The Buddha taught that our suffering comes from within the Mind, as does our healing and peace. Others have said happiness is an inside job. Meditation and mindfulness are the practices we can use to work with our suffering and heal from within.

Many people have endured traumatic experiences through their lives, psychologically and physically. For some it’s what occurred in their childhood, for others through the course of their work or livelihood and others seemingly random and unexplained events. The effects of being traumatised can arise from one singular encounter or from the repeated experience of enduring one’s own suffering or witnessing the suffering and harm of others.

For many these experiences become stuck in their thoughts and emotions, wounding their personality and harming their ability to function and maintain relationships and preventing them from being able to enjoy life or feel safe. For some it is like being in a continual state of trauma as these past experiences without warning intrude on one’s mind. For others it is the destructive patterns that unravel their life, often unconsciously as result of damage done to their sense of self.

This workshop will incorporate meditation and mindfulness techniques from the beginning along with some information on the types of impact physical and psychological shock can have on the way the brain works and how meditation and the practice of mindfulness can be of benefit and help heal the mind. Participants will be guided through different meditation techniques incorporating Tibetan singing/healing bowls to hopefully identify a practice or pathway that will lead you to calming the mind and being at peace.

This workshop is by donation but please book ahead as it is limited to 15 people only [first come first serve] and please contact the library if you wish to discuss any aspects of this workshop and what will be involved.

https://buddhistlibrary.org.au/events/workshop-using-mindfulness-and-meditation-to-calm-the-traumatised-mind-2/

Teacher Profile:

Giles Barton commenced his regular practice of meditation in 1992 and has taken part in many weekend and ten day retreats with well known local and international monks including two three month silent retreats at Bodhinyana  monastery with Ajahn Brahm in 2000 and 2003. He has been a regular teacher at the Buddhist library for the last ten years and has also been active in supporting Buddhist communities in NSW. In addition to facilitating a number of retreats for young people and adults he has presented at the 2000 Australian Suicide prevention conference on a Buddhist approach to suicide prevention and contributed a chapter in 2007 to the book  ‘Spirited Practices’  based on people’s use of their  spirituality in the helping professions.  He commenced working with children and their families in the oncology unit at the old Royal Alexander  Children’s hospital in Camperdown in 1989, in which time he also commenced volunteer work with teenagers with Cancer (CanTeen) and served on both the state committee and was a member of the National Board from 1992-1995.  After leaving the Children’s hospital he went on to specialise in Child & Adolescent psychiatry and continues to work in the field on Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental health as a Clinical coordinator for inpatient and community services for the local health district  where there is an increasing emphasis on trauma informed interventions. He has a post graduate diploma in child and adolescent development and Masters in Behavioural Science (Distinction) for research into adolescent spirituality.

All Sessions by Donation (Dana) to the Buddhist Library. All donations to the Buddhist Library of $2 and over are tax deductible.

Dana is the traditional practice of generosity, the extending of one’s goodwill, which is fundamental to Buddhism and other spiritual traditions. The instructions and guidance for this course are offered without requesting a fee and it is up to individuals to determine the amount of dana they would like to offer. It can sometimes be easy to become confused when we are new to this and we wonder “how much should I give?” This is a relevant question in the material economy but an appropriate dana cannot be prescribed but requires sensitivity to its intent and awareness of the costs and expenses associated with organising a course.