Past Courses
2023 Courses
Sundays, April 16th - July 30th, 2023
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Classes meet virtually on Zoom
This course is based upon the book, The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma by Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche studying the core teachings of Buddhism. We explore the four noble truths, karma, meditation practice, refuge vows, ego and egolessness, and the practice of meditation. This semester will focus on insight, wisdom, and the path.
2022 Courses
Sundays, September 11 – December 18, 2022
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Meets in person at the Aligned Center
Please join us on Sunday mornings for a community gathering involving meditation practice, readings, and discussion. The theme of this season of Open House is Embracing this Present Life, inspired by the book Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron, published by Shambhala Publications.
Drop-ins welcome
Sundays, September 11 – December 18, 2022
Class starts at 12:30 PM ET
Meets in person & virtually on Zoom weekly.
Please join us on The Path of Individual Liberation, a year-long course based upon the teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche exploring the foundation of the Buddhist spiritual path with an emphasis on personal development through meditation and study. This first semester will focus on the reality of suffering, the nature of mind, ego, and the possibility of liberation through a meaningful commitment to meditation practice and study.
Virtual drop-ins welcome
Wednesdays, September 14 – December 14, 2022
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Meets virtually on Zoom with monthly in-person discussion groups.
Please join us as we explore the Path of Natural Wakefulness through the advanced teachings of the Vajrayana. With this final and culminating segment, our Foundation Curriculum now presents all three “yanas” or levels of the authentic path of mindfulness-awareness meditation and insight as originally described by the Buddha and expertly transmitted to the West by one of the great Tibetan masters of our time—Chogyam Trungpa.
Virtual drop-ins welcome
Wednesdays, May 11-July 27, 2022
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Meets virtually on Zoom.
Led by: Derek Kolleeny & Tom Pantaleoni
This Spring/Summer we invite you to continue your exploration of the profound and vast tradition of Mahayana Buddhism. In this course we plan to focus on the cultivation of wisdom with an exploration of the famous yet extremely elusive notion of emptiness. We will primarily focus on a simple and straightforward presentation of the method for identifying the object that is negated when we understand emptiness in the book Introduction to Emptiness by Guy Newland with supplemental readings from Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and Shenpen Hookham and additional selected readings from Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Virtual drop-ins welcome
Sundays, Apr. 24 to July 24, 2022
12:30 - 2:30 PM ET
Meets in-person and virtually on Zoom.
With Jane Kolleeny & Charlie Olson
Please join us for the third and final semester of our Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha course, a foundational curriculum presenting the authentic path of mindfulness-awareness meditation and insight as originally described by the Buddha and expertly transmitted to the West by one of the great Tibetan masters of our time, Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche.
Virtual drop-ins welcome.
Fall Courses and Discussion Groups 2021
Sundays, Sept. 12 to Dec. 5, 2021
12:30 - 2:30 PM ET
Meets virtually on Zoom.
With Jane Kolleeny & Charlie Olson
Join us as we explore the authentic path of meditation and insight as originally described by the Buddha and skillfully transmitted to the West by one of the great Tibetan masters of our time, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. We will explore such topics as the life of the Buddha, the birth of confusion and suffering, karma, and the path back to sanity, focusing on the techniques and stages of meditation and bringing practice into daily life.
Virtual drop-ins welcome.
Sundays, starting September 12, 2021
12:30 - 2:30 PM ET
Led by: Gene Bobker and Andrea Sherman
This intermediate course, The Profound Treasury Series, Semester 4, is a continuation of last year’s course, The Path of Individual Liberation. For the fall, participants are invited to complete volume one of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma (PTOD), The Path of Individual Liberation, and start volume two of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion. We are delighted to welcome back PTOD participants for the fourth semester.
Prerequisites apply
Wednesdays, Sept. 15 - Dec. 15
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Meets virtually on Zoom.
Led by: Jane and Derek Kolleeny, Gene Bobker, and all the other WMC teachers.
This course explores the practical advice, wisdom, and inspiration of broad and diverse range of contemporary Buddhist teachers representative of its three major traditions—Theravadin, Zen and Tibetan.
Virtual drop-ins welcome
Spring Courses and Discussion Groups 2021
Part Three: Great Eastern Sun, the Wisdom of Shambhala
Ten Wednesdays, May 19, to July 28, 2021
7 - 9 pm ET
Led by Derek Kolleeny & Warner Dick
Open to those who studied Shambhala, Sacred Path of the Warrior with us in Part Two of this series or an equivalent.
Sundays, April 25 - July 27, 2021
12:30 - 2:30 PM ET
The Aligned Center & Online via Zoom
This meditation course is based on the book, Welcoming the Unwelcome, Wholehearted Living In A Brokenhearted World by Pema Chödrön
We will explore what it takes to strengthen our ability to communicate with candor, even when we disagree.
Led by Jane Kolleeny and Charles Olson
Drop-ins welcome
Sundays, March 28 - June 13, 2021
12:30 - 2:30 PM ET
A thorough exploration of the vast Buddhist teachings presented by Chogyam Trungpa, focusing on The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One.
Led by Gene Bobker and Andrea Sherman.
The First Sunday of the Month
2:45-4 pm ET
Join our monthly discussion group as we explore the journey of life and death from a Buddhist Perspective. We will use the book Making Friends with Death: A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality by Judy Lief.
Led by Kevin Gormley and Andrea Sherman.
Winter Courses and Discussion Groups 2021
Part Two: Shambhala, Sacred Path of the Warrior
Eight Wednesdays. Starting February 24, 2021 (7 - 9 pm ET)
Led by Derek Kolleeny and Warner Dick
Sundays, Jan. 17 - April 11, 2021
12:30 - 2:30 PM ET
This meditation course will be based on the book, The Places That Scare You, A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times, by Pema Chodron.
Please join us for an experiential exploration of cultivating fearlessness in difficult times. We will explore this excellent book on awakening our own self-awareness, while also extending our best intentions towards others
Led by Jane Kolleeny and Charles Olson
Drop-ins welcome
Sundays, Jan. 10 - March 21, 2021
12:30 - 2:30 PM ET
A thorough exploration of the vast Buddhist teachings presented by Chogyam Trungpa, focusing on The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One.
Led by Gene Bobker and Andrea Sherman.
Jan. 21 - Feb. 17 classes at The Wisdom Seat
6:30-8:30 pm ET
Feb 24: WMC classes resume, registration coming soon
7-9 pm ET
In this course we will explore Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings on the cultivation of compassion and the development of individual and societal enlightenment.
The Second Wednesday of Every Month
7 - 9 pm ET
These Open House Talks are a perfect opportunity for new practitioners and students interested in checking out our practice, path and community, and for more seasoned students to introduce your friends and relatives to your dharma world.
The First Sunday of the Month
2:45-4 pm ET
Join our monthly discussion group as we explore the journey of life and death from a Buddhist Perspective. We will use the book Making Friends with Death: A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality by Judy Lief.
Led by Kevin Gormley and Andrea Sherman.
Fall Courses and Discussion Groups 2020
12 classes from Sept. 27 through Dec. 20, 2020 (12:30 - 2:30PM ET)
This meditation course will be based on the book, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice For Difficult Times, by Pema Chodron.
For those just beginning to explore the path of meditation and as well as all of those who are mature enough on that path to know that the most basic teachings are also the most profound and helpful to return to over and over again
Led by Jane Kolleeny and Charles Olson
Drop-ins welcome
Sundays, September 20 through December 20, 2020, omitting Nov. 29
(12:30 - 2:30PM ET)
A thorough exploration of the vast Buddhist teachings presented by Chogyam Trungpa, focusing on The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One. Led by Gene Bobker and Andrea Sherman.
Wednesdays, Sept. 16 - Jan. 6
7-9 pm ET
Oct 7 - 28 at The Wisdom Seat
6:30-8:30 pm ET
In this course we will explore Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings on the cultivation of compassion and the development of individual and societal enlightenment.
The focus will be on his books Smile at Fear, with Derek Kolleeny and Warner Dick, and Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior hosted by our sister organization The Wisdom Seat and featuring Judy Lief, Carolyn Gimian and many others!
The First Sunday of Every Month
2:45-4 pm ET
Join our monthly discussion group as we explore the journey of life and death from a Buddhist Perspective. We will use the book Making Friends with Death: A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality by Judy Lief.
Led by Kevin Gormley and Andrea Sherman.
The Second Wednesday of Every Month
7 - 9 pm ET
These Open House Talks are a perfect opportunity for new practitioners and students interested in checking out our practice, path and community, and for more seasoned students to introduce your friends and relatives to your dharma world.
Join us for an evening of group practice and study!
7-9 pm ET
The Sadhana of Mahamudra, a liturgical practice composed by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1968, expresses the essence of the Vidyadhara’s dharma transmission to the West.
Meets the second Thursday of the month.
Led by Derek Kolleeny
Open to all. By donation.