You are invited to a 6-week online course with Maeve Hassett
Topic: Exploring the Early Buddhist Teachings Together
Date: Wednesdays: September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and October 7, 2026
Time: 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Location: Zoom Only

Pre-registration is encouraged by noon on Tuesday, September 1st.
To register: details and Zoom info coming soon
Your emailed payment receipt is your registration confirmation.

Course Registration Fees: Coming soon

Course Description: This six‑session series introduces what are widely considered some of the earliest teachings of the Buddha, focusing on the Atthakavagga (The Book of Eights), an anthology of sixteen poems. The primary course text is Gil Fronsdal’s The Buddha Before Buddhism; we will also examine a couple of other texts thought to be from the same period.

These early writings help clarify the essence of the Buddha’s teachings and connect them to direct experience in everyday life. The six one‑hour sessions include an overview and a discussion of four major themes. Each of the middle four sessions will focus on one theme; the final session will consider the teachings’ relevance to contemporary understandings of Buddhism and to our personal practice. We will also briefly review other early texts. Participants are encouraged to share resources that enrich our collective exploration.

Dana: During the course, there is an opportunity to offer a financial donation to Maeve as part of the Buddhist practice of dana (the practice of giving and receiving). All offerings are gratefully received and support the continuation of the Buddha’s teachings. 
MAEVE HASSETT DONATION (DANA)

Bio: Maeve Hassett has been teaching and studying Buddhism for nearly 30 years. She is a graduate of both the Dedicated Practitioners Program and the Community Dharma Leaders program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Maeve has been teaching mindfulness and meditation through classes and dharma talks at Mountain Stream since 2004. She is a cofounder of the Rocklin meditation group. Maeve is also a retired psychotherapist, a career that she engaged in for 40 years.