We all experience having a particular identity which helps us navigate in the world--but that very sense of self is also a great source of suffering, as we cling to its wants and react to how others treat it. The Buddha taught that not-self was one of the three fundamental characteristics of existence, alongside impermanence and suffering -- but what he actually meant by that has been the subject of much discussion ever since.


In this workshop, we will examine 'self'--and its release--in light of Buddhism and modern brain science. These perspectives inform each other, and together they offer powerful and practical tools for deconstructing the apparent self. In this workshop, we will cover:

• Buddhist perspectives on the interconnectedness of all things,
  and thus the "emptiness" of any apparent thing;


• The four defining characteristics of the presumed "I";


• The absence of these characteristics in both your experience and your brain;


• Why the apparent "I" is not just "empty" but actually does not exist;


• Ways to fill the hole in the heart and thus reduce self-ing;


• Brain-savvy ways to relax the sense of self, take things less personally, feel more at peace with the world, and rest in the spacious awareness.



There will be plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion. No background in meditation or neuroscience is necessary.


Teachings are appropriate for individuals as well as health care professionals. Continuing Education (CE) credit available. See below for more information.

• Describe three attributes of the psychological self-presumed by Western psychology philosophy.


• Describe ways in which those three attributes are actually not present in the phenomenology of experience..


• Describe ways in which those three attributes are actually not present in the neural structures and processes that underlie representations of the presumed self in the brain.


• Teach clients two methods for relaxing the sense of self.

Online Bulletin Board for Ride Sharing

Online Registration for this event is available until 12 noon one business day before the event. If you can't attend, see our Cancellation Policy.

Even if you have been to Spirit Rock before, please review information about What to Bring to a Daylong. This link has useful information about what to wear, what to bring, how to get here, and more.

No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Limited Volunteer/Work Exchange opportunities, as well as scholarships, may be available for this program. If interested, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@spiritrock.org or (415) 488-0164 x224.

Carpooling requested for onsite parking.

Continuing Education (CE) Credit: 6 CE credits available for MFTs, LCSWs, psychologists and nurses from SRMC-SCRC for $30. Prepayment available on website. For more information, see Continuing Education (CE) Credit.