Many consider Yogacara to be the pinnacle in the development of Buddhist philosophical and psychological thought in India and the basis of the Buddhist meditative tradition. It posits that it is our mind or consciousness that constructs our reality, not the events of the ‘external world’. Although the meaning we give to events and our emotional responses to life are all arising in our minds, we mistakenly believe that our thoughts and beliefs about life are the same as life itself.
The profound psychology of Yogacara is based on viewing the mind as having eight levels, involving the six sensory consciousness, the sense of a self consciousness, and the storehouse consciousness. Our life experiences are patterned on our deep attachment to the largely unobserved self/ego, which constantly contaminates our experiences and creates an endless flow of misperceptions. As well, through ignorance we continue to water unwholesome seeds of suffering in the storehouse consciousness, rather than watering wholesome seeds which bring happiness.
In this workshop, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner will offer teachings, meditations and analytical reflections from the Yogacara methodology intended to uproot distorted views and endless mental and emotional projects so we can see things as they really are and wake up. Transformation and freedom is the heart of Yogacara. This workshop will meet the needs for both laypeople and professionals to deepen their understanding of the basic tenets of Buddhist psychology.
Workshop Instructor
Fred Eppsteiner has been a student of the psychology of Buddhist meditation for over 40 years, and was a psychotherapist for more than 30 years. He has trained extensively in the Buddhist meditative traditions the U.S. and Asia. He received permission to teach from Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and is the editor of two books: The Path of Compassion and Interbeing.
* 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.
