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Dukkha of anxiety
Working with the dukkha of intense anxiety and panic attacks led me to meditation. At University I was offered CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to help with this but declined this as it seemed too much like being clinically reprogrammed. At … Continue reading →
Departure and integrated return? A personal investigation of the relationship between Zen practice and psychology
I came to monastic training after 20 years working in the British National Health Service as a clinical psychologist/psychotherapist. During half this time I was also practicing within our tradition of Sōtō Zen and often found myself contemplating the seeming … Continue reading →
Reflections on practice while on retreat in the US
In the winter of 2016 I arrived in the US and stayed with the Shasta Abbey community for nine months. During my stay I was offered the opportunity to spend some time at one of the hermitages, to explore and … Continue reading →
The most imperfect ring-down
Anyone who has experienced intense anxiety in the form of panic attacks will know how this manifests: the racing heartbeat, hands shaking, difficulty breathing and speaking. As a lay trainee I train with a meditation practice; it is private and … Continue reading →
Training with depression and other mental health issues
When we have been training for some time and we find that we are still contending with a condition like depression, we may feel a sense of failure or inadequacy and doubts may arise, either about the practice or our … Continue reading →
An odyssey through depression (Part 1)
Here I address training with depression from a point of view of pure meditation (serene reflection meditation). Depression can appear to be the supreme obstacle to meditation practice and Buddhist training. Serious depression distorts our perceptions, confuses our thinking, and … Continue reading →