Buddhist psychology is often described as a science of mind. It’s practical and experiential, and it offers a framework for understanding the mind, emotion, and behavior in the midst of changing life circumstances. This program provides an educational overview of key concepts from Buddhist psychology and examines how these concepts relate to contemporary discussions of mental health, well-being, and mindfulness-based approaches.

When we forget, we move through life lost in a small perspective, limited by our conditioning: individuals may experience heightened stress, emotional reactivity, or habitual patterns of thought that affect well-being. At times, this can lead to a diminished sense of ease or balance. There are possibilities of being open, gracious, wise, more loving, and more compassionate. There are possibilities for cultivating a more flexible and present-centered way of relating to experience, where we are less caught in the fears, history, and troubles of the past.

Buddhist psychology offers new ways of understanding experience and introduces practices traditionally used to cultivate awareness, compassion, and intention. These perspectives can inform how one relates to experience in both personal and professional contexts. If you are new to Buddhist teachings and meditation has seemed foreign to you, you will learn that meditation is quite natural. Simply directing your attention in a careful, considered way is the beginning. If you are someone more experienced in Buddhist practice, this course may challenge you with entirely new ways of envisioning and practicing the path of greater flexibility in relating to our conditioned way of being.