Monday, March 16, 2009

On-Line Discussion

Just set up an on-line discussion as the first of a series working through issues in the book. This first discussion looks at the sense of conscience and right and wrong as it develops in childhood through illustrations taken from chapter one.

You will need to have a facebook account to participate.

Friday, March 06, 2009

Forthcoming Travels

In the next month or so I'll be travelling quite a bit and giving talks and workshops related to my new book, Guilt. This is the current schedule - I'm always open to extra offers!

Caroline Brazier
Guilt: an exploration
Public Talk
Northampton University
12th March 7.30pm
more details please contact susthama@amidatrust.com


BEYOND GUILT
A Day Retreat
with Caroline Brazier
14 MARCH 2009
10am - 4pm
Venue: Walton on the Naze, Essex, CO14 8PW

Spaces limited so please contact susthama@amidatrust.com to book.

Do you frequently feel guilty? Do you feel anxious and uncomfortable about things which you have done? Do you feel a gnawing sense of shame without really knowing why? Many of us suffer from feelings of guilt and shame which sap our confidence and reduce our capacity to live happily. In extreme cases, feelings of guilt can hamper a person's life, leaving them restricted and defensive. Other people may be reassuring, encouraging us to discount such feelings and build our self-esteem, but such measures can be counter-productive as they may simply drive the feelings of guilt underground. We start to feel guilty about our guilt, adding new layers of shame as we cannot change the fact that we know we have not always acted for the best reasons.

In Western culture Guilt has become a subject of shame and is seen as something to be got rid of or denied, but the Buddhist paradigm offers a different perspective. Pureland Buddhism has a particular view of the person which is radically acceptant of our ordinary nature. Within this paradigm, knowledge of our complexity and fallibility becomes a source of spiritual process. Recognition that we are acceptable just as we are is both challenging and deeply releasing

This day of practice and discussion will focus on exploration of the topic through personal sharing, meditative reflection and Buddhist practice. In it Caroline Brazier will share some of the ideas from her new book, Guilt. We will look at ways of moving beyond the taboos of guilt feelings into a more productive relationship with our past and present experience


BEYOND GUILT
A Day Workshop in London
with Caroline Brazier
Sunday 22nd March 10am – 4pm

What makes you feel guilty? Do you feel anxious and uncomfortable about things which you have done? Do you feel a gnawing sense of shame without really knowing why? Many of us suffer from feelings of guilt and shame. Feeling like this sap our confidence and reduce our capacity to live happily. In extreme cases, they can be a blight on a person's life. People may be reassuring, encouraging us to discount such feelings and build our self-esteem, but this doesn't really work. Often we just end up feeling guilty about our feelings of guilt. We add layers of shame to our guilty feeling because we know we have sometimes got thing wrong or not always acted for the best reasons. This day workshop will give you a chance to explore the topic of guilt. We will use discussion, personal sharing, and meditative exercises to look at different aspects of this complex and troubling topic. and look at ways of moving beyond the taboo of guilt into a more productive relationship with our past and present experience. A light vegetarian lunch will be provided.

Caroline Brazier is the author of Guilt: an exploration published by O-Books February 2009. Her other books are Buddhist Psychology and The Other Buddhism. Caroline is a full time member of the Amida Order and leader of its psychotherapy training programme


SEMINAR FOR THERAPISTS & COUNSELLORS:
The workshop will be followed by a seminar (5 – 7pm) for counsellors and therapists who have attended the day workshop and wish to discuss the application of ideas in their work A light snack will be provided.


Public Talk Friday 20th March:
Caroline will be giving a public talk and book reading at Sukhavati at 7.30 (Suggested donation £5/£3)

Venue: Sukhavati, 21 Sussex Way, London N7 6RT
To book please telephone: 0207 2632183 or email: modgala@amidatrust.com

Cost of Workshop £15 waged/£10 unwaged; Seminar £10.
____________________________________________________________________

Borders Fosse Park, Leicester
Book signing 5.00pm
and Reading 7.00pm followed by coffee with author
March 26th
___________________________________________________________________

Monday March 30th 2009
Informal buffet from 6pm
Talk and discussion 7pm
118, Broomspring Lane,
Sheffield
S10 2FD
0114 272 4290
Email: amidasheffield@blueyonder.co.uk

You are warmly invited to
an informal evening with
Prasada Caroline Brazier
who will talk about and read from her new book
Guilt: an exploration

Caroline Brazier is a writer with a life-long interest in psychology, spirituality, creativity and ethics; threads which have woven together in many different ways through a richly varied career. She has spent many years working as a psychotherapist and in a variety of educational and community based work. She now spends her time organising and teaching on the Amida training programme for therapists, travelling, writing and supporting other aspects of the work of the Amida community. Caroline is a founder member of Amida Order and has lived for the past few years in its spiritual community in Leicester. She is married with three adult children. See www.amidatrust.com
_____________________________________________________________________
Amitayus Wellbeing
presents an
evening with author Caroline Brazier.

Caroline will be reading from her latest
book entitled ‘Guilt’.
Thursday 2nd April 2009
at Amitayus Wellbeing
189 Long Street Atherstone CV9 1AH
7pm -9pm.

Suggested donation of £5.00 towards the work of the Amida Trust.

_____________________________________________________

Other

Monday, March 02, 2009

London workshop

BEYOND GUILT
A Day Workshop with Caroline Brazier
Sunday 22nd March 10am – 4pm

What makes you feel guilty? Do you feel anxious and uncomfortable about things which you have done? Do you feel a gnawing sense of shame without really knowing why? Many of us suffer from feelings of guilt and shame. Feeling like this sap our confidence and reduce our capacity to live happily. In extreme cases, they can be a blight on a person's life. People may be reassuring, encouraging us to discount such feelings and build our self-esteem, but this doesn't really work. Often we just end up feeling guilty about our feelings of guilt. We add layers of shame to our guilty feeling because we know we have sometimes got thing wrong or not always acted for the best reasons. This day workshop will give you a chance to explore the topic of guilt. We will use discussion, personal sharing, and meditative exercises to look at different aspects of this complex and troubling topic. and look at ways of moving beyond the taboo of guilt into a more productive relationship with our past and present experience. A light vegetarian lunch will be provided.

Caroline Brazier is the author of Guilt: an exploration published by O-Books February 2009. Her other books are Buddhist Psychology and The Other Buddhism. Caroline is a full time member of the Amida Order and leader of its psychotherapy training programme

SEMINAR FOR THERAPISTS & COUNSELLORS:
The workshop will be followed by a seminar (5 – 7pm) for counsellors and therapists who have attended the day workshop and wish to discuss the application of ideas in their work A light snack will be provided.

Public Talk Friday 20th March:
Caroline will be giving a public talk and book reading at Sukhavati at 7.30 (Suggested donation £5/£3)

Venue: Sukhavati, 21 Sussex Way, London N7 6RT
To book please telephone: 0207 2632183 or email: modgala@amidatrust.com

Cost of Workshop £15 waged/£10 unwaged; Seminar £10.

BOOK READINGS

You can still view the broadcast of Friday's talk on U-Stream

Today David and I will be giving a book reading at DeMontfort University cultural exchanges.