Whether you are new to Buddhism or have been practicing for a while, it is likely you approach your practice and study with unrecognized assumptions about the mind that distort your understanding.  Furthermore, if you are a therapist working with clients that meditate or are exploring Buddhism, you may have questions about what Buddhism is all about, and what is really going on in that meditation hall.

In this course we will examine the basic assumptions, methods and goals of both psychoanalytic therapy and Buddhist practice.  You will learn about the origins and development of both traditions, and what a participant may expect to gain from engaging in either approach.  You will gain a greater appreciation of how Buddhist practice and psychodynamic therapy can complement each other, and where points of tension exist between them.  Additionally, each class will end with a brief meditative practice, different each week, that you can continue to practice on your own, and which can serve as an introduction to meditation for those new to it.

Who this course is for

• Anyone interested in mind and meditation who has never taken the time to really clarify the fundamental differences between the Buddhist and the contemporary view of the mind 
• Anyone interested in psychological development who has not looked at the Asian wisdom traditions 
• Any psychological clinician who wants to understand more about what meditation and Buddhist practice can offer their clients, and how it can be easily misused to avoid important therapeutic work.

What you will gain

• A fresh understanding of the sources stress in modern life
• Insights into our current epidemic of alienation and disengagement and what approaches exist to develop deep and lasting emotional stability
• Learning how to the view and aim of Buddhist practice can avoid time and effort wasted, whether that effort is on the meditation cushion or in the consulting room.
• Seeing when external help can really help in on a spiritual path