IMS The Way of the Buddha Core Teachings of the Dharma Path

Introducing “The Way of the Buddha,” a new online immersive learning experience from IMS

For 45 years, IMS has been a leader in Dharma education rooted in the foundational principles of Early Buddhism. Now, for the first time, our teachers will offer the profound insights of the Buddha in a yearlong practice and study program delivered directly to you in your own online practice space.

Can’t make the live sessions? No problem. Course modules will be recorded and available to all who register.

Join for the full year to experience the comprehensive course curriculum, or sign up for only the monthly topics that interest you most.

You will learn:

 

  • The One Dharma
  • The Two Aspects of Truth
  • The Three Jewels and Three Personality Types
  • The Four Noble Truths, Four Immeasurables, and Four Foundations of Mindfulness
  • The Five Precepts, Five Spiritual Faculties, and Five Hindrances to Meditation
  • The Six Realms of Existence and how to work with the Six Senses
  • The Seven Factors of Awakening
  • The Eightfold Path
  • The Ten Perfections
  • And more!

Each month, IMS teachers from various generations and backgrounds will guide you on the path to inspire and deepen your practice.

IMS co-founder Sharon Salzberg offers her thoughts on this extraordinary program

Sharon Salzberg

“For the first few hundred years after the time of the Buddha, the teachings were not written down but were preserved as an oral tradition, transmitted person to person, heart to heart. I’ve heard anthropologists say that oral traditions can be even more authentic than written traditions, because people take the responsibility of transmission seriously, and they invest in memorizing and embodying a field of knowledge.

In service of that pretty awesome responsibility, the teachings were often systemized into sets of numbers to aid memorization. Thus, we have the ‘three of these’ and ‘four of those’ and ‘five of the other’…” Read More

Sharon Salzberg discusses "The Way of the Buddha"

Sign up information

Each program module will include a weekly dharma talk and guided meditation, plus supplemental articles, talks, contemplations, a Recommended Reading List, which is supplemental, not required, as well as a Reflection Journal with questions for those who would like additional practice support.

You may sign up for individual modules, or sign up for the full program to receive all of the core teachings.

Course Resources

Download Recommended Reading

Download Reflection Journal

Program Schedule

Sign up for all 12 Modules

Module 1 | February 1, Launch (Monday, 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

Feb 1 Program Launch

Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg

  • Sharon Salzberg: Introduction and Program Overview
  • Joseph Goldstein: One Dharma (pre-recorded)
Module 2 | February 4, 11, 18, 25 (Thursdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

Module two

Sharon Salzberg, Tara Mulay, Devon Hase

  • The Two Aspects of Truth (Relative and Absolute)
  • The Three Personality Types (Greedy, Aversive, Deluded)
  • The Three Characteristics (Impermanence, Non-Self, Unsatisfactoriness
Module 3 | March 4, 11, 18, 25, and April 1 (Thursdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

Bonnie Duran, Walt Opie, Guy Armstrong, Jeanne Corrigal

  • The Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha)
  • Emptiness and Non-Self
Module 4 | April 6, 13, 20, 27 (Tuesdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

The way of the buddha module four

Rebecca Bradshaw, Shelly Graf

  • The Four Noble Truths (the Truth of Suffering, the Truth of the Origin of Suffering, the Truth of the Cessation of Suffering, the Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering)
  • The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Body, Feelings, Mind, Dhammas)
Module 5 | May 4, 11, 18, 25 (Tuesdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

Devin Berry, Jeanne Corrigal, Jozen Tamori Gibson, Tuere Sala

  • The Four Immeasurables/Brahma Viharas: Metta (Loving Kindness), Karuna (Compassion), Mudita (Sympathetic Joy), and Upekkha (Equanimity)
Module 6 | June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (Tuesdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

Tuere Sala, Rachel Lewis, Winnie Nazarko, Roxanne Dault

  • The Five Hindrances to Meditation (Desire, Ill-Will, Sloth & Torpor, Restlessness, Doubt)
  • The Five Spiritual Faculties (Faith, Energy, Mindfulness, Concentration, Wisdom)
Module 7 | July 6, 13, 20, 27 (Tuesdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

Erin Treat, Walt Opie, Rebecca Bradshaw, Jill Shepherd

  • The Five Precepts (Refrain from: Taking Life, Taking What Is Not Given, Sexual Misconduct, False Speech, Intoxicants)
Module 8 | August 4, 11, 18, 25, Sept 1 (Wednesdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

Devon Hase, Ayya Anandabodhi, Joseph Goldstein

  • The Six Realms of Existence (Three higher and Three lower realms)
  • The Six Senses (Sight, Hearing, Smell, Touch, Taste, and Mind)
Module 9 | September 9, 16, 23, 30 (Thursdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

the way of the buddha module nine

Nakawe Cuebas Berrios, Narayan Liebenson, Matthew Hepburn, Jessica Morey

  • The Seven Factors of Awakening (Mindfulness, Keen Investigation, Energy, Rapture, Calm, Concentration, and Equanimity)
Module 10 | October 6, 13, 20, 27 (Wednesdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

The way of the buddha module ten

Carol Wilson, Tara Mulay, Tuere Sala, Dawn Scott

  • The Eight-Fold Path (Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration)
Module 11 | November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (Tuesdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

The way of the buddha module 11

Kamala Masters, Jozen Gibson, Erin Treat, Jessica Morey, Yong Oh

  • The Ten Paramis (part one): Generosity, Virtue, Renunciation, Discernment, and Energy
Module 12 | December 9, 16, 23, 30 (Thursdays from 7 – 8:30 pm ET)

Narayan Liebenson, Andrea Castillo, Devin Berry, Sharon Salzberg

  • The Ten Paramis (part two): Patience, Truthfulness, Resolution, Loving Kindness, and Equanimity

Don’t miss this opportunity to practice and learn with IMS’s experienced teachers and a vibrant community of fellow meditators and friends. Join for a month, or sign up for the whole year, to receive the core teachings and discover…The Way of The Buddha.

Sign up for all 12 Modules

Program Fees

Sliding scale fees for the full-year program are:

$525, $850, $1075,
Scholarship rate is $200

Sliding scale fees for Module 1 with Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein are:

$10, $20, $25
Free scholarships are also available

Sliding scale fees for all other monthly modules are:

$49, $79, $99 per module
Scholarship rate is $20/module

As one part of our ongoing effort to expand access to the teachings of the Buddha, all IMS Online programs feature sliding scale registration fees, scholarship opportunities, and no-fee enrollment for those who request a fee waiver. Our “Pay What You Can Afford” system supports the cultivation of a dynamic and inclusive community and contributes to the health and vibrancy of the sangha. Emailimsonline@dharma.org for more information or to request a no-fee enrollment or scholarship. We thank our generous donors and full-fee participants for supporting the potential of all who wish to study the Dharma.

A note on dana (generosity)
Most IMS teachers—like insight teachers around the world—rely on the generosity of students for their livelihood, and receive no compensation from course fees. All IMS online teachers receive a modest dana advance from IMS to guarantee a minimum level of financial support. (Clickhereto learn more about the dana practice.) There will be an opportunity to offer a contribution to your teachers at the end of each module.

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