6-week LIVE Online Course
JuLY 7 - August 11, 2023
FRIdayS 12 – 2:00PM ET / 9 – 11:00AM PT
Freely Offered, Donations welcome
This is Session 2 of a 6- week course. Late registration will remain open until the 2nd class meeting, Friday July 14th.
This donation-based course is sponsored by the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (“BCBS”). Registration is being handled by BCBS. If you have a question that is not answered by our FAQ below, please contact BCBS here.
Communication sits at the heart of our lives – personally, professionally, and spiritually. This six-week online course offers training in the foundations of an integrated approach to communication.
Drawing upon the Buddha’s teachings on the Noble Eightfold Path, mindfulness and Right Speech, plus the modern disciplines of Nonviolent Communication and trauma healing, the curriculum offers concrete tools to hold one’s own while still hearing others, and to engage effectively and efficiently in collaboration. You will learn to:
Engage in effective dialogue
Feel more confident in conversation
Strengthen your capacities for empathy and resilience
Identify and stay focused on what really matters in any interaction
Through a combination of mindfulness practices, guided reflections, and interactive exercises, you will develop a stronger sense of presence, greater access to compassion, and more versatile, clearer communication. This class is appropriate for both experienced and newer students, therapists, school teachers, chaplains and other helping professionals. Questions? See our FAQ.
EACH LIVE 2-Hour SESSION INCLUDES:
Teachings on a key aspect of meditation and communication
Expert instruction on integrating meditation into conversation
Guided meditations on cognitive, emotional and somatic aspects of communication
Illustrative examples of the intersection between spiritual practice and relationship
Meetings will be recorded and uploaded within 24-36 hours for those who cannot attend.
What Else You Receive:
Live interactive Q&A with the teacher (during classes)
Weekly practice assignments and journal topics
Optional weekly calls with a practice buddy
Lifetime access to course recordings (audio and video)
Who’s it For?
This course is appropriate for those newer to Buddhist meditation and/or Nonviolent Communication, as well as for experienced practitioners seeking to deepen their skills. Past students include: psychologists, therapists, doctors, nurses and healthcare practitioners, chaplains, teachers, writers, artists, life coaches, lawyers, police, engineers, civil servants, and many more.
Cost: By donation
The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies is honored to be able to offer this course free of charge. BCBS and the those who teach its programs depend on donations to continue their work. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help support the offering of this program.
About the Teacher
Oren Jay Sofer is a nationally recognized teacher of meditation, mindfulness and Nonviolent Communication. A member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council, he holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University, is the author of Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication, and the forthcoming book, Your Heart Was Made For This. of Teaching Mindfulness to Empower Adolescents. Oren is co-founder of Mindful Healthcare and the founder of Next Step Dharma, an innovative online program that helps meditators integrate their retreat experiences into daily life.
Assistant Trainers
Passionate about healing – ourselves, intergenerationally, and the world – Ranjana (Ranji) Ariaratnam has shared NVC with families, teachers, activists, schools, and social service organizations via workshops, retreats, and mediation since 2009. Ranji worked for years overseas in humanitarian aid with people displaced by conflict. Now she brings together approaches that are very healing in her own life – NVC, painting and writing, somatic practices, and Vipassana meditation – each addressing different layers of our being. She lives on Vancouver Island.
David Johnson spent years overseas as a humanitarian aid worker. A few years after being introduced to NVC he returned to North America and immersed himself in the study of NVC as part of his exploration of practices that address the roots of violence and suffering. He has seen how NVC supports him as part of a couple and in all aspects of his life, and has shared NVC with families, schools, activists, and social service organizations via workshops, retreats, and mediation since 2011. He now lives on Vancouver Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between Oren’s various online courses?
Great question! Each of Oren’s courses covers different material. Here is a breakdown of what is covered in each of Oren’s current online courses:
Wise Speech (this course): The Wise Speech course is a six-week introduction offered by donation in the summer through Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, and includes a focus on Buddhist theory and practice.
Say What You Mean, Part I: Based on repeated feedback from past participants, we have extended Oren’s previous 12-week “Say What You Mean” course to 16 weeks, and broken it down into two, 8-week parts. This “Part I” course covers Chapters 1 - 9 of Oren’s book. It includes foundational material on presence, relational awareness, intention, listening, and empathy. It is equivalent to the first 7 weeks of Oren’s previous 12-week course (and would be mostly review for those who have taken the 12-week course.)
Say What You Mean, Part II : Part II covers chapters 10 - 14 of Oren's book. It provides additional material and guidance on integrating the tools into your conversations and relationships. Part II is equivalent to the last five weeks of Oren’s previous 12-week course, with additional time for practice and some new material.
Authentic Communication: This course is an in-depth exploration of tools for self-expression, including material on setting boundaries, working with anger, and apologies/repair. Oren’s next Authentic Communication course will be offered from May- June of 2023. More information can be found here.
Can I get CECs or Professional Teacher Credits? Is there a cost? How do I apply?
No. While we offer CECs for many of Oren’s other online courses, we do not offer credits for this particular course.
Do I need Oren’s book “Say What You Mean” for this course? Does the course come with the book?
You do NOT need a copy of Oren’s book for this course. All reading and materials will be provided. If you would like to take your learning further, you can buy Oren’s book online, from a local bookstore, or check it out from your local library.
How much of the course is taught by Oren and how much by the course assistants?
The course is taught entirely by Oren, with ample opportunities for coaching and personal exchanges. The course assistants’ role is to provide extra support with written correspondence via Q&A in the online group forum between sessions.
I understand this is a live course – what will the class size be?
We don’t know how many people will register, but Oren’s online classes have become quite popular and we expect at least 250 - 350 people to enroll in this course. Based on the combination of live Q&A plus written correspondence between sessions, most people who have taken Oren’s courses report feeling satisfied with the opportunities for support, coaching, and practice. However, if you are seeking a small, intimate learning environment, you may want to find a different class or join Oren for another event with a smaller group, like one of his meditation retreats or weekend workshops.
I have to miss a few of the sessions. Will they be recorded?
Yes. All of the live sessions will be recorded and available for viewing after each session (recordings are posted within one to two days).
How long will I have access to the recordings?
You will have indefinite access to all audio and video recordings, handouts, and guided meditations.
If I can’t attend live and watch the recordings instead, will I still be able to ask questions?
Yes! You can ask questions any time during our course through the (optional) online forum. For the entire 7-week period the course is running, and one week afterwards, this forum is monitored by Oren and our highly trained course assistants. During that time you may post questions to the forum and either Oren or a course assistant will respond. The online forum remains open indefinitely after the course concludes so you can connect or discuss your practice with other participants. However, once the course closes, Oren and the assistants will stop monitoring the forum and be unable to respond to questions.
My internet is slow. Can I call in by phone?
Yes - you can join the live calls on your laptop, mobile device, or by dialing in by phone. For laptop and mobile you will need to download the Zoom app (instructions will be provided). For phone, depending on where you are located, it may or may not be a toll-free call.
Does the course include anything else other than the 2-hour weekly sessions?
Yes. In addition to the live 2-hour sessions, each week includes: a handout from Oren with a written reflection, suggestions for practice, additional reading/references, and optional interactive exercises with a buddy. Some weeks include audio for guided meditations. Every week includes optional online correspondence in the course forums.
How much time will it take me to participate in the course each week?
That’s entirely up to you. The minimum amount of time suggested is 2 hours for the weekly sessions. We recommend spending 1-2 additional hours each week reading Say What You Mean, and doing the practices. Some participants may choose to spend more or less time depending on their schedule. For example, the course provides materials for up to 3-4 hours total of practice and study each week.
The time of day of this class doesn’t work for me. Will you be offering another version of this course in the future on a different day or time?
While we would love to find a way to accommodate more people’s scheduling needs, the limits of Oren’s personal and family schedule are such that it’s not sustainable right now time to offer a multi-week course at another time/day. (Check the calendar; it’s possible the summer Wise Speech course will be offered on a weekend morning, Pacific Time). We are aware that this means certain time zones are unable to attend live and regret the impact of this. Many have reported that watching the recordings as soon as they are posted provides a rich learning experience and that the online group forum enhances the sense of community and connection. We thank you for your understanding of these limitations.
How does the donation process work?
This course is being offered as a partnership between Oren Jay Sofer and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Given the economic crisis and our mutual desire to make these teachings available to as many people as possible, we are offering the course on a donation basis. When you register, and periodically throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to make a contribution to BCBS and Oren. There is no recommended amount, and no obligation to donate. We invite each person to participate joyfully according to their means. To read more about this practice, see here, and then return to this page and use the link below to donate. (Please donate through BCBS).
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, since your donation will be processed by the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, a 501c3 non-profit, your donation is tax-deductible.
If you have a question that is not answered in the above FAQ, please feel free to reach out to BCBS here.