The Three Refuges, and The Four Immeasureables; an Exploration of these Essential Buddhist teachings; how they inform and support the MBSR Curriculum in the Modern World
Speaker: Beth Mulligan, PA-C; Hugh O'Neill
Format: ?

This experiential institute is appropriate for people currently teaching MBI's and those new to MBI's, with an interest in some of the Buddhist origins.

The traditional Buddhist teachings on the Three Refuges and the Four Divine Abodes will be presented in a didactic format. The remainder of the day will be spent in exploring these, through guided reflection, practice, and small and large group discussion. We will demonstrate the way these foundational teachings emerge without being overtly or explicitly taught. Participants will develop the skills of awareness of MBSR as refuge in the already awake and whole individual, (Buddha), the wisdom that emerges out of the participants' and teachers' direct experience with the practices, (Dharma) and the safe container of the classroom community, (Sangha).

In describing the Four Immeasureables, participants will deepen their understanding of and enhance the skills of bringing- Loving Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity to the formal and informal practices. We'll demonstrate that when embodied by the teacher through their non- judgmental presence and inquiry and the importance of precisely languaging the meditation instructions, these vital teachings emerge organically in the MB classroom. With the ever growing popularity of Mindfulness, the purpose of this institute is to foster an understanding of the origins and preserve the integrity of MBSR and to differentiate the training of bare clinical attention from the kind, and compassionate awareness that is essential to the efficacy of Mindfulness Based Interventions.