How the Mind Creates Our World

“All phenomena that appear to my mind are the nature of my mind. My mind is the nature of emptiness.” Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Modern Buddhism In this class, we will explore the Buddhist understanding of the mind and the liberating idea of emptiness — not as nothingness, but as freedom from fixed identity and limitation. So often we feel trapped in habitual ways of thinking: anxious, insecure, overwhelmed, or unable to change. We may believe, “This is just who I am.” Buddhist wisdom teaches something radically hopeful — that the mind is not fixed or solid. Its true nature is open, spacious, and full of possibility. Through guided meditation, reflection, and practical teachings from the Kadampa Buddhist tradition, we will begin to explore how our experience of the world is shaped by the mind, and how understanding this can help us let go of limiting patterns and emotional suffering. As we become familiar with the mind’s deeper nature, we discover greater freedom, compassion, clarity, and inner peace. Rather than feeling stuck inside old stories or habits, we begin to connect with the possibility of transformation and lasting happiness. Open to everyone, this class offers a warm and accessible introduction to meditation and Buddha’s teachings, with practical tools for everyday life.