TRANSFORMING THE JUDGMENTAL MIND

TRANSFORMING THE JUDGMENTAL MIND

Judgments of a reactive and often automatic nature are very strong in most of our lives and in the dominant culture. These judgments can distort our perceptions, make relationships with others difficult, and undermine our work in the world.

This retreat explores the nature of such judgments, how they differ from non-reactive discernment, and a number of specific practices that help us to transform judgments. We will cultivate mindfulness, inquiry, and heart practices such as lovingkindness, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, and joy. We will also explore the somatic dimension of judgments, ways to transform judgments by cultivating awakened qualities, and ways to cultivate skillful speech and interaction in the midst of situations involving judgments—whether our own or others. These tools will help us to preserve the intelligence and energy often found in judgments, using them for discernment and compassionate action while working through their destructive and compulsive aspects.

The retreat will be held mostly in silence, with some periods of discussion and some interactive exercises (on the last full day), along with individual meetings with the teacher. A background in mindfulness practice (at least one class or retreat) or permission of the teacher is required to attend this retreat.

Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., is a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock in California, where he has been teaching workshops, groups, and retreats on transforming judgments since 2002. He has practiced Insight Meditation since 1976 and also received training in Tibetan Dzogchen practice and the Hakomi approach to body-based psychotherapy. Formerly on the faculties of the University of Kentucky, Kenyon College, and Saybrook University, he currently teaches and writes on meditation, daily life practice, spirituality and psychology, and socially engaged spirituality. He has helped to guide training programs in this area through the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Saybrook, and Spirit Rock. Donald is the co-editor of Ken Wilber in Dialogue: Conversations with Leading Transpersonal Thinkers and the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World. He is currently working on a book on Transforming the Judgmental Mind.