Last summer, I became enthused to create a three month online Mindfulness Training Course (MTC) based on the Buddha’s teachings, as well as experiences, reflections and insights over the past few decades. It seemed a worthwhile project.
I wrote the MTC using the Buddha’s classic discourse on mindfulness of our relationship to body, feelings, states of mnd and Dharma (inner and outer life) – about three weeks devoted to each of these four applications of mindfulness
I felt keen to ensure mindfulness found its place in the whole body of the Dharma, of inquiry and exploration. I decided my course would include ethics, consumerism, consciousness, spiritual experiences, emptiness of ego, of “I” and “my” and liberation.
Other mindfulness course concentrate on the reduction of stress and are known to be very effective.
So in the middle of August, I started writing the course exploring our relationship to the body, feelings, states of mind and the Dharma of the inner-outer relationship with weekly practices and quotes from the Buddha. Word length came to 24,000 words and 76 pages for the manual. We print a hard copy and post out with two Cds of Dharma talks and guided meditations.
Nadamo in Germany kindly offered to be the international co-ordinator as well as handle many technical details and organisation of the website. There was much to write for the website. Then I needed to find 25 mentors who would act as online mentors for the students, then request two friends in Brighton, UK to set up an annual four day retreat for mentors and students to meet, and then explore with our webmasters changes and updating of the website, then ask Dharma friends to read through what I wrote, edit and advise and then…. and then….
Between mid-August and mid-January, 2011, a thought regularly arose “What have I got myself into.”
Trust me, it is much easier to write a book. There is the writer and an editor at the book publishers. Clear and relatively simple.
I was in regular email communication with around 50 people – an invitation to certain people to be consultants, invitation to around 35 people to be mentors, plus technical advisors for the website and the Dharma eNews.
By last week, I completed the MTC, completed the preparation of the Dharma eNews announcing the MTC while Nadamo and I had finished the numerous pages of content for the MTC website.
Last Monday Alan Lewis, the manager of the Dharma eNews sent out the Dharma eNews that launched our Mindfulness Training Course. We had completed the first major task. Nadamo and I were happy mixed with some relief.
We received warm emails of support but we were soon brought down to earth.
One person from Boston, USA, emailed me:
“Sorry to bother you. I would love to join your 3 months MTC course. I must be real stupid but I don’t see the PayPal button or any registration form to fill up.
I have looked at all the registration pages on this letter and on your website.
What did I miss? Could you help me?”
Oh no! I looked. I didn’t find it easy to find the Paypal buttons to register and I wrote the content for the website. I hadn’t been mindful enough to ensure ease of use of website pages.
More writing. More editing. I rewrote the home page so it would be clear to those interested in joining the MTC to go to the page for registrations and donations.
We have now mentioned on the website that we are not using a registration form of personal details but simply ask Dharma students to write about their background after they have registered.
Our mindfulness course costs €100 (£85.00) registration to cover all the ongoing costs and time. Our amazing team of mentors have all agreed to give weekly support to those in the programme on a donation basis. Voluntary service belongs to our mindfulness practice.
If Facebook readers have time, do take a look at www.livingdharma.info
Better still, if you know anybody who might be interested in our Mindfulness Training Course, pass the word on. Let your Facebook friends know. If we have missed anything, let us know. Dharma Blog friends and Facebook friends can help us to face up to what we overlook.
In my current issue of Dharma eNews, I have written in some detail about the Mindfulness Training Course plus 50 questions and answers on mindfulness. http://admin.dharmafacilitators.org/shared/bodhgaya_retreats///DharmaEnews24.pdf
Let us not grasp onto thoughts arising such as “What have I got myself into?”
It is just an “I” thought after all.
May all beings be mindful of the “I” thought