Genuine self-reflection is rooted in the world’s great spiritual traditions because it affects many aspects of our lives—the cultivation of gratitude, our relationships, lifestyle choices, and even career decisions. Naikan, a Japanese word meaning “inside looking” or “introspection,” is a simple, yet elegant method of self-reflection that helps us abandon deeply ingrained patterns of blame, complaint, anxiety, and disappointment. This workshop offers us the foundations of Naikan (pronounced ni-kon, like the camera), which are rooted in Shin Buddhism, as well as Naikan’s profound opportunities for spiritual and emotional renewal. Empathy and sensitivity are developed as we become more conscious of the impact we are having on the world around us. Reconciliation is promoted as we are able to understand the perspective of others and go beyond our own self-focused point of view. This workshop is a time for inquiry—not in a theoretical sense, but as a sincere, personal examination of our life and conduct. We alternate sessions of contemplation with group discussion, fables, poems, and case examples—all of which help us understand the interrelationship of self-reflection, attention, grace, faith, and gratitude. Bring a journal. Required reading will be sent upon registration. Recommended reading: Krech, Naikan. Gregg Krech is director of the ToDo Institute in Vermont and one of the leading authorities on Japanese psychology in the United States. He is author of many articles and several books, including Naikan: Gratitude, Grace, and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection, which received the Best Spirituality Books of 2002 award from Spirituality & Health magazine. todoinstitute.org |
