minds assess objects with the view of how they might make us happy or how they could cause us pain. As a result, we flit through the round of suffering as we open ourselves up to intense craving, hatred, and a multitude of other counterproductive emotions. This way of looking casts our worldview in an illusion that things exist inherently rather than as they truly do, in interdependence.
In his book How to See Yourself as You Really Are, the Dalai Lama shares step-by-step personal advice for learning to see the world and ourselves as we actually exist, without the overlay of false imagination. In words that are warm and clear, the Dalai Lama shows his own personal path toward understanding: key ideas for reflection and essential phrases from Buddhist masters that hit him like a lightning bolt with the force of their meaning.
Shantideva Center welcomes meditation teacher Stephan Pende as he leads an in-depth guided reading of this book–which is actually a tightly focused and clear program for meditation. The full series of 24 classes encompasses twelve weekends over the course of the year, from January to December. Let this course by Stephan Pende serve as a framework for your personal meditation practice to this most beneficial aim: seeing yourself as you really are.
Important Note
This is an online-only event that is administered using Zoom.
After registering, the system automatically sends a confirmation and/or a receipt email that contains the Zoom meeting link and/or other instructions. If you don’t immediately receive the system email(s) or you have any other questions, please contact us at registration@shantidevanyc.org.
*Zoom is an interactive video-conferencing tool that allows participants to see one another and ask questions. You will need a computer, a tablet or a smartphone with the Zoom application to attend. If you are using Zoom for the first time, please login earlier to allow any necessary installations on your device.
Registration / Schedule
Suggested: $20 per session
Other offering options: free, $5, $10, $30
The suggested amount helps support teacher offerings and expenses, direct costs and rent. Shantideva member benefits will apply automatically if you have a membership in MindBody.
Shantideva Center may publish recorded sessions in the public domain (e.g., on YouTube). By registering for this event, you are agreeing to give your consent to this process. To protect your privacy, we recommend being conscious about any personal information you share during the sessions. To further enhance anonymity, you may want to consider turning off video or naming yourself using abbreviations.
Time zone: US Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC-5)
For questions regarding registration, please email registration@shantidevanyc.org for assistance.
Recordings
Dana for the Teacher
About the Teacher
Stephan Pende Wormland has studied and practiced meditation in multiple traditions for over 30 years. He was a monk in the Tibetan tradition for 11 years. During that time, he served as director of FPMT’s Nalanda Monastery and spent five years in group and solitary retreats. While Stephan’s main teacher is Lama Zopa Rinpoche, he has also received teachings from great Tibetan Masters of the four schools including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Kirti Thenshap Rinpoche, Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, and Choden Rinpoche. He has also practiced and studied with esteemed Western teachers like Peter Fenner, Alan Wallace, Rob Preece, Alex Berzin, Pema Chodron, Robert Thurman, and Ken McLeod.
Stephan has been the resident teacher for FPMT’s Center for Wisdom and Compassion in Copenhagen for many years and currently teaches meditation in Buddhist Centers around Europe. Since 2009 he has been studying Radiant Mind with Peter Fenner, completed the Nondual Teacher Training, and is a program adviser of Potential Project.