Glimpses of True Freedom
Reading Pema Chödrön's Guide to The Myth of Freedom by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
WMC Open Course
April 22 - July 7, 2026
In person at the Aligned Center, Irvington, and also on Zoom for those unable to attend in person.
Taught by Jane Kolleeny and David Frankel
Suggested offering: $90*
Each semester, we offer an open course intended for all levels of experience, including those just beginning to develop a regular meditation practice. This format provides an opportunity to experience the very real benefits of in-person group meditation practice, together with discussion of Buddhist themes relevant to our daily living. This Spring we are thrilled to offer the chance to explore Pema Chödrön's newest offering.
What if the freedom you seek isn’t found by changing your circumstances but by embracing life exactly as it is? In her new book, Pema Chödrön goes back to her original encounter with the Buddhist path, and offers us a fresh perspective on the book that she and so many others found as a starting point, The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation, by her beloved teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
In Another Kind of Freedom, Pema invites us to look beyond the “myth of freedom”—the idea that we can escape discomfort—and to work compassionately, wisely and directly with what keeps us stuck. Whether you are new to meditation or one of the many who are already familiar with The Myth of Freedom, there is inspiration and expert guidance to be found here.
We hope you can join us in this exploration of how meditation, mindfulness, and radical self-acceptance can transform our struggles, neuroses, and pain into gateways to awakening.
“These were the teachings,” Pema says, “that inspired me most in my early years of practicing Buddhism. They continue to inspire me now and have influenced all the teachings I’ve given over the years.”
Students are encouraged to purchase a copy of Another Kind of Freedom. Registration is for the full 12-week course in order to receive the full benefit of these rich teachings.
*WMC maintains a policy of making our programs affordable to all.
Those with limited income, please note our student/fixed income rate on the registration page.