UNCONDITIONAL HEALING
Pain is inevitable, Suffering is not
OUR APPROACH
So much of our perspective of health is wrapped around a faulty premise.
We’ve been led to believe that healing is equivalent to curing (any disease) or fixing (any obstacles that arise). But some situations in our life are so unwieldy and overwhelming that they are un-resolvable with our current approach. The very idea that we could remain healthy while stricken with cancer is considered patently absurd, yet the truth of the matter is that our health is so much more than the physical realm alone. Real health also includes our mental, emotional and spiritual well-being as well. If we ignore those aspects of our life when defining “healing”, we limit ourselves to a very constrained, conditional notion of health that offers no long-term solace.
A Model of Unconditional Health
Spiritual Health
Mental Health
Emotional Health
Physical Health
(Curing or Fixing)
In truth, genuine health and well-being is unconditional, omnipresent, and inherent to human beings, no matter what circumstances befall us.
The means for realizing that and working with the entire range of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health is a path I call Unconditional Healing.
Based on my thirty-five years as a Buddhist teacher, and my twenty years of working with a chronic illness, I have developed a body of teachings known as Unconditional Healing, These teachings represent a unique approach toward lessening suffering when faced with those painful, unavoidable situations that rock our world. Unconditional Healing flips our view of illness, chaos and pain on its head, because it sees them as opportunities rather than calamities. Adversity awakens us out of our sleepy complacency, and brings a sense of urgency and focus to our lives. It helps us discriminate the essential from the superficial. Many have used the path of Unconditional Healing to make a fresh start in their life, a “reboot” moment to become more present, more empathetic and compassionate, and more open to their deepest sense of self.
But it takes courage, support and a willingness to question many of our assumptions about health and well-being. If you’d like to learn more, below are some resources for beginning to tread the Unconditional Healing Path.
INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS
VIDEO
Introduction to Unconditional Healing
Talk #1 of the weekend workshop.Covers basic principles of the Unconditional Healing path.
VIDEO
Introduction to Unconditional Healing
VIDEO
The 4 Ss Practice - Managing Difficult Emotions
This is a 4-step simple practice for managing difficult emotions, like fear, anger, frustration or passion.
VIDEO
The 4 Ss Practice - Managing Difficult Emotions
AUDIO TALKS
Introduction to Unconditional Healing
While living in our head and being driven by our thoughts is the norm, intrinsic health and presence is always available to us.
Introduction to Unconditional Healing
Overcoming the Need for Certainty
Our fear of uncertainty is deeply ingrained within us, and often leads to poor decision-making.
Overcoming the Need for Certainty
The Role of Gratitude
Gratitude can’t be faked. It must evolve over time, beginning by acknowledging ALL of our feelings, even the negative ones.
The Role of Gratitude
Getting off the Hope and Fear Treadmill
Embracing hope while denying fear is a fool’s game since they’re inextricably linked. The antidote is to engage fully with our journey, while disowning a particular result.
Getting off the Hope and Fear Treadmill
Getting Stuck, Getting Unstuck: Using the Energy of Negativity to Awaken and Heal
By engaging directly with our most challenging emotions, we can use their very nature to liberate their hold over us. Features two new practices at the end of the talk.
Getting Stuck, Getting Unstuck: Using the Energy of Negativity to Awaken and Heal
Coming Back to the Body: Working with Difficult Emotions
We live in our thoughts, so we lose touch with our emotions, Dropping into the body is the antidote, because the body is wise, unbiased, and sensitive.
Coming Back to the Body: Working with Difficult Emotions
When Things Don't Go Our Way: The Wisdom of Adversity
Adversity tends to strip away our transient identities of who we are, while also making it possible to encounter our most authentic self.
When Things Don't Go Our Way: The Wisdom of Adversity
Establishing a Healthy Relationship with the Body
We often treat our body with disdain or indifference. This attitude originates from a misunderstanding of the mind/body relationship.
Establishing a Healthy Relationship with the Body
Adopting a Sane Outlook
A sane outlook views ALL of our reactions to circumstance as stepping-stones, even the so-called "negative" ones like ambiguity, groundlessness, and uncertainty.
Adopting a Sane Outlook
ARTICLES
The View of Unconditional Healing - Living in the Unknowable Now.
We rarely live in the present moment; instead we dwell in the past or endlessly worry about our future. Our lack of presence has immense implications for healing.
The View of Unconditional Healing - Living in the Unknowable Now.
Working with Adversity
Letting ourselves fall apart is often the key to changing our mindset and beginning to improve.
Working with Adversity
The Mental Aspect of Healing
We often confuse our interpretation for the way things really are. As a result, our thoughts often become our worst enemy.
The Mental Aspect of Healing
Embodied Meditation Practice
A practice for mindfully connecting with our body, both on and off the cushion.