Embracing the Energy of Emotions: Accessing the Abhidharma
July 19 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm MDT
$125.00 – $250.00
3-Part Course: July 19, August 16, & September 20, 2025
Each class meets for 3 hours, 10 AM to 1 PM MT
Location: Online, Zoom
Audience: All Are Welcome
In these times of tumult and ongoing uncertainty in our world today, it is easy to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or even numb and disconnected. In Karuna Training, we learn how all emotions are a vehicle to a path of awakening our innate wisdom. In this course, we will begin by exploring the Buddhist definition and mechanism of ego with an emphasis on understanding the mind. We will also explore what emotion is from a Contemplative Psychology perspective and how we can feel feelings fully and directly as energy. We will also learn Karuna practices to be with the intensity of the energy of our emotions to cultivate the capacity to remain present and open in these challenging times.
The Abhidharma is a collection of ancient Buddhist texts dating back to the 3rd century BCE and onwards. These teachings become the backbone of Contemplative Psychology and provide the building blocks of how to integrate dharmic teachings into your daily life and relationships. Karuna Training specializes in making these profound teachings accessible, applicable to everyday encounters and dilemmas, and an asset in cultivating deep trust in one’s own and others’ basic sanity and the sacredness of community.
Course Content:
- Saturday, July 19, 2025
- Ego and Egolessness: Contemplative psychology defines ego as understanding the mind, the skandhas operating system, and the ego's development.
- Saturday, August 16, 2025
- Emotions and Realms: Introduction to the six realms and corresponding emotions and energies. Introduction to Embodiment practice of the Four-Step Process.
- Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Transmuting Realms in Everyday Life: Correlating the Six Realms to the Five Buddha Families Mandala and learning to lean into extreme emotions with curiosity and Maitri (loving - kindness)
What to expect:
- Guided Meditation each class
- Talks and experiential work on topics
- Two Continuity Groups for 1.5 hours between course meetings time and date TBD
- Readings and Study, Karuna Circle Online
- Readings and study questions; study buddy from cohort; Karuna Online Circle for discussion on private cohort channel.
Taught by Miriam Hall and Naoko
Miriam Hall, is one of the lead faculty for Karuna Training. In addition to being on faculty for the next cohort for Karuna Training, she presents groups and classes through her business, Herspiral Arts, where she focuses on the mediums of writing and photography combined with social justice and dharma. You can find her online at herspiral.com.
Naoko is on the core faculty for Karuna Training. She grew up as a Buddhist in Japan but began a formal meditation practice in 2007. She is committed to creating and holding space for collective liberation and has been facilitating a group called Racial Justice & Dharma which she finds the most challenging and rewarding work.