Many western teachers of Buddhism have referred to the Buddha as a psychologist because the core teaching is a psychological one. The Buddha explored who we are, why we suffer, and how our mind and sense of self often perpetuates suffering.

Especially for western practitioners, there is often a strong connection between following the Buddhist path and psychological ideas and therapies. The Buddha analyzed the human condition and taught a vehicle for change via the Eightfold Path. While western psychology often uses different language, the goal of psychological health and well-being is similarly based on becoming more aware, accepting the complexity and difficult aspects of human experience, and developing a sense of kindness and compassion.

Our goal in this group is to provde a safe and supportive space to discuss key questions about the causes of our suffering (dukkha) from both a Buddhist and a psychological lens with an emphasis on our personal experiences, and how Buddhist concepts can be useful in our daily lives.

Please fill out the form below if you are interested in this group. We meet as a subgroup during SBN's monthly discussion group and the first Wednesday of each month, at 3 pm US Eastern Time.