Finding Freedom


Realize the profound truth of dependent arising

At the heart of Buddhist wisdom, a teaching called “dependent arising” points to a different way of being in the world. Join Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel in a lively exploration of this central principle and how it leads us to greater freedom and ease in our everyday lives.

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The Logic of Freedom


What does it take to be free? According to the Buddha, to be free is to recognize the conditionality of life. The teaching of dependent arising shows us the truth of interconnection: nothing exists alone. Everything leans on something else. With profound reflection, this deep wisdom unbinds us from the craving, reactivity, and stress that arise from our habits of misperception.

This course provides a unique opportunity to study with a teacher who has made these powerful teachings the center of her contemplative life for 35 years. Elizabeth promises a lively, practical, and fun exploration featuring exercises and guided meditations to deepen your living experience of these teachings.

  • Understand the unifying concept of Buddhism
  • Contemplations bring insight and ease into your life now
  • Deepen your lived experience of the teachings.

Sample: What is Dependent Arising?

A deeply experienced teacher

Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel has been practicing the Buddha's teachings for 35 years. Dependent arising has been the central focus of her inquiry.

Video lessons

Discover the core wisdom of Buddhist practices laid out in engaging video teachings, which you can revisit at any time.

Step-by-step contemplations

Take part in active contemplations that open up insight and support meditative development.

Study online, start today


This is a 6-unit course which you are invited to study at your own pace. Once enrolled, you retain unlimited access to the course. Each lesson will offer roughly one hour of material to work with, including video teachings, prompts for reflection, optional quizzes, and a communal discussion board. There will also be suggested take-home practices, including guided meditations, for you to explore throughout each week.

Unit 1 | The Common Thread

Dependent arising is the central thread of Buddha's teaching. Elizabeth explains what dependent arising is, why it's important, and how we can bring this wisdom into our lives.

Unit 2 | Looking Realistically

The truth of dependent arising is everywhere, if we know how to look. It is the nature of reality. Elizabeth demonstrates a simple contemplation we can do for our ourselves to show that reality isn't quite what we commonly mistake it to be.

Unit 3 | The Knowing Mind

We are fortunate to have minds that can discern the world accurately, with a little bit of training. Elizabeth offers guidance in using our natural talent for discernment to propel ourselves toward spiritual awakening.

Unit 4 | The Path of Inquiry

Now we begin the ancient practice of looking and not finding. These two analytical meditations can radically open up our perception of the world.

Unit 5 | The Middle Way

It's easy to get locked into binary extremes: believing that the world around us is solidly real or believing that nothing exists. Elizabeth takes us beyond these with a playful analytical meditation.

Unit 6 | Awakening the Heart

Having immersed ourselves in the core of Buddhist wisdom, what is there to do? We'll see that living from the heart proves to be the perfect application of what we have learned.

Group Rates

We offer discounted rates to groups of five or more. If you're interested in taking this course as a group or with your sangha, please fill out this form.

ELIZABETH MATTIS NAMGYEL has studied and practiced the Buddhadharma for 35 years under the guidance of her teacher Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. She is the retreat master of Samten Ling in Crestone, Colorado and has spent over six years in retreat. She holds a degree in anthropology and an M.A. in Buddhist Studies. She teaches throughout the U.S., Australia, and Europe. She is the author of The Power of an Open Question: The Buddha’s Path to Freedom and The Logic of Faith: the Buddhist Path to Finding Certainty Beyond Belief and Doubt.

Elizabeth is known for her use of inquiry as a means to reach a place of genuine practice and awakening. She asks audiences to engage in the practice of open questioning with her while she takes a fresh look at all the assumptions and beliefs we have about spirituality. In particular, Elizabeth is fascinated with the Buddha’s essential teachings on the natural principle of pratityasamutpada, dependent arising. Audiences repeatedly comment on how her approach has reinvigorated their meditation practice and the way they relate to their lives as a whole.

Testimonials


  • "The teacher and coursework were excellent."
  • "Wonderful teacher, profound and yet, so easy to learn from!"
  • "Excellent presentation, very focused and comprehensive."


Course Curriculum

  Introduction
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  Unit 1: Dependent Arising
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  Unit 2: Looking Realistically
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  Unit 3: The Knowing Mind
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  Unit 4: The Path of Inquiry
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  Unit 5: The Middle Way
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  Unit 6: Awakening the Heart
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  Resources
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