with Geoff Dawson
This seminar draws mainly on the ground-breaking research of Dr. Iain McGilchrist, psychiatrist, and Allan Schore, neuropsychologist, that demonstrates the primary role the right hemisphere of the brain has in understanding spiritual experience and emotional development. Together, they provide an evidence base for the practice of Buddhist-influenced psychotherapy that cultivates a healthy balance between the hemispheres.
It will also explore views put forward by McGilchrist that challenge the dominant left hemisphere mechanistic paradigms of western science and put forward alternative views that are more organic and right hemisphere orientated, and resonate with the Buddhist teachings of interdependent co-arising and the impermanent nature of life.
This will include a discussion of “the hard question” what is the nature of consciousness?
Finally, it will discuss how the three fundamentals of Buddhist practice, the cultivation of spiritual insight, serenity, and ethical conduct, can be understood in the light of the different functions of the right and left hemispheres.
Geoff Dawson (B.A. M.A.Ps.S) is a psychologist in private practice in North Sydney providing counselling and psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families. He also provides clinical supervision to other mental health professionals. He is a founding member of AABCAP and continues to teach on the Professional Training Course. Geoff is also a Zen Buddhist teacher in the lineage of the late Charlotte Joko Beck and is the teacher of the Ordinary Mind Zen School, Sydney and Melbourne. His most recent publication is Zen and the Mindfulness Industry published in the American Psychological Association journal, The Humanistic Psychologist (2021), edited by Dr. Belinda Khong.
Date / Time: Thursday 13 July 6:30-8:30pm AEST
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CIWMM
Venue: This is a hybrid event where registrants can attend in person at The Buddhist Library, 90-92 Church St, Camperdown NSW 2050 or online (Link available on registration)
