BPSU Feb 2013 - Newsletter
U of T Buddhism & Psychology Student Union
Dear BPSU members,
Hope everyone had a great reading week. Here are some upcoming events and announcement for BPSU.
Regards,
Joseph
BPSU, President
1. BPMH Public Talk – 6 March, 7pm
The BPMH program is hosting a public talk on 6 March, 7pm, at New College Wilson Lounge (40 Willcocks St). We are happy to have Professor Geoffrey Samuel, a visiting Buddhist scholar from the UK, to present a seminar on “The Relevance of Non-self in Pre-modern Asia to the Contemporary Mindfulness”. A light free meal will be provided at 7pm. Given the limited seating and the need to prepare for food, please RSVP us back at UT....@GMAIL.COM . Please see below for the talk abstract.
ABSTRACT:
Mindfulness-related techniques are continuing to spread through the psychiatry, therapy, counselling and related communities at a considerable speed. Clearly they are meeting a need of some kind. At the same time, questions of what these techniques meant in their original context(s), how they have been transformed in relation to their new Western and global field of activity, what might have been lost (or gained) on the way, and how the entire contemporary Mindfulness Phenomenon might be understood, are increasingly being raised.
After sketching some of these developments, I focus on two related issues. Firstly, what is the role of non-self in the meditative procedures of pre-modern Buddhist societies? Secondly, is non-self a meaningful or relevant issue in the contemporary Western and global context, where mindfulness is being reworked within societies where individualism is taken for granted?
While I am particularly concerned with Tibetan traditions, I also examine the relevance of these issues within Theravadin-derived meditation approaches.
2. BPSU Meditation Sangha – Thursday 5 – 6pm MultiFaith Centre
The BPSU is delighted to bring you back a weekly meditation sitting on every Thursday at 5 – 6 pm at the Multifaith Centre. Come join us to meditate and exchange ideas and chat.
3. Book Club – March 11, 3pm, University College Junior Common Room
Our last book club meet will be on Mar 11, 3pm. Meet our book club host, Jessica, to talk about the book – Thought Without a Thinker. Or hang out to discuss any Buddhist psychology ideas with peeps.
4. Buddhist Education Network of Ontario - Camp Counselor Position
The Buddhist Education Network of Ontario is looking a summer camp counselor. Please see below for details.
JOB POSTING
Camp Counsellors Training Program and Job Description
The Buddhist Education Network of Ontario (BENO) is offering a training program for prospective camp counsellors for our 2013 Leadership and Mindfulness Summer Day Camps for teens 13 to 14, and 15-17 years of age. Please visit www.BuddhistSchoolForYouth.ca for details about our camps.
Responsibilities of Camp Counsellors
Reporting to the Camp-Coordinator, the Camp Counsellors will work with our BENO team in - planning and carrying out program activities - facilitating mindfulness practice sessions and group discussions - teaching Buddhist ideas using games and other participatory and interactive approaches
Eligibility
Eligible applicants should be University of Toronto students who will have completed at least 1.5 undergraduate courses in Buddhism and related subjects by July 2013. Previous meditation experience is required.
Training Program
Prospective camp counsellors who have completed the training will be invited to apply for Camp Counsellor positions at our 2013 Leadership and Mindfulness Summer Day Camps that will be held July 15-26 , full days, Monday to Friday, at the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Toronto.
The Camp Counsellor training program will take place during March and April, 2013, consisting of 3 weekend sessions. The sessions will be taught by experienced teachers who are in a Ph.D. program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Speakers will also be invited to instruct some of the sessions. Taking place at OISE, each session will go from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The first session will start on Saturday, March 30. The objectives of the training are to introduce prospective camp counsellors to incorporating Buddhist teachings and mindfulness training in summer camp programs for teens.
The training will be offered free of charge. We will approach the education of campers in body, mind and spirit. This training will be valuable to students who are considering a career in education and working with youth, seeing them as complete persons.
Honorarium
The successful applicants will be required to participate in three planning sessions held during May, June and July to finalize the camp programming. An honorarium of $20 will be paid for working each planning session. Each camp counsellor is required to commit to at least 5 full days to the camp in July and an honorarium of $50 per day will be paid for working at our Day Camps.
We are now accepting applications. If you are interested, please send your resume to Norm Bell, B.A., B.Ed., Secretary of BENO, at norm...@rogers.com by March 20, 2013. For further information, please call BENO at 416-910-4858.