Twenty-six hundred years ago, the Buddha’s teachings showed that the way in which people think and behave contribute to their happiness or unhappiness. He also laid out the means by which negative patterns can be changed and positive ones encouraged. These teachings are the core of Buddhist psychology. While subsequent generations of Buddhists have developed them further, the essence of Buddhist psychology remains the same. Deceptively simple on the surface, it offers not only a deep understanding of human behavior, but also an effective means of change.
In this workshop, following a general overview of Buddhist psychology, we will explore:
- how it is a positive psychology, seeing all beings as intrinsically pure or unmarred and having the goal of increasing personal happiness;
- how our misunderstanding of the nature of reality is the root of our suffering; and
- how the teachings help us identify and transform problematic habits of the mind
This workshop will meet the needs for both laypeople and professionals to deepen their understanding of the basic tenets of Buddhist psychology.
Workshop Instructors
Diane Powell, Ph.D., became a student and practitioner of the Dharma after attending a Thich Nhat Hanh retreat in Key West in 1997. As a long-time member of the Florida Community of Mindfulness, she teaches workshops and classes on a variety of mindfulness topics, serves as a mentor to new members, presents regularly at FCM sanghas, and assists with organizing FCM’s Dharma programs. Before retiring, Diane was a faculty member in Child and Family Studies at the University of South Florida, where her work focused on research, training, program development and policy analysis in early childhood development and family support.
Sharon Miller, Ph.D., is a member of the Florida Community of Mindfulness and a student of Buddhism. Previously Director of Family Psychiatry at the University of South Florida, she is now in private practice. She finds the clinical application of Buddhist psychology invaluable.
* Florida Community of Mindfulness, Inc. is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling to provide continuing education credits through CE Provider # 50-14766. Total in-class time is 4 hours.
Mindfulness Institute Grievance Procedure
Mail a statement describing your complaint to: Director of Continuing Education, 6501 N. Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, FL 33604.
Questions? E-mail us at info@floridamindfulness.org or call 813-237-0746.
