Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. CT
January 14 – February 4 (4 classes)
Join us for a four-week journey into the heart of the Buddha’s teachings. This class offers a thoughtful exploration of the life of Siddhartha Gautama—the historical Buddha—and the core principles he taught to guide others toward awakening. Each session will focus on key aspects of his message, from the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to concepts like mindfulness, compassion, and non-attachment.
We’ll explore not only what the Buddha taught, but why these teachings remain so relevant today. Through discussion, reflection, and guided practices, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the unique features of the Buddha’s path and how it can inspire a more conscious, peaceful way of living.
Each week will include a short meditation. No prior experience with Buddhism is needed.
See below for the full course syllabus.
Registrants will receive on-demand access to recording(s) that can be viewed for four weeks following the conclusion of the program. Late registrants will receive recording links to all missed sessions.
Suggested cost: $60
While we offer a sliding scale for fees, we encourage you to make an offering of at least $60.
If you are unable to pay the minimum fee due to hardship, please email events@theosophical.org for assistance.
John Cianciosi was ordained a Buddhist monk in Thailand in 1972 and trained under the late Venerable Ajahn Chah. Later, he was appointed abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, the International Forest Monastery established to provide training for the growing number of Ajahn Chah’s Western disciples. In 1982, he was asked to establish a Buddhist monastery in Perth, Western Australia. For the next 14 years, he was instrumental in successfully establishing Bodhinyana Monastery and Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre. In 1995 he left monastic life and moved to the Chicago area, where he continues to share his insights and wisdom. He is the author of The Meditative Path and is currently the director of public programs at the Theosophical Society in America.
Syllabus
Week 1 – Siddhartha Gautama: From Bodhisattva to Buddhahood
- Overview of the historical context of the Buddha's life
- The Bodhisattva and the Great Renunciation
- The search for truth: asceticism, meditation, and the Middle Way
- Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree: What did the Buddha realize?
Week 2 – The Core of the Buddha’s Teachings and the Challenge for Humanity: The Four Noble Truths
- The Buddha’s first sermon, “Turning the Wheel of Dharma”
- Understanding suffering (dukkha) and its causes
- Craving and clinging: psychological and spiritual roots
- The possibility of liberation (nirvana)
- The path to liberation
Week 3 – Walking the Path: The Noble Eightfold Path
- Ethical living (sīla): Right speech, action, and livelihood
- Mental discipline (samādhi): Right effort, mindfulness, and concentration
- Wisdom (paññā): Right view and right intention
- How the path unfolds as a way of life, not belief
Week 4 – The Buddha’s Legacy: Compassion, Interdependence, and Liberation
- The Buddha as teacher, not deity; empowering self-awareness
- Universal compassion and interbeing (early roots of interconnectedness)
- The relevance of Buddhist insights in today’s world
- Overview of different Buddhist traditions (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Zen)
Optional resources for deeper study will be shared:
- Readings from the Dhammapada or suttas
- Short videos by contemporary Buddhist teachers
Program Format
This is a live, interactive online program that will also be recorded. Registrants will receive on-demand access to recording(s) that can be viewed for four weeks following the conclusion of the program.
Join online via a Zoom link that will be emailed upon your registration. Please download Zoom for free at zoom.us/download and test your connection at zoom.us/test. For further information, check out www.theosophical.org/FAQ or email webinars@theosophical.org.
You can also watch John Cianciosi’s free talk, Buddha’s Teachings for Turbulent Times, via livestream on Thursday, January 22.