Classes with Stephan Pende
Bodhicitta: An Open Heart
At our deepest level is pure, unconditional love and compassion. This is the open heart that naturally and spontaneously embraces all beings. Yet our own wounds and insecurities often prevent us from genuinely opening our hearts to others, let alone to ourselves. In this evening session of guided meditation, teaching, and open inquiry, Stephan will help us break through our sense of unworthiness, so that we can connect with our Buddha nature and the wellspring of loving kindness that is the core of our being. He will also help us gently and unconditionally expand our hearts out to others and help us embrace our interconnectedness.
Emptiness: The Radiant Mind
At the root of our struggles is a distorted and limited perception we have of ourselves and the world around us. Though it’s not obvious, our minds are constantly constructing our realities. We typically construct a limited and inaccurate depiction of ourselves – the ego, and then spend our whole lives in vain trying to protect and satisfy it. As a result, we experience loneliness, dissatisfaction, frustration and other difficult emotions – with an inability to find the genuine happiness we seek. In this evening session, Stephan will help us recognize these self-sabotaging patterns and glimpse beyond our limited views to experience the radiant vitality beyond everyday appearances.
Recordings
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.
