This is the third of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. This first week we’ll explore the theme of Opening to Suffering.

This is the second of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. This first week we’ll explore the theme of Mindfulness as a path for well-being. We will share some practical exercises to use in daily life as well as understand why mindfulness is called by the Buddha “the most direct way to overcome sorrow and despair and realize the highest happiness.”

This is the first of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. I intend to explore these principles from a more traditional Buddhist perspective and show how they reveal Buddhadharma as a path of happiness. I’ll be suggesting techniques that can be practiced in daily life in addition to formal meditation. This first week we’ll explore the theme of Intention. “Intending is karma,” said the Buddha. Through intention we create our reality. The clearer we are on our intention, the greater influence we have on the direction of our lives.

Mindfulness practice helps us see clearly how we’re creating suffering for ourselves with our insecurities, self-judgments, judgments of others or other conditioned reactions. But often seeing these isn’t enough to release their hold on us. In fact, sometimes it’s more frustrating to see them but still feel as stuck as ever. We’ll explore how to work with this predicament wisely so we 1) don’t have to be at the mercy of our lofty ideals of good practice can use some simple but effective methods for moving to a greater place of well-being.

Sylvia Boorstein is sharing her wonderful wisdom and reflecting from her new book "Happiness is an Inside Job".