Buddhist Perspectives in Clinical Practice

There is growing interest in Buddhist ideas of self, relationships, and society. This workshop brings together David Loy, who has made significant contributions to the understanding and relevance of Buddhist thought to western culture, and Michael Stone, a Toronto psychotherapist and teacher.

One way of understanding Buddhist teachings about the concept of self is that our constructed sense of ourselves is always haunted by a sense of lack. In reaction, money, fame, power, and romance/sex become vehicles to make ourselves (feel) more real. Yet nothing in the world can ever fill up the bottomless hole at our core. This is more than a personal problem as it goes to the heart of our clinical challenges and social imbalances. David Loy will present a detailed description of how to rethink our approach to many of our personal and collective symptoms of discontent. Interspersed with his presentation, Michael Stone will teach and engage in dialogue with Dr. Loy regarding this perspective and its relevance for clinicians. How do these ideas become concrete and useful in our practice? How does our clients’ “mental health” relate to the wider community/cultural context?

Case examples will be used to exemplify the usefulness of this approach to everyday clinical situations. You will learn —

David R. Loy, PhD, returned to the US in 2006 after 28 years in Asia, to become Besl Family Chair Professor of Ethics/Religion and Society at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Called “one of American Buddhism’s most interesting and original thinkers” by Shambhala Sun magazine, his books include Nonduality: A Study in Comparative Philosophy; Lack and Transcendence: The Problem of Death and Life in Psychotherapy, Existentialism and Buddhism; A Buddhist History of the West: Studies in Lack; and The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory. He is authorized as a teacher in the Sanbo Kyodan lineage.

Michael Stone, MA, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Toronto. He leads workshops in conference, academic, and clinical settings internationally. Michael has academic degrees in philosophy, religion, psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy, and has recently collaborated with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama on the intersection of Yoga, Buddhism, and psychotherapy. Michael runs the Mindfulness for Clinicians year-long study program for Leading Edge, and co-leads Centre of Gravity Sangha. His most recent book, The Inner Tradition of Yoga, will be published this spring. For more information, visit www.centreofgravity.org.