Discover practical strategies to overcome destructive attitudes and habits and become more peaceful and happy human beings. Using Buddhist psychology and simple strategies for daily life, our relationships with others will naturally become harmonious, and our projects and passions more constructive.

This course focuses on the six factors identified by the Buddha that stimulate disturbing emotions. When they come together we have the 'perfect storm' for unhappiness. Discover what we can do to guard against these s factors, and how can we develop our natural potential to become more balanced, peaceful and content human beings.

Each week there will be reflection sheets to complete at home, short meditations to practice, and slides of the powerpoint presentations to refer back to if you wish. There is no need to be a Buddhist to benefit from this course – these methods are universal and can be used by anyone, regardless of belief!

About the Presenter

Miffi Maxmillion runs the spiritual program at Langri Tangpa Centre, and is an FPMT registered teacher. She left behind a thriving haute couture and costume business in Melbourne, when her mother Inta Mckimm (who ran LTC) became sick with cancer in 1997. Packing her bags for two weeks, she is still here over twenty years later! Miffi was brought up a Buddhist and had the great good fortune to play with Lama Yeshe as a child, and his hook of compassion sustained her through the many rebellious stages of growing up. Miffi's passion is in bridging the seemingly disparate worlds of modern life and the rich inner experience of Buddhist practice. She readily admits to watching far too much late night TV and is an avid New Yorker Magazine reader.

Course Outline

Session 1: Society and Media. How pressures from society and media overwhelm us, and strategies to overcome these pressures. Where to put our trust, and how to recognise the four qualities of a valid refuge.

Session 2: Seed and Object. How to distinguish between root causes (which we can control), and conditions (which we cannot control). Recognising the power people, places and certain objects have over us, and how not to become overwhelmed.

Session 3: Inappropriate Attention. The tyranny of the reifying view! How attachment and aversion exaggerate and distort our emotions. How our assumptions cause us so much grief, and what we can do about them.

Session 4: Three Higher Trainings. The three things we need to become a good human being: wisdom, concentration and ethics. Discover how they compliment each other to support our development. Identifying cognitive fusion, and how to not get sucked in!

Session 5: Power of Habit. Neurology of a toxic habit cycle and how to deconstruct it. Simple techniques to counter negative habits. Case studies to bring it all home!

Session 6: Social Media. Distinguishing between compassion and empathy so as to not 'burn out', and how to develop equanimity for a peaceful, content mind. How shame and embarrassment are the pain system of our ethics.

How to Register

• Individual class by donation. Please offer what you are comfortable with. You are most welcome to come to any or all of the classes!
• Package of LINKS and NOTES plus a weekly catch-up soundfile for $80. After selecting a ticket, enter promo code PACKAGE and this option will appear!
• Notes for the course available separately for $18 (free for LTC members in the Resources tab)