Manchester Academy for Transpersonal Studies

Manchester Academy for Transpersonal Studies

Director: Elliot Cohen PGCE(HE) PhD CPsychol

Psychology, Philosophy and Psychotherapy

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Our courses 

Manchester Academy for Transpersonal Studies is currently offering three courses:

How to book your place

Classes will be running fortnightly at different times (some morning, some evening) in small groups (no more than 5). Places are limited to 30. Please make cheques payable to Dr Elliot Cohen.

Venue address will be provided upon successful registration.


Please contact MATS to reserve your place.


Chinese Cultivation: Chan and Tao


MAY 15th – 17th (FRIDAY to SUNDAY)


9am-4pm (possibly later if the temple is able to put on evening entertainment)

Fees: Earlybird rate: £140 (before 15/04/09) Standard fee: £180 (after 15/04/09)

Textbook: Livia Kohn, Meditation Works

The Manchester Academy for Transpersonal Studies is excited and delighted to announce a three day workshop with international scholar, author and practitioner Professor Livia Kohn.

Livia is the Professor of Religion and East Asian Studies at Boston University, USA and has many years experience in both the theoretical and the practical applications of Chinese Cultivation. The workshop will include introductions to Chan (Zen Buddhist) and Daoist philosophy and cultivation. 

Ideal for students of, or anyone interested in, Eastern philosophy (Buddhist and Daoist), Tai Qi and Qigong.

The three day event takes place in the beautiful Manchester Fo Guang Shan Chinese Buddhist Temple (full directions will be provided after registration).

Whether a beginner or an experienced practitioner, you are invited to take part in the all the classes, meditation workshops, chanting sessions and tea ceremonies. We also hope to have musical entertainment, watch relevant Chinese films and enjoy an evening meal together in Manchester’s China Town.

Day 1: Meditation Basics

Understand the fundamental nature of meditation and how it works with body-mind-spirit. Appreciate the cultural setting and comparative relevance of the different methods. Learn to breathe deeply and consciously and calm the mind in quiet sitting, work with basic visualization techniques and activate the internal organs in spiritual awareness.

Day 2: Insight and Immediacy

Learn about the classical Buddhist practice of insight or mindfulness meditation and its adaptation into the Chinese cultural context. Learn about the method of just sitting or sitting in oblivion (zuowang). Understand its roots in the ancient philosopher Zhuangzi and its adaptation into Buddhism as Chan (Zen). Appreciate the intricacy of stillness and its activation of internal powers. Come to see yourself in the larger context of the Chinese universe, practice preparations and proper posture, and gain the ability to tune into the flow of Dao.

Day 3: Chanting and the Body

Experience the power of chant and auditory ways of calming and transforming the mind. Practice sutra chanting and appreciate its subtler points. Then move on to understand how controlled, calm body movements can be a form of meditation, as in yoga, daoyin, and taiji quan. Also find out how the Chinese understand internal body energetics in the system of internal alchemy and its modern application in qigong. Enhance your vitality and connect to deeper levels of being by activating organs, energy channels, and your energetic being.

To reserve your place please contact Dr Elliot Cohen at e.cohen@leedsmet.ac.uk or phone MATS on 0161 448 1336

Alternately you can write to

Dr Elliot Cohen

School of Social Sciences,

Civic Quarter, Room D801B

Leeds Metropolitan University

Calverley Street

Leeds

LS1 3HE


Read more here

Book your place


Manchester University’s Courses for the Public 


Three different day courses at Manchester University’s Courses for the Public.


For more information and to reserve your place visit

Ellen Wilkinson Building

The University of Manchester

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9PL

Email:cce.reception@manchester.ac.uk

Tel: 0161 275 3274

http://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/coursespublic/ 

 

These courses will be led by Dr Elliot Cohen, director of MATS


24/04/09 Buddhist Philosophy and Cultivation 


These classes will serve as a comprehensive introduction to the Buddhist teachings (Dhamma/Dharma) and meditation.


Subjects will include:

  • The Life of the Buddha
  • Dana- Giving
  • Sila- Ethics
  • Four Noble Truths
  • Eightfold Path
  • Three Signs of Being
  • Dependent Origination
  • Theravada Buddhism
  • Mahayana and Vajrayana
  • Buddhism
  • Karma
  • Rebirth
  • Study of popular Buddhist Scriptures

Meditation:

  • Samatha (Tranquillity) and Vipassana
  • (Insight)Meditation
  • Mindfulness practices
  • Ch’an (Zen) practices
  • Tibetan practices


Book your place


08/05/09 Laughter as a Spiritual Path 

Is a God a comedian playing to an audience that’s too afraid to laugh? Why is the Buddha smiling?


A day to explore the spiritual and psychotherapeutic benefits of laughter: 

  • Comedy in the Bible
  • The role of holy clowns in Shamanism
  • Why the Buddha Shakyamuni Smiles and why the Buddha
  • Maitreya (the future Buddha) laughs
  • The Jewish Chasidic tradition of serving God through joy
  • The healing power of laughter

Book your place


22/05/09 Daoist (Taoist) Philosophy and Cultivation

These classes will serve as a comprehensive introduction to Taoism.


Subjects will include:

  • Lao Zi ( Legendary author of Tao De Jing)
  • Chung Zi
  • Lieh Zi
  • The Three Treasures
  • Schools of Daoism: Celestial Masters and Complete Reality
  • Daoist Ritual and Meditation
  • Daoist Alchemy and Immortality:
  • External (Waidan) and Inner (Neidan)
  • The Secret of the Golden Flower
  • Kan Yu, Feng Shui:Daoism and the Environment
  • Daoism and the Martial Arts
  • Daoism in China
  • Daoism comes West

Book your place


 

Lecturers

MATS has an exciting and gifted array of lecturers.

Click here to read about the Lecturers at MATS