Bringing Wisdom, Empathy, and Skillful Speech to Differences and Conflicts (DR2M23)

Registration closes at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on October 14, 2023. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program. Continuing Education Credits? (see details below)

Description:
In our times, differences and conflicts seem increasingly pervasive in relationships, communities, workplaces, and social and political arenas. Given that these conflicts often lead to reactivity—which can then manifest in avoidance or acting out, frustration, anger, blaming, and/or withdrawal—how can we bring our practice to this area?

In our two days together, we will explore core principles and practices for working with difficult mental, emotional, and somatic states through engagement with meditation, empathy (which can co-exist with disagreement), and wise speech. We will be guided by a vision of non-dual “conflict transformation,” rooted in the Buddha’s Middle Way and the contemporary work of peacemakers.

Our hope is that we can better approach differences and conflicts as opportunities for learning, connection and reconciliation, steadiness, trust, and compassion. There will be silent practice, guided meditations, short talks, discussion, interactive exercises, and practicing with scenarios involving differences or conflicts.

General Schedule: (subject to change)
Saturday, October 14, 10:00am – 5:00pm
10:00am: Welcome and guided meditation
10:25am: Session #1
12:15pm: Session #2
1:00 – 2:00pm: Lunch
2:00pm: Session #3
3:40pm: Session #4
5:00pm: End of the day

Sunday, October 15, 10:00am – 5:00pm
10:00am: Check-ins, discussion
10:20am: Session #1
12:15pm: Session #2
1:00-2:00pm: Lunch
2:00pm: Guided meditation
2:20pm: Session #3
3:40pm: Session #4
5:00pm: End of the day

Online Only: We are offering this program online via Zoom for you to join us remotely.

Sliding Scale: Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports the teachers as well as Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners.

Benefactor – $600
Sustainer – $450
BASE – $250
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, M/K) – $50

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

*Recording Note: You will have ~90 days from the original program date to view the program. If you would like access to the recording, you must register by the deadline above. The recording will be available in ~10 days after the program.

Cancellation Policy – Online: Drop-ins, Daylongs, Multiday Programs (1-3 days), Family Programs/Series, CEC fees:

• NO REFUNDS
• Open Credit, or Donation to Spirit Rock = if cancel by midnight, the day prior to program start (Pacific Time)
• No Open Credit = if cancel day of the program, or beyond

Continuing Education (CE) credit available:
Important Note for CEC participants: If you are interested in receiving continuing education credits (CECs), you must register and pay for CECs prior to the start of the program (no retroactive CECs will be given) and you must attend the live program. Please review the CEC information below.

This program offers 12 CE credits for $120 for psychologists, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors. Please review our Continuing Education Credit information page to determine if your association or board will accept credits offered by Spirit Rock.***

Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals as well as the general public. This program is relevant to the work of healthcare providers as it explores the pervasive nature of differences and conflicts in various aspects of society. Healthcare providers can benefit from exploring core principles and practices including meditation, empathy, and wise speech to address interpersonal differences or disagreements or differences in views and perspectives, aiming for transformation and fostering learning, connection, and compassion in their practice. By incorporating these principles and practices into their work, healthcare providers can enhance their ability to navigate disagreements and discord, promote understanding and reconciliation, and create a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare environment.

Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
At the end of the program you will better able to:

• Demonstrate to clients a conflict transformation model to clarify the dynamics of repetitive conflicts;
• Describe some of the reasons why conflicts are hard for many people;
• Describe how mindfulness of conflictual dynamics is key to working skillfully with conflicts;
• Describe how skill in working with difficult emotions such as fear and anger is key to skill in transforming conflicts;
• Describe how compassion and empathy practices may be used when working with challenging people or situations;
• Describe how working through attachments to one’s views is key to the skillful work with conflicts;
• Describe how conflicts can helpfully be defined in terms of differences of intentions, goals, and values, rather than necessarily involving hostility or aggression;
• Describe how conflicts and differences can be opportunities for learning and transformation.

Continuing Education content level: Introductory

***Please note:

• For full Provider information, and additional CEC information, including attendance requirements, cancellation, and grievance policies, please visit our Continuing Education Credit information page.
• For those with a different license than listed above, or with a license from a different board or association than listed on our CEC info page, please contact your licensing board or association directly to request pre-approval/acceptance of CE credits offered at Spirit Rock. Spirit Rock does not confirm applicability of credit for those with licenses different than those listed.
• Spirit Rock is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16905 for 12 contact hours.
• Credit is awarded for instructional time only and does not include extended silent meditation, if offered.