Learning Objectives
- Learn mindfulness-awareness meditation in the context of working with oneself and how it applies to working with others
- Participate in a supportive in person and online learning community that meets in seminars and small groups over a two-year period
- Study selected readings in contemplative psychology
- Learn and facilitate the method of Body, Speech and Mind group
- Learn several compassion-based methods for application to relationships and work with others
- Learn to work with emotions in terms of confusion and sanity
- Experience Maitri Space Awareness practice in retreat as an exploration of elemental and emotional energies, and how confusion can be transformed into wisdom
- Receive continuing education (CEUs) units
- Receive certification in Contemplative Psychology
Karuna Training Phase 1—Personal Process
Seminar 1: Confidence in Basic Sanity | 3 days & 1 evening
Seminar 2: Ego from the Perspective of Contemplative Psychology | weekend
Seminar 3: Working with Emotions | weekend
Seminar 4: Exploration of Energy in Contemplative Psychology | Residential retreat: 7 days, 6 nights
Phase includes 12 hours of regional continuity groups
122 hours total training
Karuna Training Phase 2—Compassionate Exchange – Working Skillfully with Others
Seminar 5: Development of Compassionate Presence | weekend
Seminar 6: Deepening Week 2: Exploration of Energy in Communication | Urban retreat: 7 days, 6 nights
Seminar 7: Compassionate Presence 2 | weekend
Phase includes 12 hours of regional continuity groups
96 hours total training
Karuna Training Phase 3—Engaged Compassion Project with Mentoring
Seminar 8: Mentoring | 1 day
Seminar 9: Deepening Week 3: Exploration of Energy in Working with others | Residential retreat: 7 days, 6 nights
Karuna Project Practicum | 5 hours of working in compassionate exchange with another person, 4 hours individual mentoring
Seminar 10: Graduation/Certification | 3 days & 1 evening
Phase includes 12 hours of regional continuity groups
91 hours total training
309 Total Training hours for all phases
Teaching and Study Themes
- Basic Sanity and Intrinsic Health
- The three marks of existence
- Maitri and Loving Kindness
- Impermanence and interconnectedness
- Recognizing ego and habitual patterns of security
- Learning what emotions are and how to work with emotions
- Understanding the six realms as temporary displays of confusion
- Understanding burnout
- Understanding container, creating safe spaces
- The Five Buddha Families as a means for understanding the wisdom of emotions
- The power of the heart, Absolute and Relative Bodhicitta
- Exchanging self with others as experience of mutual recovery
- Compassionate Exchange and methods of listening deeply from the heart
- The Four Bones in Space
Skillful Methods
- Shamatha Vipashyana Meditation
- Equanimity Practice
- Mindfulness as a 4 step practice
- Body Speech Mind groups
- Forming a community, monthly regional continuity groups
- Compassionate Exchange
- Process groups – learning to speak the microscopic truth
- Meetings with a Karuna Mentor
- Experiential exercises, journaling and creative processes and activities
- Movement and body awareness
- Maitri Space Awareness practice in retreat
- How to give/receive feedback to shine the jewel in others
- Tonglen and Bodhichitta Exercises
- The Four Bones: Engagement, Discriminating, Mutual Agreement & Transition
- Application of learning through a personal practicum with peer and mentor support
- Presentations of practicum and Karuna learning in final weekend
