REGISTER: TBD. This course will be co-sponsored with BCBS.
NEXT COURSE: Oct 25 – Dec 18, 2025
PREVIOUSLY OFFERED: Sep – Nov 2021
This course will provide an illuminating and evocative approach to sutta study by exploring the Buddha’s teachings through the lens of similes and stories.
The Buddha’s teaching skill shines through the wide range of examples and similes that he used to convey subtle points of instruction. His teachings are peppered with images of mountains, rivers, oceans, sun and moon, lions, jackals, turtles, quail, fire, archery, craftsmanship, windows, gates, bubbles, mirages, magic tricks, ripe fruit, purified gold, incubated eggs, blind men, sumptuous meals, stumps, creeping vines, chariots, etched lines, childhood games, sandcastles, and more.
The Buddha used imagery to help ordinary people comprehend deep topics. Farmers could relate to references to sowing seeds and yoking oxen to the plough; warriors understood his examples of training horses and driving chariots. Craftsman comprehended the processes of purifying gold. These striking similes continue to help meditation students gain a down-to-earth sense of the profound path taught by the Buddha.
Series 2 Module Topics:
- Progress and Development
- Understanding Anger
- Protecting Oneself and Others
- Danger in Sensual Pleasures
- Five Aggregates
- What is Nibbana?
- In the Face of Death
- Eight-fold Noble Path
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants in this course will
- discover an accessible and fun approach to sutta study, supported by evocative similes and intriguing imagery
- explore how teachings from the ancient discourses come to life through contemporary contemplative practices
- experience the liberating dynamic of combining study, reflection, discussion, and meditation
- learn ways of incorporating traditional images into a contemporary mindfulness-based meditation practice
- gain an introduction to the Pāli Canon with readings gathered from the primary collections including Middle Length Discourses, Numerical Discourses, Connected Discourses, Long Discourses, Sutta Nipata, Udana.
ONLINE MEETING DATES:
Dates and times subject to change but currently scheduled for Sundays 9:00 – 11:00 AM Pacific Time; 12:00 – 2:00 PM Eastern Time, Oct 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec 7, 14.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Course will include eight modules that have:
- Brief recorded reflections or guided meditations that introduce each lesson (15-30 minutes in length)
- Carefully selected collection of sutta readings that employ similes to explain a dhamma theme (reading assignments will require between 30 – 90 minutes per topic)
- Creative and reflective Try This! exercises to explore and integrate the teachings
- Peer led discussion forums
- Online video meetings with Shaila Catherine
- Online video meetings are recorded as audio files
Note for those familiar with other Bodhi Courses: This series is designed with streamlined content that focuses specifically on the similes. It requires considerably less time to read and listen to the material than most other Bodhi Courses, but the online video meetings occupy a more predominant role. The calls will be recorded, but it is highly recommended that students attend the online video meetings as much as possible.
PREREQUISITE FOR ENROLLMENT
There is no prerequisites to attend this course; however, it is designed with the assumption that participants will already have an established mindfulness meditation practice. Bodhi Courses developed five distinct courses in the Timeless Wisdom sutta study series. Each course is designed to stand alone and covers different topics and readings. We encourage students to join all five courses, but it is not necessary to take the previous courses in the series. The lessons are not sequential; you may join this program at anytime.
MORE INFORMATION
Please see the FAQs tab for more information.
For questions regarding registration, please contact: bcregistration
This Autumn 2025 course is co-sponsored with the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Registration will be handled by BCBS; Course content will be handled by Bodhi Courses.
There are no required text books for this course. PDFs or Links to free online translations of the suttas will be provided in the course. Students may use alternative translations if they prefer.
Serious dhamma students will surely enjoy having the primary collections at hand and may wish to purchase the Wisdom Publications versions of the following texts. They are listed in the recommended order for sutta study:
Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha
by
Wisdom Publications, 1995
Numerical Length Discourses of the Buddha
by
Wisdom Publications, 2013
Connected Discourses of the Buddha
by
Wisdom Publications, 2013
The course is entirely online, and includes recorded lectures and guided meditation instructions, readings, sutta study, discussion forums, a library of resources, and optional live audio or video conferences with Shaila Catherine.
Bodhi Courses is planned and designed for people with busy schedules and every-day demands. The self-paced learning modules offer flexibility for completing assignments. Internet access is needed, but if you have a mobile device or internet access while traveling, your participation can continue without interruption. Audio talks are streamed, not downloadable.
Yes, both. Shaila Catherine will offer several opportunities for optional live audio conferences. These sessions are optional and open to all class participants, and recordings are later made available within the course. These large group conference calls may include reflections on the lesson topic, questions and answers about applying course topics to your meditation practice, or the study of a sutta. Practical questions and comments related to meditation and the course materials are invited. However, Shaila is not available outside these large group calls for individual inquiries or practice guidance.
Students will also interact through the written discussion forums. Shaila reviews the written forums to draw out themes for the audio conferences, but she will rarely add a post directly. The written forums are intended to be a space for peer-to-peer discussions; they are moderated by a team of wise, skilled discussion leaders who help guide the forum discussions toward in-depth and practical explorations of the course themes.
A computer with dependable internet access and a browser, and standard (freely available) software for listening to audio files and viewing PDF documents.
A mobile app for Moodle courseware is also available for those who prefer to access the course via a mobile device.
No. The course is hosted on Moodle, which is courseware widely used by schools, universities, and various learning programs worldwide. Moodle is compatible with both PC and Mac. Moodle is browser-based, requiring no downloads or installations. For mobile devices, the Moodle moblie app is available for (free) download.
Optional live audio or video conferences with Shaila Catherine may be accessed by either computer or phone. Details will be provided in the course.
The registration fee covers participation in the course, but does not include books. Additional donations (dana) for the teacher is welcome and encouraged.
Donations may be offered through our Teacher Support Page.
Registration fees are non-refundable. In the case of cancellations that occur at least 14 days prior to the course start date, Bodhi Courses will credit the amount above half the low end of the sliding scale towards a future course. Voucher credits expire in one year.
Contact: bcregistration
The assignments will likely require about 3 hours per week, depending on your level of interest and inquiry. Each learning module will span 7-14 days, and during that designated period, you may work at your own pace. Daily meditation practice is strongly encouraged.
The sliding scale registration fee is the only payment made to Bodhi Courses. In addition you will need to purchase the required course book(s) from your favorite book supplier or borrow from a library.
Our lectures and guided meditations are streamed, not downloadable. Depending upon the service contract with your internet provider you may incur data charges to listen to the lectures.
We design our recorded lectures, guided meditations, and conference calls to function within the context of a structured course, and therefore we do not make them available for downloading or use outside the course. We envision this to be a classroom experience that is limited in time to the specified course period. We do not offer permanent access or personal possession of the talks, guided meditations, or recordings.
We do, however, provide the following support for enrolled participants: during each 2-3 month course period, the completed course modules remain available and students can review material from earlier modules throughout the duration of the course. We also keep our courses available for a few weeks after the closing date. The number of weeks varies and depends upon how much time our volunteers need to prepare for the next Bodhi Course. Usually the material is available for 3-4 weeks after the course ends, and we announce the final date within the course. This extension offers extra time for students to review the material or catch up if they fell behind. After this period for review, the material will no longer be available and access to the course will be denied.
COST: Sliding Scale from $TBD to $TBD
Please consider offering generously within your means.
The lower end of the scale is intended for those with very limited means. If additional scholarship assistance is needed, please contact us. The deadline for scholarship applications is 14 days prior to the date registration closes.
WATCH THE VIDEO INTRO
MEET THE TEACHER
Shaila Catherine
Shaila Catherine
