Shindō Neely Atkinson
Tuesdays, May 4 - June 8, 6:30-8:30 pm. Taught by Neely Atkinson, PhD.
The Buddha taught for over 40 years. During this time, he varied his approach to suit the background, abilities, and needs of his students. Because of this, the teachings at different times and places seem to vary widely. The Abhidharma is an attempt to discern the fundamental systematic core of the Buddha’s teachings.
In this class, we will use the text The Buddhist Psychology of Awakening by Steven D. Goodman (link to order the book here, and below the book image). This is an introduction to the Abhidharma tradition as it was outlined by Vasubhandu in the 5th century CE and is still studied and practiced in Tibetan Buddhism today. Abhidharma studies can seem rather dry, with numerous lists and precise definitions.
The author of our text takes an informal approach and emphasizes the practical importance of the teachings in our daily lives. Neely hopes that the class will have lively discussions and explore together the application of the Abhidharma to our practice.
This class is appropriate for intermediate and advanced practitioners. Intrepid beginners will also find it intriguing.
Neely is a long-time Zen student with the dharma name Shindō Shosan, Heart of the Way, Auspicious Mountain. He is also a Lecturer on statistics at Rice University, and a musician.
