Talk with Sinzen Young in Tel-Aviv: Enlightenment East and West: An Introduction to Comparative Mysticism
Talk with Sinzen Young Will take Place in The Sangha House in Tel Aviv.
Enlightenment East and West: An Introduction to Comparative Mysticism
Meditation practice can be found within all the religions of the world. Do these meditation
practices lead to similar experiences or are they in some way fundamentally different from each
other?
The purpose of this talk is three-fold:
1. To provide a clear and comprehensive paradigm within which all meditative practices
worldwide can be understood.
2. To compare various forms of meditation, clarifying their similarities and differences,
as well as relative strengths and weaknesses.
3. To explore how meditative traditions are currently cross-fertilizing with science.
Particular emphasis will be placed on comparing traditional Jewish meditation with the
Buddhist traditions of Zen, Vipassana, and Vajrayana.
Shinzen Young became fascinated with Asian culture while a teenager in Los Angeles. Later he
enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin.
Eventually, he went to Asia and did extensive training in each of the three major Buddhist
traditions: Vajrayana, Zen and Vipassana. Upon returning to the United States, his academic
interests shifted to the burgeoning dialogue between Eastern meditation and Western science.
Shinzen is known for his innovative "interactive, algorithmic approach" to mindfulness, a
system specifically designed for use in pain management, recovery support, and as an adjunct
to psychotherapy.
He leads meditation retreats throughout North America and has helped establish numerous
mindfulness centers and programs. He also consults widely on meditation-related research, in
both the clinical and the basic science domains.
He often says:
"My life's passion lies in exploring what may arise from the cross-fertilization of the best of the
East with the best of the West."
The talk is open for all. Registration required.
Sangha House Address: 21 Ovadia Mebartenura St. apt. 15, Tel-Aviv
Phone: 972-3-6042835
972-50-6711930