Anxiety, Depression & Addiction: Buddhist Psychological Insights for Mental & Spiritual Health for Modern World

In his earliest teachings, the Buddha put forth an Eight Fold Prescription for mental and spiritual health. The most spiritual of the world’s psychologies and the most psychological of the world’s religions, Buddhism can best be approached as a set of treatments for mental and emotional dis-ease.

At the heart of the Buddha’s method lies a strategy of changing one’s relationship with one’s inner voice. In anxiety, depression and addiction, the inner voice is accustomed to being in charge. Buddhism seeks to undermine the control habit of the inner voice by creating critical distance from its dictates through mindfulness and critical inquiry (vipassana). This critical distance, when learned, can be a powerful complement to other forms of therapy and can sometimes be a treatment in its own right.

Throughout the weekend we will teach, discuss, question and practice elements of the Buddhist approach.

Comparisons will be proposed to contemporary trends in Western psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Meditation instruction and time for silent reflection will be offered and relevant teachings from Buddhist philosophy will be described.

12-Step Meetings at Menla

Menla will be sponsoring two open 12-step meetings for anyone actively recovering from, or interested in recovering from, alcohol, drugs, and other addictions. A topic or short reading will be chosen to start the meeting, followed by round-robin sharing. Prior attendance of 12-step meetings not required—open to all with an open mind!  

We will also offer a one hour discussion-based introduction to 12-step recovery, with Q&A, for those not aware of what 12-step programs are and how they work.  (All meetings will be held in the Tara Sanctuary)

Schedule

Friday August 18th

3 – 8pm Check- in
6 – 7pm Dinner
7:15 Welcome Program (Nalanda Conference Center) 

Saturday August 19th

7 – 8am Open 12-Step Meeting (Tara Sanctuary)
7 – 8am Tibetan Nejang Longevity Yoga (Nalanda Conference Center)
8 – 9am Breakfast
9:30 – 12pm Program (Nalanda Conference Center)
12 – 1pm Lunch
1 – 2pm Spirituality and Addiction: Intro to 12-Step Recovery (Tara Sanctuary)
2 – 4pm Free time for Spa Treatments, Hiking
2:30 – 4pm Qi Gong with Paul Bloom (Nalanda Conference Center Yoga Studio)
4 – 6pm Program (Nalanda Conference Center)
6 – 7pm Dinner
7:30pm Program (Nalanda Conference Center) 

Sunday August 20th

7 – 8am Open 12-Step Meeting (Tara Sanctuary)
7 – 8am Tibetan Nejang Longevity Yoga (Nalanda Conference Center)
8 – 9am Breakfast
9:30 – 12pm Closing Program (Nalanda Conference Center)
12 – 1pm Lunch and Departure 

Note: Schedule is subject to change at anytime

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CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Resource Center (SCRC) which is co-sponsoring this program. SCRC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SCRC maintains responsibility for the program and its content. SCRC is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association. For questions about CE, visit www.spiritualcompetency.com or contact David Lukoff, PhD at CE@spiritualcompetency.com.    

• Please check with your state licensing organization as to the acceptance of the above credits.

***Please check with your state licensing organization as to the acceptance of the above credits. If 14 CE’s are desired, additional cost is $35 by check payable to “SCRC” at the event. Participants must attend all sessions, starting at 7:30 pm Aug 18 2017, to receive 14 hours of credit. No partial credit will be given. Partial credit is not available for those who miss any of the registered times***