Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Retreat 2012
About Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
MBSR is a structured approach to mindfulness meditation that teaches the mind to pay attention to the present. It is about the development of moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness for improving physical and emotional well-being. While its roots are in the mindfulness of Buddhism, MBSR is a secular approach that utilizes a range of techniques.
Three decades of clinical and psychological research makes MBSR the most widely researched course of its type in the world. Research indicates that participants who complete an MBSR course develop:
* An increased ability to relax
* Greater /more efficient productivity
* Improved self-esteem
* Reductions in pain levels and an enhanced ability to cope with pain that may not go away
* An ability to cope more effectively with both short and long-term stressful situations
* Greater energy and enthusiasm for life
The program was established by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and has gained widespread acceptance in health science and the medical community.
Read more about MBSR
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About the Teachers
John Julian
A counsellor and psychotherapist, John Julian has 32 years experience as a mental health clinician, consultant and educator. John has a part-time private clinical practice and he works at Southern Synergy at Monash University as senior specialist trainer in the mental health field.
John has practiced different forms of meditation over 25 years. As a practicing Buddhist of the Tibetan tradition, John was trained to teach Calm Abiding Meditation He pursued a focus on Right Speech and later on stress management, attending MBSR Professional training by the pioneers of the field, Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli, in California in 2006 and again in Sydney in 2009. He was trained as a Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy trainer by Graham Meadows at Monash University as well as being trained in MBCT by Bruno Cayoun in 2008. Currently he is researching an occupational mindfulness program for mental health and health staff.
John is a long-standing member of Jamchen Buddhist Centre. At Jamchen, John regularly conducts introductory Calm Abiding Meditation courses and leads sessions on Mindfulness practice on Monday nights.
John uses a warm, person-centred approach and humour. He believes each person has their own answer and the skills to move successfully through life. He focuses on unleashing this knowledge using mindfulness.
Read more about John’s work
Venerable Freeman
Venerable Freeman Trebilcock (Thubten Gyaltsen) is an Australian-born Buddhist monk who was ordained at just 12 years of age. After finishing his secondary education, Freeman undertook a Psychology degree from the University of Melbourne. He spent 2 years studying at Chenrezig Institute for Buddhist Studies and has also undertaken study, retreat & initiation with Lama's from across all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 2006 Freeman helped to found the Buddhist Youth Organisation, Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth [www.lkpy.org]. In 2007 he played a key role in organising the "Dialogue with the Dalai Lama: Multifaith Forum for Schools" with over 10,000 people in attendance. In 2008 he co-founded InterAction: multifaith youth network, a youth-led interfaith organisation that promotes cooperation and service. As a result he was selected as a Regional Youth Ambassador for the United Religions Initiative - the world’s largest interfaith organisation. In 2010-11 Freeman was recognised by the Foundation for Young Australians as a Young Social Pioneer and by the International Youth Foundation as one of their 20 Global Fellows.
Freeman is currently a student of HE Zimwock Rinpoche and is President of Jamchen Buddhist Centre. As a Jamchen member, he hopes to be of service to the Australian Buddhist Community, in a spirit of nonsectarianism and openness.