Tag Archive for: Matt Russell

06/01/2023 “Does Anger Always Lead to Suffering?” with Matt Russell

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Anger gets a bad rap in Buddhism.

8th-century Buddhist scholar Shantideva described anger as the most extreme negative force. Buddhist psychology identifies anger as a detrimental emotional state that clouds the mind and causes suffering. In the Theravada tradition, we practice loving-kindness and compassion as antidotes to anger.

Yet, there is ample modern research showing that suppression of anger heightens stress response and leads to poor health outcomes. According to this science, being a nice Buddhist who never gets angry might be bad for your health!

So what’s the deal with anger? Does anger always lead to suffering? Can anger be healthy or even skillful? Does fully feeling anger lead to its resolution? Or to getting better at being angry?

This talk will revisit the question of how to cultivate a skillful relationship with this tricky and seemingly inescapable aspect of being human.

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08/01/2019 “MBSR and Secular Mindfulness” with Matt Russell

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This talk provided an introduction to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in anticipation of the 8-week MBSR course which will be offered at SIM beginning August 21, 2019. This recorded presentation should be of interest both for individuals considering participating in the MBSR course, as well as those interested in the place of secular mindfulness in contemporary culture and its connections with Buddhism.
We are aware that this audio recording is incomplete and ended abruptly. If you’re interested, there is another more complete recording from the introduction session offered last year: click here.

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06/13/2019 “Psychedelics and Buddhism…” with Matt Russell

Psychedelics and Buddhism: Hindrance or Skillful Means?

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You may have heard, there is a “new science of psychedelics” and major studies are showing that these substances, when properly used, can help relieve human suffering, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. Some proponents claim that psychedelics have the potential to revolutionize health care as well as our understanding of the mind.
Psychedelics and Buddhism have a long, if seldom discussed, overlapping history in this country that continues into the present day.
This talk will offer an inquiry into the implications of the current state of “psychedelic science” on dharma practitioners, exploring the possibilities as well as the potential dangers and perils.
We will inquire into topics such as: psychedelics and the 5th precept, the impact of psychedelics on the formation of the Dharma in the West, academic research into the effects of psilocybin on the brains of long term meditators, the current landscape of contemporary dharma teachers and practitioners who integrate psychedelic use into their dharma practice, how we might think about psychedelics in the context of addiction and recovery.

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10/25/2018 “Dharma and Psychotherapy” with Matt Russell

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Can dharma practice heal psychological wounding? Or can psychotherapy help us grow in ways that may not possible with the dharma alone? This talk will look at dharma and psychotherapy as two separate but complementary practices in the service of liberation.

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08/02/2018 “Introduction to MBSR” with Matt Russell

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This is an introduction to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in anticipation of the 8-week MBSR course which will be offered at SIM starting September 2018. Designed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979, MBSR is an integrative and scientifically validated approach that combines mindfulness practices with group processing and psycho-education around stress. MBSR helps participants mobilize their inner resources to alleviate suffering associated with chronic pain and illness, as well as conditions such as anxiety, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems and the stresses of everyday life. This work was featured in Bill Moyers’ television special, “Healing and the Mind” in a dated but still compelling piece.

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