Lectures & Events
Wednesday, June 24th - 12pm EST
Buddhist Modernism and Meditation
Abstract: Meditation is often presented in the West as a universal, scientific, and inherently beneficial practice capable of catalyzing therapeutic healing and profound psychological transformation. But where did these ideas come from and why are they so compelling to so many of us? This talk explores the unique cultural movement known as “Buddhist modernism” and how it has indelibly shaped our default conceptions of this Asian religion and its rituals. We will examine how meditation came to be understood as a secular, therapeutic, and personal spiritual practice that is the essence of Buddhism, and how this diverse historical tradition became cast not as a religion at all but rather an exceptional science of mind. Finally, we will explore how Buddhist modernist discourse and praxis can lead to a range of meditation-related challenges, and how even a basic appreciation of this cultural movement can help us make sense of important parts of many of our meditation journeys—indeed the very water we have been swimming in without recognizing or even consenting to its assumptions, values, and norms.
Use code EBNATHAN for 60% off registration through June 10th.
Dr. Fisher recently received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies and Cognitive Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2011 before joining the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at Brown University where he managed the 'Varieties of Contemplative Experience' (VCE) study from 2012-2015. Before starting graduate school, he was a visiting scholar at the Mind and Life Institute—where he organized a small conference on Abrahamic contemplative traditions—and lived in Jerusalem for 2 years to explore some of the living traditions of Jewish mysticism and meditation.
At Brown, Nathan began a replication study of the VCE project investigating meditation-related difficulties in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic contemplative traditions, and has continued this research project into his PhD program. The first paper based on the study, "Dark Nights of the Soul in Abrahamic Meditative Traditions," was published in 2019 and the second was published in 2022, “Flavors of Ecstasy: States of Absorption in Islamic and Jewish Contemplative Traditions.” Both papers focus on traditional appraisal processes related to challenging experiences, whereas in his dissertation he presents phenomenological data from the study and proposes a person-centered cultural psychological framework that can be used by clinicians and teachers to provide better care for those suffering from these experiences. His other research interests include: Jewish and Comparative Mysticism, Differential Diagnosis at the intersection of Spirituality and Clinical Practice, and the emerging interdisciplinary field of Contemplative Science.
Nathan’s own journey includes contemplative practice in Jewish, Theravada, Christian, and Chinese Internal Martial Arts communities—and experiencing tangible benefits and distressing challenges in all of them. After taking a sabbatical from contemplative practice and study, he is excited to be exploring safe and ‘sifted’ approaches to re-engaging with what he has found to be nourishing and resourcing within these traditions.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to describe the core features of “Buddhist modernism” and explain how modern Western ideas about science, psychology, individualism, and spirituality reshaped contemporary understandings of Buddhism and meditation.
Participants will be able to identify and critically reflect on common contemporary assumptions about meditation—including ideas surrounding mindfulness, enlightenment, no-self, and the notion of Buddhism as a uniquely scientific or universally beneficial tradition.
Participants will be able to discuss how Buddhist modernist frameworks and expectations can influence the onset and interpretation of meditation-related challenges and distress, and how historical and cultural context may support more grounded and compassionate meaning-making around difficult contemplative experiences.
Links:
This lecture has been approved for 1 APA CE credit.
Cheetah House is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cheetah House maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Friday, June 26th - 11am EST; Wednesday, July 8th - 11am EST
Letters to My Former Self: Mikael Birger Roussel
In this series, meditators who have worked with Cheetah House courageously share with us their stories--the circumstances of their meditation-related challenges, the responses they had to them, and their trajectories of healing and growth. Join us for our next addition to this series by community member, Mikael Birger.
Mikael is an artist, coach, and business owner. After a series of adverse effects from both psychedelics and meditation spanning several years, he shifted his approach to mental and physical health. He now seeks to express this through writing, art, and community spaces that bring the simplicity and inherent depth of mundane life back to the forefront
Mikael will be giving his talk in English and in French. You can register for one or both below!
Cost is $30, sliding scale available. All members can use code LTMFS26 for 50% off before June 15th.
