This event was cancelled due to low registrations (October 6, 2023).
Beyond Distraction
Cultivating the Skills to Focus Attention
An 8-week series with Shaila Catherine and Kim Allen
Registration is required. Scroll below for tickets.
This course will follow Shaila Catherine’s latest book, Beyond Distraction, as we explore a traditional sequence of strategies for dealing with obstructive mental patterns. We can all develop skills that overcome restlessness, develop calmness, and free the mind from obsessive planning, worrying, fantasizing, judging, and dwelling in personal narratives. Participants will be encouraged to develop a mindfulness-based meditation practice, while exploring specific strategies for overcoming distractions, understanding the workings of mind, and fostering calm attention.
Readings: Please purchase the book Beyond Distraction: Five Practical Ways to Focus the Mind by Shaila Catherine (published in 2022).
We will also read the following two discourses:
October 9 – Lost in Thought, with Shaila Catherine
October 23 – Many Kinds of Thoughts, with Kim Allen
November 13 – Antidotes and Alternatives, with Shaila Catherine
November 27 – Weighing the Costs, with Kim Allen
December 11 – Withdrawing the Fuel, with Shaila Catherine
January 8 – Unraveling the Causes, with Shaila Catherine
January 22 – Applying Resolve, with Shaila Catherine
February 12 – Moving Toward Liberation, with Shaila Catherine
WHO SHOULD JOIN: This course is open to all practitioners.
COURSE LEVELS: It is designed as a level 1-2 course. Click this link for a key to course level designations.
Visit our Teacher Page for teacher biographies and photographs.
REGISTRATION: Registration is required for this course. Registration fees are non-refundable. To register, select an option under the Tickets heading at the bottom of this page. (If you are viewing this page more than two months in advance of the course, the Tickets heading might not yet appear, so please check again later.) To register for a course, you purchase one ticket, which registers you for the entire class series. You only need to register once; you do not need to register separately for each class session.
Course Fee: The sliding scale fee range is from $200 to $600 and will be shared between IMSB and the teacher(s). The lower end of the sliding scale is intended for those with limited financial means. The low rate of $200 is estimated to cover only the basic expense of rent for the class period. This base rate does not factor in compensation for teachers or ongoing administrative expenses. If you pay at the mid to high range of the sliding scale, your generosity supports those with limited income in attending our programs and also supports IMSB and the teachers. We encourage you to choose the highest level that is appropriate for your economic situation.
Dana/Donations: Donation baskets will be available at each event for drop-in guests and those who wish to offer additional donations to support the teachers and IMSB. Dana gifts are tax-deductible.
Scholarship Assistance: A scholarship rate of $100 is offered for those with very limited financial means. If you need financial assistance, you may use the discount coupon code “halftherate” to reduce the lowest ticket by 50%. Or contact intention
for additional assistance.
Partial or Drop-in Attendance: If you do not want to register for the whole course, but would like to attend one or two sessions on a drop-in basis, you may join us and offer payment at the door. The recommended sliding scale is $25–$100 per session, with a discount scholarship rate of $15 per session.
If you can attend at least 4 out of the 8 scheduled sessions, please use the usual tickets or scholarship code to register online.
Tax Deductions: The basic registration fee is not tax deductible. Donations above the base rate will be considered voluntary contributions and are tax deductible. Each January, the IMSB treasurer sends donors letters that acknowledge donations of $250 and above in the previous year. This letter will serve as documentation for tax deduction purposes.
Cancellation Policy: All fees and payments are non-refundable. If you must cancel your participation in a course, and the registrar is notified prior to the start of the first class meeting, your registration fee will be converted into a voucher creditable towards the fee for a future event. Vouchers must be used within two years of the initial course start date, and may be transferred to only one future course. Cancellations that occur after the start of the first class are not eligible for the voucher credit.