May 2019 Class
Brenda Shoshanna on Spiritual Counseling
Click here to view: https://youtu.be/L9NQH- XwwwU
While emphasizing that there is a difference between professional psychological counseling and what we are often called upon to do as ministers, Brenda points out the many things that we may have in common with therapists and counselors when people come to us seeking our help and guidance. Here warmth, humor, wisdom, and expressiveness are not to be missed as she illustrates her points with stories, both ancient and from her personal life and practice, and also explains things very clearly in her friendly animated and unique personal style. (I found this talk both inspiring and empowering, as well as practical, with much to take away and apply in our own lives.) Be
A Dyad Exercise in Listening & Presence with Brenda Shoshanna
Click here to view: https://youtu.be/ 0cBcksVn4HU
Choosing 2 students to play the roles of a minister and a person coming for counseling or consultation, This exercise dramatically illustrates the surprising impact of simply being present, really listening, and genuinely thanking people for sharing their concerns with us. Brenda clearly demonstrated how much can be communicated with silence, acknowledgement, and empathy. A video worth a thousand words.
September 2018 Class
-Rev, Dr. T.K. Nakagaki on Buddhism, interfaith, Peace, War, and History
Click here for video–> https://youtu.be/ CfLBuHsqCzw
Sharing from his own life experience as a monk from Japan in the Jodo Shinshu tradition, a branch Mahayana Buddhism.
Click here for video–> https://youtu.be/
Sharing from his own life experience as a monk from Japan in the Jodo Shinshu tradition, a branch Mahayana Buddhism.
2017
Rev. Laura On Buddhism, Part 1
Click her to watch–> https://youtu.be/BjQOSbrZfs4
For the first part of her talk, Laura Derr (rhymes with fur) talked about her very personal and extensive experience with the path and teachings of Vietnamese Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh, a path with which she was involved for nearly 30 years. She also elucidated how she later came to recognize her personal path more in A Course in Miracles, and how she now integrates both teachings into her life and work as a psychotherapist and a gifted intuitive healer. This first session with a brief walking meditation which you can participate in, in your own room, while watching the video.
Part 2 of Rev. Laura on Buddhism
Click her to watch–> https://youtu.be/PW4J47n_akQ
In the second part of her presentation, Laura expounded on many aspects of the actual tenets of Buddhism, and its basic teachings and history. (See attached handouts: Buddhism by the numbers and the 5 Mindfullness Trainings for this segment.) This is a very informative session and really contains a lot of information!
Rev. Laura on the Aramaic Lord’s Prayer and the Aramaic Beatitudes
Click her to watch–> https://youtu.be/ rx7kcWzJ1Ag
Speaking on a topic that is obviously near and dear to her heart, Laura brought a very different topic to the afternoon session–in fact, even a change of clothes! She not only taught about the meaning of the original Aramaic scriptures of early Christianity, but also sang them to us as well! She expounded on what may well be the deeper meaning of these prayers and scriptures by compiling together varying definitions used for Aramaic words in English (many of them have several meanings) and weaving them into single unified masterfully distilled translation of each. Hearing both the English and Aramaic, we can feel transported back to the time when these words were first shared so long ago. Please refer to the attached handouts when listening to this segment.