Eric Anderson – Writing Exchange
Seth Tichenor – Buddhist Philosophy in China
Eric Wheeler – Architectural History of the North Coast – Selected Topics
Maureen Balaam – Perception and the Brain
Thom Allison – Navigating Life’s Transitions at Any Age
Bernice Moore – Philosophy and Ethics of the Noble Eightfold Path
Bernice Moore and Maureen Balaam
Jan 5 to Jan 26 – 4 weeks
Mondays 2pm to 4pm – Classroom
This class will be focused on developing skills for communication and practice of various methods of communication in dyads, triads and whole groups. We will explore basic skills, as well as, dialog conversations and collaborative inquiry.
The purpose of the class is to give students the tools to experience the value of successful and meaningful communication with other people, especially those who are different from ourselves; to increase comfort in communicating about things important to them; to be with differences without reaction and with appropriate concern and empathy.
Eric Anderson
Jan 6 to March 17
9:45am to 11:45am – Online Class
Awaken the Writer Within You!
Join this fun interactive class and share your memoir, short story, poem, or novel and receive kind, constructive feedback.
If you prefer, sharing of your writing and its constructive feedback can be recorded into audio and/or video format for later review by you.
For more information: email the instructor, Eric Anderson, at EricCAnder@aol.com or call (503) 325-3131
Seth Tichenor
Jan 9 to Mar 20 – 11 weeks
Fridays 10am to 12pm – Classroom
The course will look at the story of Buddhism in China from its appearance in the first few centuries of the common era through its dominance under the Sui and Tang dynasties (581CE – 956CE). We will look at he political, cultural and philosophical issues that gave rise to the ideas and practices that emerged in the major schools of Chinese Buddhism.
We will also look at the debates thinkers within these traditions, had with non-Buddhist philosophers. Finally, we will consider the philosophical and cultural legacy that Buddhism left in China as its dominance receded.
Selected Topics
Eric Wheeler
Jan 12 to Jan 26 – 3 weeks
Mondays 11am to 1pm – Classroom
no field visits
Focusing on the historic and present day Astoria downtown area, the course will present the Louvre (week 1), one of the most lavish gentlemen’s clubs in the Pacific Northwest. It was an architectural masterpiece gone but not forgotten. Week 2 will be about the early salmon canning industry which was pivotal to Astoria in early days and we have a remnant of that time with the current Pacifick Distillery. Week 3 will share images from a recent trip to Uzbekistan in Central Asia. We will see some modernist mid-century Soviet buildings as well as the majestic, multi-colored Islamic architecture in holy buildings built during the era of the Silk Road. All weeks will take place in the Classroom.
Maureen Balaam
February 2 to Mar 16 – 6 weeks
Mondays 2 pm to 4pm – Classroom
Our ability to perceive is created by our senses and our brain. It has come to the attention of those doing research on the brain’s activity that our brain may be influencing our perception more than we like to think. We use our perception to navigate the world and to make daily decisions. Could it be that the brain decides for us?
We will discover the meaning of perception in the realms of psychology and neurology. We will learn how the brain makes sense of things and forms hypotheses and how that information can be of help or not. We will understand how our brains are a work in progress.
Thom Allison
February 6 to Mar 13 – 6 weeks
Fridays 2pm to 4pm – Classroom
No matter at what age, we experience many life transitions. There can be disruptions like retiring or moving or losing a spouse. In this course we will learn how to manage these transitions using a book by Bruce Feiler, Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age. Using practical worksheets we will learn to apply the tools for ourselves and our loved ones. Sessions include: Unlocking Hidden Creativity; Learning the Tools to Accept It and Mark It; Learning the Tools to Shed It and Create It; Learning the Tools to Launch It, Tell It and Share It; Practical Applications and Preparing Your Heirs.
Bernice Moore
February 2 to Mar 9 – 6 weeks
Mondays 11am to 12:30pm – Classroom
The Theravada tradition focuses on the Noble Eightfold Path, according to the Buddha, the Noble Eightfold Path consists of Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.