For millennia, Buddhist traditions have considered compassion an integral component in support of awakening. Contemporary scientific research offers modern practitioners new insight into how compassion emerges in the mind and the brain and how it affects our nervous system, physiology and the body. In this course we will investigate some of the findings of recent research and explore their relevance and importance for our practice by a close comparison with various teachings from the Pali canon and Tibetan sources (eg. Shantideva). By sitting with these traditional inspirations, we will directly correlate our personal meditation practice with the insights gained from modern scientific exploration. This program will be taught primarily by Diego Hangartner. Bhikkhu Analayo will be offering guided meditations on Friday and Saturday mornings. In addition, he will be available for a question and answer period on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Learning Intentions:
To become familiar with compassion practices from traditional Buddhist sources; understand the importance of combining traditional compassion training methods with modern approaches to compassion (such as self-compassion); and how to differentiate compassion and empathy.
Experience Level:
Some meditation and retreat experience suggested
Lottery closes July 15, 2019
Link to Lottery course details
