Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding Extreme Buddhism Teachings and Events
Questions
Do I need to reserve my place in advance or can I just show up on the night of the event?
I have missed several classes. Can I still attend future ones?
Are these workshops beginning, intermediate or advanced in nature?
How can I get more involved with your organization and teachings?
Due to my work schedule, I may be late for the start of the event. Is it still okay to show up?
What kind of student ID do you accept at the door?
Are advance tickets available for these events?
Can I send a personal question by email?
Is my child too young to attend the teachings?
Who teaches at these events? Why can’t we find personal information about anyone on your website?
Answers
Can you let me know the schedule of topics for the workshops, so that I can decide which ones to attend in advance?
The topics for the Extreme Buddhism workshops are not determined in advance. Discussions are determined by the attendees who show up each evening and the questions and interests they have at that particular time. We invite you to attend all of the workshops, but if you would prefer to choose one, or only a few, use your intuition. The night you decide to attend will undoubtedly be the "just right" one for you!
Do I need to reserve my place in advance or can I just show up on the night of the event?
No advance reservations are necessary. However, we do recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early so you can choose your seat and have a few moments to rest quietly before the event begins.
I have missed several classes. Can I still attend future ones?
Yes! Each workshop will be different and inclusive. You are welcome to attend one event, a few events, or all of them. While some topics may be covered more than once, such as meditation instruction, the events will all be individually informative and exciting experiences. If you feel confused about a topic, or sense that you may have missed some instruction from previous evenings, feel free to raise your hand and ask for clarification. Responses to participants' questions are always unique, even when the question sounds the same as one previously asked. We answer "people," not topics.
Are these workshops beginning, intermediate or advanced in nature?
The topics we address can often cover every level of study, though no one at the beginning level should feel lost, as we make an effort to ensure everyone understands what is being discussed. As for participants at the advanced level, we believe in bringing a “beginner’s mind” to the teachings – you never know what you might learn with an open mind. Nevertheless, while the subjects we speak about may be basic at times, the energy in the room is advanced. If you are not sure what that means, we invite you to come to an event and find out for yourself! Remember, this is the “fast path…”
How can I get more involved with your organization and teachings?
The best way to determine if you are interested in pursuing this unique pathway is to attend as many of the workshops as possible. Participating in these special events will give you a good sense of whether or not you truly have an affinity for this unusual, challenging and exhilarating study. At the present time, these Extreme Buddhism workshops are the only public offerings available through our organization. If you are not interested in attending the classes, but would like to learn more about the study, we recommend that you visit the Studies page on this site. Here you will find listings of the books and films that address certain topics of self-discovery and awakening that form part of the exoteric foundation for this path.
Due to my work schedule, I may be late for the start of the event. Is it still okay to show up?
Yes! Just enter quietly and take a seat in the back of the room. You can move to another seat during the break.
What kind of student ID do you accept at the door?
We will honor any form of student ID, including those for graduate and doctoral studies.
Are advance tickets available for these events?
Not at this time. We recommend that you arrive a few minutes prior to the start of the evening event and register for that individual workshop.
Can I send a personal question by email?
Unfortunately, we are not able to answer spiritual questions received through email. You are more than welcome to ask your questions at an upcoming event, as it is likely other participants will also find the answer helpful. However, if your question is deeply personal, you may drop off a typed, spell-checked letter at the registration desk. While you may not receive a written response due to the volume of queries we receive, you will always receive an answer in silence.
Is my child too young to attend the teachings?
We welcome people of all ages at these workshops. However, young children who have difficulty sitting still for more than a few minutes may find the intense energy challenging. Children who are fidgeting or making noise could disturb other participants during the meditations. It may be best not to bring them to these teachings, but we leave the decision up to you.
Who teaches at these events? Why can’t we find personal information about anyone on your website?
Extreme Buddhism events are being offered to the public for the purpose of sharing information about the Pathway to Enlightenment, as well as providing direct transmissions, to any and all who are interested. The instructor would like to interact with seekers who are attracted to the teachings themselves, rather than to a personality with a particular biography that may seem appealing at face value. The instructor has said, “The teachings themselves are timeless; the Teacher is transient. Focus on the Dharma, not the messenger, if you want to merge your mind with Eternity.”
The posters were designed as invitations to hear the Dharma, not to promote a person. If you are curious about the events, the subject matter, or who may be teaching, we recommend you come one evening and see for yourself whether Extreme Buddhism may be of interest to you.
What does “make-it-happen-now” spirituality mean? Shouldn’t I be suspicious of anyone promising fast-track spirituality?
By “make-it-happen-now” spirituality, we certainly don’t mean enlightenment in one week.
For most people, attaining enlightenment is something only a very holy, extremely unusual being can hope for. We believe that with focus, intent, discipline and immense heart, enlightenment can be realized in a single lifetime, by anyone who truly desires it. A lifetime may seem like a long stretch to the average Westerner, who is used to instant gratification, but in fact, attaining liberation – let alone enlightenment – in one incarnation is extraordinarily rapid.
What Extreme Buddhism proposes is a total dedication to the practices of meditation and mindfulness in the present moment, each moment – without allowing oneself the luxury of indulging in anger, self-importance, jealousy, pettiness and other negative mind states. These indulgences occur when an individual believes there will be plenty of time in the future to clean up the mess these mind states create. Instead, if a seeker applies “extreme” mental discipline to recognizing and dissolving these negative mental patterns, combined with an evolving and joyful meditation practice, spiritual progress can be significantly accelerated.
Appreciating the use of the word “Extreme” with “Buddhism” also requires a sense of humor. We must never take ourselves too seriously.
