Fall Workshop — It Begins with Silence

We return this fall to Pointe-Claire Village, to the spacious upstairs room of Om West Holistic Centre, where Stephen will teach from his mindful reflection handbook It Begins with Silence. Register for this workshop here.

For your Reading Pleasure

Out-takes from The Novice

After finishing Stephen's memoir The Novice, readers have asked for more — and more there is. The first draft of his book was three times the length of the final edited version, and more than two dozen lengthy cuts (made to satisfy the publisher) have been edited into short stories and articles, and posted on Stephen's completely renovated and updated personal web site at schettini.com. Enjoy: they don't cost a penny.

Publications

For those interested in buying The Novice or CD Recordings – and save on shipping – email us and we'll bring them to class.

The fact that Buddhism is a religion (even during the heyday of Christianity, it was the world's most populous) has meant that many of its core teachings were obscured by the jargon, ritual and dogma that accumulated in the twenty-six centuries since the Buddha's death. What's often overlooked is that the Buddha was not a god but a man — one Siddhattha Gotama, who rebelled against his society and particularly against the religious jargon, ritual and dogma of his day.

       Siddhattha wandered the Great North Road of India for forty-five years, teaching an end to stress to all who would listen. Since then, his legacy has flourished and been fostered into dozens of forms, including Southern and Northern schools, the Theravada and Mahayana, the Sutrayana and Vajrayana. This workshop brings you back to the essence of what the Buddha taught and to the practical simplicity of his message.

       The most reliable account of the Buddha's life and teaching is found in the Pali language. The so-called Pali Canon was compiled in North India and preserved orally until committed to writing in Sri Lanka in 29 BCE. It Begins with Silence summarizes and draws entirely from the Pali Canon.

       Whether or not you consider Buddhism a religion, you can discover why these teachings are as timeless as ever, and how they offer everyone a path to the end of stress. Stephen's handbook is not a philosophy or history of Buddhism; rather, it's an artistic impression that guides you through all you need to know to realise the profound truth that stress and anxiety are things that you do, and that you can stop.

Course Outline