Monday Nights with Shastri Ethan Nichtern & Special Guest Dr. Miles Neale

Note: This class is offered as a part of a six-week course titled "In Search of Self".  You don't have to be enrolled in the full course to attend -- it is open to all on a drop-in basis.

Note Dates Changed due to Hurricane Sandy: Six Monday Nights Nov 5 - Dec 10

Study-at-Home also available, click here to sign-up
 

The Buddhist teachings of the Mahayana ("Great Vehicle") tradition emphasize collective liberation realized within the matrix of relationships and worldly life.  This vast and optimistic vision, combined with pro-social training methods, enables us to meet the scale and immediacy of the world’s current economic, political, and ecological challenges.  Participation in this course will provide students with a training forum to reshape attitudes, interpersonal dynamics, and social structures based on non-dual wisdom and compassion.

Following the framework of the classic 12th century text, Seven Point Mind Training by Geshe Chekawa Yeshe Dorje (1101-1175), this six-class series will explore the essential theories and practices of the Mahayana tradition through the lenses of comparative philosophy, social theory, depth psychotherapy, and interpersonal neurobiology.  Discussion of emptiness, compassion, and turning adversity into the spiritual path, recollection of pithy slogans, and guided meditations on positive emotions will help us to begin to reverse self-centeredness and re-engage in traumatic relationships with the confidence and skill of black-belt martial artists.

Oct. 29:    Preliminaries: Reassuring the Terrified Inner Child

Nov. 5:     Main Practice - Part 1: Seeing the Interconnected Family

Nov. 12:   Main Practice - Part 2: Becoming a Loving Parent to All  

Nov. 19:   Practice in Everyday Life: Dealing with Stressed Out Children

Nov. 26:   Measurements and Commitments:  The Do’s and Do Not’s of Awakened Activity

Dec. 3:     Guidelines: Pledging to Transform the World

Co-Sponsored by Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science

Ethan Nichtern is a Shastri, a senior teacher, in the Shambhala tradition. He is the senior teacher in residence for the NYShambhala community as well as the Interdependence Project. He is the author of the novel Your Emoticons Won't Save Youand the nonfiction book One City: A Declaration of Interdependence. He is also the founder of the Interdependence Project, an organization dedicated to Buddhist-inspired meditation and psychology, transformational activism, mindful arts, and meaningful media. He teaches and lectures around the world and is based in New York City. More info: www.ethannichtern.com

Miles Neale, PsyD is assistant director of the Nalanda Institute, a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, and the Buddhism and Psychology lineage mentor of The Interdependence Project. A graduate of the California Institute for Integral Studies, Dr. Neale teaches public courses inspired by the Indo-Tibetan tradition and collaborates on state-of-the-art clinical research of meditation.



 

Drop-in Prices

$20 Per Class

$15 IDP Full Members

$10 IDP Sustaining Members

$5 IDP Endowing Members

FREE!  IDP Visionary Members (Click Here to learn more about Membership, and how much it supports our growing community)
 

Can't afford it? 

It is our full intention to accommodate the financial needs of anyone who has a genuine commitment to practice and study. Reduced-payment options and Work-Study are always available. Please contact marisa@theidproject.org to make alternative arrangements

Secular Buddhist Studies Program 

The Secular Buddhist Studies Program at the Interdependence Project offers a strong and accessible foundation in Buddhist meditation, psychology, philosophy, and ethics from a secular perspective, inclusive of multiple traditions and bodies of teaching. Interested in the Secular Buddhist Studies Program? Learn more here.

Image of Shakyamuni and the Eight Great Bodhisattvas  via Wikimedia Commons available under public domain.

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