Online: The Sure Heart – Emotion, Healing, and Buddhist Psychology
with Sean Oakes, PhD
Thursdays, October 23rd – November 20th, 2025 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm ET
Can meditation and mindfulness support us in our emotional life? Absolutely. The Buddha’s teaching is frequently understood as a kind of psychology, or science of mind, and the core of the Dhamma is a set of teachings on how to work with the strong habitual emotions and energies that lead to harmful action. The result of practice is not an abstract metaphysical wisdom but a profound happiness and peace that is called “the sure heart’s release.” This release naturally includes a healing of old wounds and a restoration of healthy relating with ourselves and others.
In this 5-week course we’ll look at the Buddha’s teachings on emotion and healing, exploring how to bring mindfulness, insight, and skillful response to powerful states like love, fear, anger, and grief. This is the fourth in a series of practice and study courses aimed to build a strong foundation for Theravāda Buddhist training. You do not have to have taken the other courses in the series to take this one, and beginners are welcome.
We will read original texts from the Pāli Canon as the source of our meditation instructions, and weave in supporting material from contemporary neuroscience and psychology. Each week we will meditate together, read passages from the discourses, and support each other in building or deepening a daily meditation practice. You will come away with deepened skill in Buddhist mindfulness, and a framework for bringing the discernment of spiritual inquiry into every part of your life.
Registration:
Please register below. If you are able, registering at the “Supporter” level enables others to attend at the “Subsidized” level. Thank you for your generosity! (Please note that the registration price includes a base level of teacher support, and you will have the opportunity to donate more after the program.)
If you are registering via a mobile device such as a phone or tablet, you can scroll right and left and up and down within the below form if it is partially obscured or cut off.
CLICK HERE to open the registration form in a new browser window.
Bring a Buddy: If you are a member of our Circle of Friends, you’re invited to bring a Dharma buddy to this program for no additional cost. Simply select “1” from the drop-down next to the Bring a Buddy level, and enter your special discount code (provided in your Circle of Friends welcome email) to reduce the price to that of a single, standard registration. This registration will grant attendance for you and your buddy.
Volunteering
All of our programs rely on volunteers to support our teachers and staff with various tasks and responsibilities. Volunteering allows you to participate in our programs at no cost. To inquire about volunteering opportunities, please fill out our inquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Teacher(s)
Sean Oakes
Sean Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, of Spanish/Puerto Rican and Northern European ancestry living on unceded Pomo land in California), teaches Buddhism, Yoga, and somatic practice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance, and focuses on the integration of philosophy, somatics, and social justice discourse with the Dharma. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and elsewhere. Website: seanfeitoakes.com