You might be familiar with Natalie Goldberg through her many books, like the best-selling Writing Down the Bones, or through her writing workshops. But it’s safe to say that you’ve never heard Natalie talk about the teachers and teachings that inspired and formed the foundation for her writing practice quite like she does in this all-new online course. After many decades of a life informed and inspired by the teachings of Zen, Natalie now shares that inspiration directly with you.
Registration Open for a Limited Time
You might be familiar with Natalie Goldberg through her many books, like the best-selling Writing Down the Bones, or through her writing workshops. But it’s safe to say that you’ve never heard Natalie talk about the teachers and teachings that inspired and formed the foundation for her writing practice quite like she does in this all-new online course. After many decades of a life informed and inspired by the teachings of Zen, Natalie now shares that inspiration directly with you.
About This Course
Students of writing have been learning from Natalie Goldberg for over 50 years. Her first book—Writing Down the Bones—has sold over one million copies since it was published in 1986 and has been translated into 19 languages. Natalie has published 15 books and counting—and her writing workshops both live and online continue to be in high demand. But beyond all the accolades, and underpinning her many successes as a writer and teacher of writing, lies Natalie’s own Zen practice.
As Natalie herself says, “I don’t teach writing—I teach Zen.” In this brand-new course, Natalie takes a deep dive, through story and instruction, into the Zen heart of her own teachings. You can revisit the teachings in this course again and again and always find something new, whether you’re an experienced meditator looking to deepen your practice, a beginner looking for a starting point, or somewhere in between. This course is a complete toolkit for integrating mindfulness and insight into your everyday life.
Whether you’ve been following Natalie’s teachings for decades or are new to her work, you will find illuminating stories and new encouragement here to inspire your own practice. Through this course, you will find yourself drinking from a deep well of lived experience in both creative practice and the practice of Zen.
Please join us for this unique offering from a beloved and best-selling author, inviting us into the heart of her world and expanding our own opportunity for practice and the creative life.
About This Course
Students of writing have been learning from Natalie Goldberg for over 50 years. Her first book—Writing Down the Bones—has sold over one million copies since it was published in 1986 and has been translated into 19 languages. Natalie has published 15 books and counting—and her writing workshops both live and online continue to be in high demand. But beyond all the accolades, and underpinning her many successes as a writer and teacher of writing, lies Natalie’s own Zen practice.
As Natalie herself says, “I don’t teach writing—I teach Zen.” In this brand-new course, Natalie takes a deep dive, through story and instruction, into the Zen heart of her own teachings. You can revisit the teachings in this course again and again and always find something new, whether you’re an experienced meditator looking to deepen your practice, a beginner looking for a starting point, or somewhere in between. This course is a complete toolkit for integrating mindfulness and insight into your everyday life.
Whether you’ve been following Natalie’s teachings for decades or are new to her work, you will find illuminating stories and new encouragement here to inspire your own practice. Through this course, you will find yourself drinking from a deep well of lived experience in both creative practice and the practice of Zen.
Please join us for this unique offering from a beloved and best-selling author, inviting us into the heart of her world and expanding our own opportunity for practice and the creative life.
What You Will Explore
In this 11-lesson course, Natalie Goldberg takes you deep into the heart of the Zen practice that first inspired her best-selling Writing Down the Bones and her many books that followed. Although Natalie has been teaching for over four decades, this is her first full-length course to focus directly on the Zen practice and teachings that underpin her own teachings. Join Natalie to explore:
What You Will Explore
In this 11-lesson course, Natalie Goldberg takes you deep into the heart of the Zen practice that first inspired her best-selling Writing Down the Bones and her many books that followed. Although Natalie has been teaching for over four decades, this is her first full-length course to focus directly on the Zen practice and teachings that underpin her own teachings. Join Natalie to explore:
Stories
Hear Natalie’s enlivening stories about her teachers and adventures over her many years of Zen practice.
Zen
Discover teachings and writings from Natalie’s teachers, including Katagiri Roshi, Thich Nhat Hanh, Ikkyu, and Dogen Zenji.
Writing
Explore your experiences with thoughtful writing topics that support your engagement with your own sitting and walking practice.
Meditation
Be guided in beginning your own meditation practice if you don’t already have one or deepening your existing practice.
This Course Includes
This online course includes a rich set of resources designed specifically to support your at-home study and practice.
This Course Includes
This online course includes a rich set of resources designed specifically to support your at-home study and practice.
11 Hours of Brand-New 4K Video Teaching
Experience this intimate set of teachings, newly recorded with Natalie in her hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
11 Hours of Brand-New 4K Video Teaching
Experience this intimate set of teachings, newly recorded with Natalie in her hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Live Calls with Natalie Goldberg
Join three live Q&A calls in which Natalie will take your questions from the online course (1:00 p.m. EDT on Saturdays, May 25, June 8, and June 29).
Live Calls with Natalie Goldberg
Join three live Q&A calls in which Natalie will take your questions from the online course (1 p.m. EDT on Saturdays, May 25, June 8, and June 29).
Live Meditation Sessions
Join your fellow students in weekly live meditation sessions over Zoom, led by our course facilitator (Sundays 1:00–1:30 p.m. EDT, May 26–July 7).
Live Meditation Sessions
Join your fellow students in weekly live meditation sessions over Zoom, led by our course facilitator (Sundays 1:00–1:30 p.m. EDT, May 26–July 7).
A Virtual Retreat Day
Natalie will lead a half day of sitting and walking meditation at the end of the course to help you fully integrate what you learn in it (Saturday, July 20, 1:00–4:00 p.m. EDT).
A Virtual Retreat Day
Natalie will lead a half day of sitting and walking meditation at the end of the course to help you fully integrate what you learn in it (Saturday, July 20, 1:00–4:00 p.m. EDT).
Downloadable Audio Files
Take these inspiring teachings with you wherever you are—in the car, on a walk, or over the kitchen sink.
Downloadable Audio Files
Take these inspiring teachings with you wherever you are—in the car, on a walk, or over the kitchen sink.
Downloadable Transcripts
Review Natalie’s talks at your own pace, highlight, and take notes with downloadable PDF transcripts.
Downloadable Transcripts
Review Natalie’s talks at your own pace, highlight, and take notes with downloadable PDF transcripts.
Sitting Practice Suggestions
Establish a daily meditation practice—or deepen your current practice—with thoughtful guidance and support.
Sitting Practice Suggestions
Establish a daily meditation practice—or deepen your current practice—with thoughtful guidance and support.
Writing Topics
Deepen your experience of the teachings with writing prompts designed to engage you directly with Natalie’s teachings and Zen practice.
Writing Topics
Deepen your experience of the teachings with writing prompts designed to engage you directly with Natalie’s teachings and Zen practice.
Unlimited Access
Access the course on any device again and again to see what new insights emerge on your path.
Unlimited Access
Access the course on any device again and again to see what new insights emerge on your path.
* PLUS *
Special Program Bonuses
Bonus #1
Recordings from The Roots of Writing Practice
Watch recordings from a 5-day writing and meditation retreat led by Natalie (over 13 hours of video).
Bonus #2
Coupon Code for 50% Off All Recommended Books (from Shambhala Publications)
Total Retail Value: $385 | You Save: $193
Expand your library and deepen your study with 50% off Natalie’s recommended book list by Shambhala Publications.
* PLUS *
Special Program Bonuses
Bonus #1
Recordings from The Roots of Writing Practice
Watch recordings from a 5-day writing and meditation retreat led by Natalie (over 13 hours of video).
Bonus #2
Coupon Code for 50% Off All Recommended Books (from Shambhala Publications)
Total Retail Value: $385 | You Save: $193
Expand your library and deepen your study with 50% off Natalie’s recommended book list by Shambhala Publications.
Sitting Down the Bones
Sign up today to experience the Zen heart of Natalie’s teachings.
SPECIAL PRICE: $249
3-month payment plan available
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, please e-mail us within 30 days, and we will promptly refund your purchase price.
Sitting Down the Bones
Sign up today to experience the Zen heart of Natalie’s teachings.
SPECIAL PRICE: $249
3-month payment plan available
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, please e-mail us within 30 days, and we will promptly refund your purchase price.
Fellowships for people of color are available for this course. Apply here.
COURSE CURRICULUM
Lesson 1:
Just Being Present
· Begin with sitting practice
· Get to know Katagiri Roshi, Natalie’s Zen teacher, as she recalls pieces of her time with him and talks about his life
Lesson 2:
Ancestors
· Listen to Natalie speak of her experiences with her dharma ancestors
· Explore your own dharma ancestors
· Consider how the structure of practice works in your life
Lesson 3:
Quit Causing Trouble
· Think about how monkey mind shows up in your life
· Consider how you show up and meet your life
· Continue your sitting practice, aiming for consistency
Lesson 4:
This Is It
· Listen to stories from Natalie about dharma brothers Daowu Yuanzhi and Yunyan Tansheng and also stories about her father, including how his presence inspired her to “live outside the box”
· Continue daily sitting practice
· Contemplate your own inspirations for living outside the box
· Consider the dharma that you have received from inanimate objects
Lesson 5:
My Best Friend, Bodhidharma
· Listen to stories from Natalie about Bodhidharma, the teacher who brought Buddhist teachings to China
· Contemplate the question: What is my practice?
· Consider what you do to cause trouble
Lesson 6:
There's No Prescription
· Listen to more stories about Katagiri Roshi told through Natalie’s experience
· Learn the three essential teachings that Natalie learned from Katagiri Roshi
· Hear Natalie tell the story of Joshu and the old woman and how she relates to it
· Listen to Natalie’s stories about studying with Thich Nhat Nahn shortly after Katagiri Roshi’s death
Lesson 7:
You Better Sit
· Discover more teachings from Katagiri Roshi
· Deepen your daily sitting practice by starting to expand the amount of time you sit each day
Lesson 8:
I Won’t Die: Teachings from Ikkyu
· Explore writings and teachings from 15th-century Zen master Ikkyu
· Examine what meets you in your own practice
Lesson 9:
So Sane: Teachings from Dogen
· Explore writings and teachings from Dōgen, the 13th-century founder of Soto Zen
· Anchor your mind on sound in your meditation practice
· Write a death poem for this moment
· Use quotes from Dōgen as prompts for your own writing
Lesson 10:
Walking and Sitting and the One-Finger Teaching
· Listen to Natalie’s story of the one-finger teaching from Gutei
· Practice sitting outside and listening
· Practice walking meditation
Lesson 11:
Sitting Still with Nothing
· Contemplate the connections between Zen practice and writing practice
· Explore the writings of Masaoka Shiki, late 19th-century Japanese poet and writer who died in 1902
Course Excerpts
Bring Me the Rhinoceros
In this excerpt from the course, Natalie shares a Zen teaching story—known as a koan—called “The Rhinoceros Fan,” a koan about the present moment. As Natalie says in this excerpt, the present moment is a big moment and it has a lot in it, and this koan helps point to that big moment.
Don't Ever Feed Monkey Mind
In this excerpt from Sitting Down the Bones, Natalie talks about her early experiences with monkey mind in her sitting practice and how she took what she learned into her writing practice.
Why Don’t You Make Writing Your Practice
In this short excerpt from the course, Natalie talks about how a suggestion from Katagiri Roshi led her to making writing her practice. She draws the connection between her Zen practice and her writing practice and describes the root that her Zen practice provided.
Course Excerpts
Bring Me the Rhinoceros
In this excerpt from the course, Natalie shares a Zen teaching story—known as a koan—called “The Rhinoceros Fan,” a koan about the present moment. As Natalie says in this excerpt, the present moment is a big moment and it has a lot in it, and this koan helps point to that big moment.
Don't Ever Feed Monkey Mind
In this excerpt from Sitting Down the Bones, Natalie talks about her early experiences with monkey mind in her sitting practice and how she took what she learned into her writing practice.
Why Don’t You Make Writing Your Practice
In this short excerpt from the course, Natalie talks about how a suggestion from Katagiri Roshi led her to making writing her practice. She draws the connection between her Zen practice and her writing practice and describes the root that her Zen practice provided.
Retreat Summary
11 Hours of 4k Video Teachings
3 Live Calls with Natalie Goldberg
11 Hours of 4k Video Teachings
3 Live Calls with Natalie Goldberg
Half-Day Live Meditation Retreat
Sitting Practice Recommendations
Half-Day Live Meditation Retreat
Sitting Practice Recommendations
Writing Practice Prompts
Printable Transcripts
Writing Practice Prompts
Printable Transcripts
Downloadable Audio Files
Unlimited Access
Downloadable Audio Files
Unlimited Access
Live Meditation Sessions
Bonus Recordings and Discounts
Live Meditation Sessions
Bonus Recordings and Discounts
Sitting Down the Bones
Sign up today to experience the Zen heart of Natalie's teachings.
SPECIAL PRICE: $249
3-month payment plan available
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, please e-mail us within 30 days, and we will promptly refund your purchase price.
Fellowships for people of color are available for this course. Apply here.
About Your Teacher
PHOTO CREDIT: Mitsue Nagase
NATALIE GOLDBERG is the author of fifteen books. Writing Down the Bones, her first, has sold over one million copies and has been translated into nineteen languages. For the last forty years she has practiced Zen and taught workshops in writing as a spiritual practice. She lives in New Mexico.