Know Your Own Mind: The Best of Buddhism and Psychotherapy

The interplay of Buddhism and Western psychology goes back at least a hundred years. The most spiritual of the world’s psychologies and the most psychological of the world’s religions, Buddhism teaches that the cultivation of self-awareness dispels ignorance about the nature of the self. By Freud’s time, much of the intelligentsia was at least marginally familiar with the outlines of Buddhist thought. A religion without a God, where Mind was considered the beginning, middle and end, was naturally of interest to those also drawn to psychoanalysis. In recent times, with mindfulness entering the therapeutic domain, the interplay between the two traditions has grown much more sophisticated. But the underlying psychology of Buddhist thought is still relatively obscure to those drawn to the meditative perspective.

This weekend’s workshop is designed to make Buddhist psychology more accessible. Over the past several decades, Bob Thurman and Mark Epstein have worked together to explain how the two traditions can complement and enhance each other. Topics to be discussed include (but are not limited to) the Buddhist psychology of Abhidharma (the chemistry of the mind), the path of insight, the central concept of emptiness (shunyata) and emptiness as the womb of compassion, the trauma of being alive, and meditation and re-parenting. Meditation instruction will be included.

Click Register Now above if you wish to register to attend in person at Menla. If you cannot attend in person and wish to join virtually/online, please click here to register for virtual participation.

Please note that 13 CE hours are being offered for this retreat for psychologists:

Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals

• CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by sponsors of CE who are approved by the American Psychological Association.
• LCSW, LPCC, LEP and LMFTs, and other professionals from outside of California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept credits from programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
• SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes. Nurses outside of California must confirm acceptance with their licensing boards.
• For questions about your certificate or the content, logistics, or other support issues regarding this course, please contact Liz Leacock at liz@menla.org.

For questions about whether APA CE is valid for you, contact your licensing board directly.

For general questions about APA CE, contact SCA at info@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.

Schedule

Friday, August 16

• 3 – 8 pm Arrival & Check-in
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 pm Welcome and Opening Class

Saturday, August 17

• 7 – 8 am Tibetan Nejang Yoga
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 – 12 pm Morning Class
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Treatments, Relaxation, etc.
• 2 – 3:30 pm Qi Gong Class
• 4 – 6 pm Afternoon Class
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 pm Evening Class

Sunday, August 18

• 7 – 11 am Check-out of Rooms
• 7 – 8 am Tibetan Nejang Yoga (CC Main Hall) or Qi Gong (Devi Room)
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 – 12 pm Closing Class
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.