In this excerpt from Trauma-Informed Dharma, Dr. Miles Neale talks about one of the many possible ways we can use spiritual beliefs and practices to avoid dealing with painful feelings, unresolved trauma, and developmental needs. What follows below is a lightly edited transcript of the video.

Common examples of spiritual bypassing. Here's one for you: Conflict avoidance in the guise of easy-going. Who doesn't like an easygoing person? Isn't the most classic, prototypical spiritual person very easygoing?

Everything is okay... Everything is chill...There's no conflict...That person is so easy... That person's so nice...

I'm not saying it's not possible. Maybe it's my idealized projection on Geshe Tenzin Zopa but I really do think he's an honestly nice guy. I think it's possible to evolve to a place to be genuinely easygoing. But for your own inventory and your own self-introspection, if you know yourself to be very easygoing, then you can shift the lens a little bit on to yourself...

In this excerpt from Trauma Informed Dharma, Miles talks about refuge and how that relates to the creation of sacred spaces in community, what that looks like and how they allow us to learn and grow spiritually, together. What follows is a lightly edited transcript of the video.

There are actually six refuges. There are three that are considered outer and three that are considered inner. But there's only one true refuge.

The three outer ones are the Buddha, the first human being that woke up and discovered the nature of reality. The second refuge is his teachings and methodology that have been preserved in an unbroken lineage from master to student, from mouth to ear to realization, from concept to knowing to becoming from intelligence to something in the heart, to full embodiment for centuries. That is the dharma. And then there is the sangha, the members of community that structure their micro-culture, organize a micro-culture around this pursuit and support each other. And I...

There is no template for the current COVID-19 induced world health and financial crisis.  All of us are trying to maintain balance in an environment of unpredictability and threat.  As part of our commitment to apply ancient wisdom and current science, mental health professionals within the Contemplative Studies Program have developed a technique called R.E.A.C.T. to help community members and their extended relations co-regulate our threatened and overtaxed nervous systems. We think of this as CPR for our emotions; a rapid, standardized, skill-based response that can be applied to and by the general public with efficient training.

R.E.A.C.T. integrates elements of trauma therapy, polyvagal theory, interpersonal neurobiology, contemplative science and Buddhist compassion practice. While the technique is in early development, Buddhist psychotherapist Dr. Miles Neale presents the principles of the protocol, how it can be delivered, and the science...

Inspired by decades of work in the ancient Buddhist culture of Ladakh, Helena...

The most important message the coronavirus offers is that the natural world is...

"Week 2 (or 3) of this great global experiment in social isolation has been throwing up all sorts of shadow aspects in our homes and in our lives. I have personally found myself staring into some of my most punitive, frustrating, and angry patterns as a lack of distraction brings little escape!

Social isolation, lack of exercise, and financial uncertainty are almost certainly going to lead to deteriorating mental health around the world.

And with this likely to be a medium term feature in our lives, it’s important we get real with it and learn how to do with our shadow aspects.

This week, fan-favourite and official coiner of the term “McMindfulness” – Dr. Miles Neale – comes back on the show to talk about how the pandemic meets all criteria of trauma, what impact that is having on our nervous systems, and how to navigate this most giant of hero’s journeys we have each been initiated into in our own way."

David Newell talks to Miles on the Inner...

 One of the guiding principles explored in the Contemplative Studies Program is that we have agency. In the face of adversity we can become empowered to consciously direct our evolution towards more favourable outcomes.

What follows is an instalment in a series of assignments taken on by CSP members. Students were asked to research pandemic related subjects including economics, health and lifestyle. The purpose of the task was to engage critical reasoning in the midst of a barrage of sensational headlines and form an action plan. In a crisis, having a plan and keeping moving is critical to mental health.

This information is provided to deliver you things you should know, and things can do during the pandemic.

During the past four weeks we have experienced the impact of the effects of the Global Pandemic infecting almost two million people, and over 100,000 deaths.  In the U.S. there are over 500,000 people infected with over 21,000...

 One of the guiding principles explored in the Contemplative Studies Program is that we have agency. In the face of adversity we can become empowered to consciously direct our evolution towards more favourable outcomes.

What follows is an instalment in a series of assignments taken on by CSP members. Students were asked to research pandemic related subjects including economics, health and lifestyle. The purpose of the task was to engage critical reasoning in the midst of a barrage of sensational headlines and form an action plan. In a crisis, having a plan and keeping moving is critical to mental health.

This information is provided to deliver you things you should know, and things can do during the pandemic.

Five Things to Know

1. Strengthening vagal tone is important because it will help your body reach homeostasis (its balanced resting state) much more quickly after a stressful experience. If our sympathetic nervous system works in overdrive...