His Holiness the Dalai Lama often says, “We all want happiness, and want to avoid suffering.” What is happiness? What can we do to increase our happiness? What are some of the disturbing emotions that stand in the way of our happiness, and how do we deal with them?
The Buddhist approach to working with disturbing emotions involves first becoming aware of the emotions we are feeling, using mindfulness, and then transforming them by applying the understanding of the nature of emotions presented in the Buddha’s teachings.
The field of positive psychology describes strategies for increasing our happiness that sound just like the techniques Lord Buddha taught 2500 years ago. Psychologists have shown that increasing our gratitude, compassion, loving-kindness, forgiveness, mindfulness and empathy increase our happiness.
In this two-part series, we will explore the interface between the ideas of positive psychology and the Buddhist contemplative methods that increase our sense of well-being, meaning and purpose and deal with our disturbing emotions.
On the first day, we will discuss the meaning of happiness and the practices that lead to its cultivation, the role of emotions in our own lives and in our relationships with others, and the definition of emotions.
On the second day, we will investigate the following questions: Why do some of us experience anger so frequently? What is the function of anger? Are there any unique perspectives that can help us manage our anger mindfully? Is there such a thing as constructive anger, or is anger always destructive?
Join us to investigate these questions with an exploration that will include discourse, discussion, and a guided meditation session. This session is suitable for new students as well as experienced students wishing to deepen their practice.
ABOUT VENERABLE CHOGKYI
Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi (she/her) is a Buddhist monastic, activist, and popular Buddhist retreat leader and teacher. She loves bridging the worlds of Buddhist thought, current events, and the latest research in the field of positive psychology. She is passionate about social justice, and has taught in prisons in the US, Colombia, Australia, and New Zealand. She is also a certified teacher of Compassion Cultivation Training and the Cultivating Emotional Balance program. She is currently based at on traditional Awaswas Ohlone land in what is now known as Santa Cruz, CA.
EVENT RECORDINGS
Day 1:
Day 2:
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INSTAGRAM: @unlockingtruehappiness