Buddhist Psychology (I)

              The Mind, Consciousness & Well-being


Objectives: To gain an understanding of Buddhist psychology and utilize the teachings to enhance the quality of life

Course Contents:
  1. Healing yourself: how the mind creates problems: 2 kinds of pain; perception
  2. The conscious body: Mind body interbeing (the 5 aggregates & mental networking)
  3. The unconscious: Are we really in control, or How can our mind work for us?
  4. Minding the mind: Mental distractions and the nature of attention; consciousness
  5. The art of loving: Negative emotions & healing emotions; types of love
  6. Brain or mind? Neuroplasticity: how the mind grows the brain
  7. Don’t believe everything you think: Mental defences & emotional resilience
  8. Non-judgement day is here: Mindfulness in daily life: meditation on the move
  9. The still eye of the storm: The mind during meditation; cultivating a still centre
  10. Ancient wisdom, modern science: Scientific developments in Buddhist Psychology

***

Buddhist Psychology (II)

             Studies in the Abhidhamma



Course Description: The Abhidhamma represents the coalescence of early Buddhist thought regarding the nature of reality and our experience of it. Emphasis will be on the arising, abiding and cessation of mind states and the cognitive processes that lead to delusion and enlightenment. This course is an overview and in no means an in-depth study of the Abhidhamma, that would take years. The topics and their subdivisions represent the major headings and will be lightly touched upon and not thoroughly researched.


Topic One:
  • Introduction to the Higher Teachings 
  • Realities 
  • The Four Paramatthas 
  • Nama and Rupa 
  • The Purpose of Ultimate Analysis (MN 1) 

Topic Two:
  • Citta: Consciousness of the senses 
  • Awareness of objects 
  • Unskillful and Skilful Consciousness 

Topic Three:
  • Cetasikas: Mental Factors 
  • Characteristics 
  • Cetana: regulator of function and kamma 
  • Vitaka, Vicara, Vikalpa: linear thought, sustained thought and conceptualization 

Topic Four:
  • Vitthi: Chain of conscious 
  • Rebirth and transmigration 
  • Six types of conscious continuums 
  • Types of Bhavangha Cittas: the rebirth states of mind 
  • The simile of the mango fruit 

Topic Five:
  • Bhumi: Planes of Existence 
  • Four Planes of Existence, their situations and personae 
  • Four Types of Rebirth 
  • Methods of labeling experiential reality 
  • Life span of beings 
  • Four types of kamma 
  • At the event of death 

Topic Six:
  • Rupa: the Compendium of Matter 
  • Matter and energy 
  • Change and characteristics 
  • Fire in water, water in fire 
  • The causes of material phenomenon 

Topic Seven:
  • Samuccaya: the compendium of ultimate entities 
  • Four asavas, stains or defilements 
  • Four yogas and six hindrances 
  • Defilements and torments 
  • The root suffering of thirst 

Topic Eight:
  • Paccaya: Cause of Condition 
  • Dependent origination 
  • Cause of ignorance 
  • Kamma 


Instructor: Ven. Ṭhitañāṇo Bhikkhu or/and Ven. Piyaratana Walmoruwe
Date, time, venue, fees etc. - according to our agreement.

Course Materials to be provided by the Venerable.

Who should attend?
Health care professionals, social workers, care-givers, executives, clergy, managers, lecturers, teachers, parents, or anyone interested in the mind and mental health.

For more information, please send us an email: andrus.kahn@gmail.com