BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY

In order to free ourselves from deeply ingrained patterns of confusion that lead to unnecessary pain and suffering, the Buddhist tradition offers a comprehensive philosophical system that examines in great detail how our mind works - including our psychological habits, mental fixations, and emotional tendencies. This in depth study of the architecture of the mind is called Abhidharma.

These teachings provide a systematic and nuanced map of how our consciousness operates - including how thoughts, emotions, feelings, sensations, and sense perceptions all come to arise and manifest in our moment-by-moment experience, shaping how we understand and perceive our world. 

This rich tradition of Buddhist psychology has been studied by teachers and practitioners alike for over two millennia and it continues to be a vital guide for investigating the workings of the mind and the various states of human consciousness.

Developing our understanding of Abhidharma can inform and enhance our meditation practice - and our lives as a whole including:

• Building a comprehensive and clarified framework for relating to thoughts and emotions
• Recognizing areas of mental and emotional “stuckness” and learning to move beyond them
• Developing an overview of the various states of consciousness and how to relate more cohesively to our everyday reality 
• Enhancing our awareness of our moment-to-moment experience as it unfolds

Through this process, we can reconnect with our natural sanity, health, and wholesomeness of mind, uprooting unnecessary psychological distress due to habitual confusion about how our mind actually operates. 

In addition to the Abhidharma teachings as the core presentation of this course, we will also explore key topics related to Buddhist psychology including neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and therapy as it relates to meditation practice.

This training is essential for teachers-in-training and more experienced teachers who are actively working with students - so you can skillfully guide and support them as they progress through the different stages of their meditation practice. The training is also suitable for practitioners looking to deepen their own understanding and practice.