IDP Teacher Training and Yearlong Immersion
This training will be a rigorous cycle of practice, study, and both prepared and on-the-spot practice teaching of several different meditation practices originating from the Buddhist tradition, as well as the body of philosophical, psychological and ethical principles which form the backbone of those practices.
"IDP Teacher Training has been a way for me to significantly deepen my practice without withdrawing from my day to day life. The training provided me with support for my home practice, challenging exchange in my study and the experience of love within a sangha of incredible folks walking the path together." - Meredith Arena
The training serves three main functions:
1) To greatly deepen participantsʼ personal understanding and practice of Buddhist principles and meditative disciplines, and to give students confidence to frame these teachings in a fully secular manner which exists in conversation with, and in complement to, a wide range of contemporary fields. This training will undoubtedly serve to take participantsʼ own paths and connection with the Buddhist teachings to the next level and establish meditation practice firmly as a lifelong endeavor.
2) To give participants the tools, knowledge and confidence to apply contemplative and Buddhist principles to whatever work they do in the world (whether paid or volunteer), especially the work participants do in teaching, mentoring, or addressing the mental health of others.
3) To potentially authorize participants to begin the path of teaching within the Interdependence Project community. Note that while #s 1 and 2 are outcomes for all participants, the authorization to teach/facilitate for IDP and call oneself a Buddhist teacher or meditation instructor is not a guaranteed outcome of this training. One should enter the training with the point of view that humility is paramount, and that to greatly deepen oneʼs path as a student is reason enough to enter this training. After all, being a great student is the very essence of being a good teacher.
"As a yoga teacher, I have been in quite a few teacher training programs. IDP's TT has been an incredible experience in personal growth in that I am constantly challenged to step outside my comfort zone and not "cling to the shore". Integrating Buddhist studies with daily meditation practice has been an invaluable part of my life. The most important part of this whole process is that you are on this journey with loving, supportive and super fun friends. " - Kim Stetz
"Even if you have no desire to teach, I cannot say enough about how amazing this program is. It has profoundly changed my relationship to my practice." - Nomi Kleinman
"This program has enabled me to devise, structure, and present a dharma talk more effectively than I was able to in the past. The emphasis on peer feedback and mutual support is invaluable. There isn't anything else quite like the IDP Teachers Training program anywhere in the world and I consider myself very lucky to have been a part of it." - Lawrence Grecco
Download Application
More information is available on the application, which is available here
All applications for the 2012 Cycle are due by Jan. 15th, 2011
Please e-mail us if you are interested so we can gauge interest.
Application Fee: $40
Pay the application fee here or arrange with caroline@theidproject.org
Tuition:
$1400 Total (Including Application Fee)
Tuition Payable in Installments, see application for more details.
Retreat Dates
Teacher Training Weekend Retreats will take place on the following dates in 2012:
(Note: The dates of the retreats have changed since the intitial posting.)
Feb 24-26
Apr 13-15
June 8-10
Aug 3-5
Oct 12-14
Dec 14-16
Fridays 7-9pm, Saturdays 10am-6pm, Sundays 10am-3pm
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Program Requirements:
• Mandatory Attendance at 6 weekend retreats beginning February 2012 and proceeding through December, 2012. Dates listed above
• Two hour-long one-on-one sessions with Ethan during the training.
• Significant reading and weekly practice requirements.
• A final essay comparing the teaching styles of two Buddhist/mindfulness teachers from a pedagogical and experiential standpoint.
Prerequisites: (these should be fulfilled by June 30, 2012 - alternative credit accepted only under special conditions)
• Membership in the IDP (Global Membership or Above)
• A regular meditation practice of at least two years, preferably longer
• 40 Buddhist Studies classes attended at IDP
• 4 IDP Weekend Retreats attended (Mindfulnesses, Compassion, Karma & Psychology, Experiencing Emptiness) or equivalent (email Ethan Nichtern to ask questions about equivalent retreats)
• 1 day-long Arts retreat
• At least one week-long residential meditation retreat in a recognized practice lineage
•2 SHORT Letters of Recommendation: One From an IDP Community Member, Teacher or Leader (not Ethan Nichtern).
