Buddhist Studies at IDP

The Buddhist Studies program at Interdependence Project offers you a strong and accessible foundation in Buddhist meditation, psychology, philosophy, and ethics from a secular perspective, inclusive of multiple traditions and bodies of teaching. The program is composed of a diverse series of weekly courses, combined with four weekend meditation retreats, taught by thoroughly knowledgeable and well-trained contemporary teachers. Our programs are designed for those interested in applying Buddhist teachings to 21st century lives, including a particular interest in the growing conversation between Buddhist and Western psychological traditions.

We offer our curriculum free from the commitments or rituals of any particular Buddhist lineage, yet we view completion of our Buddhist Studies program as a viable doorway to deeper study and practice in one of the traditions with which we have affiliations (Shambhala, Zen, Insight/Theravada, and Tibetan). Our senior teachers and lineage mentors are all certified in traditional lineages of Buddhist philosophy and psychology.

Our Buddhist Studies program can be completed in as little as a year of focused participation, or you can go at your own pace. You can start any time by coming to any class or retreat that begins with the heading "Buddhist Studies" or "Buddhism and Psychology."

Completing the program can lead you onward into deeper Buddhist study and practice. Or it can just give you great tools and practices for sanity and wellbeing.

Completing the program is one - but not the only - prerequisit for our inaugural 2011 Facilitator Training (more info coming soon).

Requirements for completing the IDP Buddhist Studies program are simple:

* Attendance at a total of 40 weekly Buddhist Studies class sessions (with at least one of our basic series, and four weeks of "Buddhism and Psychology")
* Completion of 4 Full Weekend Meditation/Study Retreats (New! First Retreat June 18-20: http://theidproject.org/events/2010/06/18/buddhist-studies-weekend-retreat)
* One Day-long Arts Retreat (Next Retreat July 10 with Barbara Bash - http://theidproject.org/events/2010/07/10/stroke-compassion, or August 6-7 with Arawana Hayashi)

The Four Weekend Retreats are:

* Metta and Tonglen: Love and Compassion (offered June 18-20, 2010 - please register soon - already half full! - expected to be full. more info: http://theidproject.org/events/2010/06/18/buddhist-studies-weekend-retreat)
* Four Types of Mindfulness (offered September 2010, also credit can be received if you attended the July 2009 weekend retreat)
* Understanding Karma (offered Jan 2011, also credit can be received if you attended the Feb 2010 weekend retreat)
* Experiencing Emptiness (offered March 2011)

Each Weekend Retreat will be offered at IDP NYC to begin with, led by Founder Ethan Nichtern for at least the first cycle of the program, and will include a Friday Night Session (7-9pm), an all day Saturday session (10am-6pm with lunch break) and a Sunday Morning Session (10am-1:30pm, leaving you free to enjoy Sunday afternoon). They do not have to be taken in any order, although it is not recommended to begin with the Emptiness Retreat.
Note: If there is sufficient interest in having retreats each more than once a year, we will add more to the schedule.

If you know you are interested in applying or hearing more about our 2011 Facilitator training (Six Weekends beginning in February 2011), please email us directly. There will be a formal application process beginning in July, but we are currently gauging interest. With any questions about this new development in our curriculum, please also feel free to be in touch, via email or via phone: 917-675-7151.

See you soon in class!