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

In his earliest teachings, the Buddha put forth an Eightfold 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 class, 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. There are no dues or fees).

Schedule

Friday, August 19th

3 – 8 pm: Check in

6 – 7 pm: Dinner

7:30 pm: Welcome Program (Nalanda Conference Center) 

Saturday, August 20th

7 – 8 am: Open 12-Step Meeting (Tara Sanctuary)

7 – 8 am: Tibetan Nejang Longevity Yoga (Nalanda Conference Center) 

8 – 9 am: Breakfast

9:30 – 12 pm: Program (Nalanda Conference Center) 

12 – 1 pm: Lunch

1– 2pm: Spirituality and Addiction: Intro to 12-Step Recovery (Tara Sanctuary)

2 – 4 pm: Free time for Spa Treatments, Hiking

4 – 6 pm: Program (Nalanda Conference Center) 

6 – 7 pm: Dinner

7:30 pm: Program (Nalanda Conference Center) 

Sunday, August 21st

7 – 8 am: Open 12-Step Meeting (Tara Sanctuary)

7 – 8 am: Tibetan Nejang Longevity Yoga (Nalanda Conference Center) 

8 – 9 am: Breakfast

9:30 – 12 pm: Closing Program (Nalanda Conference Center) 

12 – 1 pm: Lunch and Departure 

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12 hours of CE for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Resource Center which is co-sponsoring this program. Spiritual Competency Resource Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Spiritual Competency Resource Center maintains responsibility for theprogram and its content.SCRC is a California Board of Registered Nursing Provider (BRN Provider CEP11909). California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for license renewal by LCSWs and MFTs for programs from approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.

For questions about CE visitwww.spiritualcompetency.com or contactDavid Lukoff, PhD atdavid.lukoff@gmail.com