In this eight-week course, author and teacher Erik Jampa Andersson will guide participants through the Eightfold Path of Natural Recovery as discussed in his book, Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human (Hay House UK, 2023), which Lama Tsultrim has described as “a brilliant book that gives us a road map to true wholeness and recovery.” Through lectures, discussion, and guided exercises, participants will explore what it really means to be human in a more-than-human world, and how to meaningfully engage with ecological consciousness and ethics on the spiritual path. 

Participants of this program will: 

• Take a deep dive into one of the eight points on the Buddhist Eightfold Path, exploring their applicability in our environmental crisis and their potential to guide us towards both liberation and collective health. 
• Delve into the intersection of a wide range of topics through History, Science, Philosophy, Ecology, Medicine, and Mythology. 
• Examine what it means to live a life worth living on a path to authentic liberation, and how Buddhist philosophy can support us in our pursuit of a more just and balanced future. 
• Look into how climatic changes, epidemics, and religious evolutions all impacted Buddhist perceptions of the natural world, and how these shifting worldviews affected human behaviors towards the environment. 

In addition to materials from his book, Erik Jampa will share insights from his academic research on Tibetan nature spirits, exploring how animistic paradigms persisted in the Tibetan Buddhist world, allowing humans to socially engage with a vast array of beings tied to local environments and ecosystems.

Each session will include a lecture, group discussion, and meditation or exercise. Recommended reading materials will be provided for the weeks between sessions, and additional resources will be made available as the course progresses. 

We hope you will join us for this unique and groundbreaking program!

Required Reading: 

• Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human by Erik Jampa Andersson 
• Ecology and Spirituality: A Brief Introduction by Jack Hunter

Who Should Attend? 
This program is open to everyone.

Recording Access: 
All participants will have a 1-year access period to the recordings.

What is a Tara Mandala Online Program?
Tara Mandala offers online programming via live and pre-recorded curriculum that give you the opportunity to access dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience personal retreat and hands-on learning, while connecting with other participants through easy-to-use online platforms and an engaged community network. When needed, the program description and schedule will inform you in advance if and when a specific online session must be attended live if a direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. Access to recordings of all sessions will be available for additional viewing for one year. 

Tara Mandala Pricing Guidelines
As we work to become an equitable, diverse and inclusive community, our pricing guidelines are intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of resources that contribute to our access to precious dharma teachings. While we do ask you to look inward, please know there is no right or wrong answer. We encourage you to select the range/rate appropriate to your circumstances. To learn more about Tara Mandala’s pricing guidelines for Online Programs, In-Person Retreats, and Special Promotions, please visit this page. 

Installment Payment Plan Option at Registration
During registration, students can either pay the program fee in full or select the Installment Payment option. If choosing the installment payment option, students will pay a 50% deposit upon registering and subsequent equal payments will be processed automatically every two-weeks. The final balance is due 14 days before the start of the program.

Deferred Payment Plans and Financial Assistance
Tara Mandala offers two types of financial assistance: Deferred Payment Plans and Scholarships. You may apply for one or both of these types of assistance. Read the terms carefully as outlined on the financial aid application. Please see this page for further information.

Offering dana to the teacher: The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the program. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here.

Sustaining Sangha:
If you are currently a member of our Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your Online Program discount to this course. To learn more about Sustaining Sangha membership, benefits, and discounts, click here. 

Click Here for Our Online Programs Cancellation and Refund Policy

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
The live sessions of the program are listed below. All times are Mountain Daylight Time. Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

The live webcasts will be held on Wednesdays from 10:00am-12:00pm MDT
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Wednesday, July 24, 2024