Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation

Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation is a nine-week online mindfulness program for people who already have a basic meditation practice and want to study the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta in depth. It is taught in the early Buddhist, Theravada spirit of Bhikkhu Anālayo, the scholar-monk whose lectures and guided meditations anchor the course. It is offered through the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Barre, and participants join from wherever they are, on a learning platform and on Zoom.

What to Expect

The program follows the four foundations of mindfulness, one aspect each week: contemplation of body, feeling, mind, and dhammas. After an orientation week to settle into the online platform and the small group schedule, Week 1 introduces mindfulness and the Satipaṭṭhāna framework. The body is explored over three weeks through anatomical parts, the elements, and death. Feelings, the mind, the hindrances, and the awakening factors follow, and the ninth week is given to conclusion and integration into daily life.

Each week combines a 20-minute video lecture by Bhikkhu Anālayo, daily practice with his audio guided meditations, a chapter of reading, sutta study, review questions, and a moderated written discussion forum. The one fixed-time element is a 90-minute live small group meeting on Zoom, held at the same day and time each week, with breakout practice and sutta discussion led by a guiding teacher. Attendance at these meetings is mandatory. Everything else can be done at your own pace.

Expect roughly 10 to 12 hours a week, including reading time if you have not read the core text beforehand. This is a committed course, not a self-study one, and it includes writing prompts and assessments. The program rests on ethics as the foundation of practice, with a shared commitment to respect and non-harming in how participants speak with one another and in how they relate to their own practice.

An optional certification track requires full attendance, full participation, and a final reflection. It is the first step in a three-part series, followed by Mindfulness of Breathing and then Brahmavihāras & Emptiness. The programs are taken in order, and certification is needed to move on to each next one.

About Bhikkhu Anālayo

Bhikkhu Anālayo is a scholar-monk and the author of many books on meditation and early Buddhism, including Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, Perspectives on Satipaṭṭhāna, and Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation: A Practice Guide, the core text for this course. He is a faculty member at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and a retired professor of the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of Hamburg. His academic research centers on early Buddhism, especially meditation and women in Buddhism. His teachings here come through video lectures, guided meditations, and readings, and there is no direct interaction with him.

Your Guides in the Small Groups

Small groups are facilitated by guiding teachers, including Valeria Galetto, Dawn MacDonald, Stephanie Swann, Sue Bennett, Cynthia Davis, Elizabeth Hernandez-Stomp, Ye Teng Tan, Matt Hahn, Uzi Selcer, Margo McLoughlin, Yenkuei Chuang, Robin Boudette, Bob Gillespie, and Claire Holden Rothman.

Before You Go

You should have an established basic mindfulness practice. The program does not teach mindfulness from the beginning. It is held in English.

Included are the video lectures, audio guided meditations, live small group meetings, discussion forums, reading assignments, sutta study, review questions, and access to the optional certification track. The core text is not listed as included, and reading it ahead of time is strongly encouraged. Otherwise, plan on an extra two to three hours of reading each week.

Fees run on a sliding scale, with financial assistance available. Teacher compensation is not part of the fee; participants may offer dāna to the teachers voluntarily. There is no in-person or residential component, and no lodging or meals.