Sati Center for Buddhist Studies

The term spiritual bypassing was coined by Buddhist psychologist John Welwood in the mid-1980s. Like some other Buddhist teachers before him, Welwood felt concerned about the way he saw some of his western psychotherapy clients and dharma students misusing spiritual teachings. What he saw them doing was using spiritual practices and beliefs to avoid dealing with painful feelings, unresolved wounds, and unmet developmental needs. Both long-time practitioners and novice meditators are at risk of detouring into these sand traps and cul-de-sacs along the Way. In this retreat, there will be dharma talks on the retreat theme, periods of silent meditation, experiential exercises, and opportunities for discussion. In the spirit of loving curiosity, we’ll explore the tendencies we all have to lose our way from time to time. We’ll replace self-criticism with self-compassion and replace confusion with insight as we learn to see these often subtle challenges in our lives as part of a curriculum for profound spiritual awakening

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