Ancient Psychology for Modern Times
Ancient Psychology for Modern Times
5800 Prescott Road, Soquel, CA, USA
August 1, 2026
About this Retreat
Geshe Tenzin Legtsok graduated from Sera Jey Monastic University in South India where he studied classic Indian Buddhist treatise and their Tibetan commentaries in the tradition of ancient Nalanda University. He has been ordained as a Buddhist monk since 2001. Born in Virginia, USA in 1973, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College in 1995. The question, “What makes for the most happy and meaningful life?”, which compelled him to major in philosophy during college, gradually led to his study of meditation and philosophy with teachers among the exiled Tibetan communities in India and Nepal from 1999 until the present. For the past fifteen years he has tried to make basic Buddhist teachings accessible to various audiences in India and the US through lectures, essays, and meditation instruction.
Karuna Cayton is a longtime student of Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. From 1975 to 1988 he lived at Kopan Monastery studying Buddhist psychology and philosophy under their guidance. There, he established a western studies program for the monks. Karuna’s years of close study with Lama Yeshe offer us immense insight into Lama’s teachings and style.
Karuna founded The Karuna Group, a project engaged in interpreting Buddhist psychological theory and interventions for modern people. He is a licensed (retired) Psychotherapist having trained at the Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto, California. He acquired a Masters in Clinical Psychology in 1992. He is the author of The Misleading Mind: How We Create Our Own Problems and How Buddhist Psychology Can Help Us Solve Them (2012) and The Six Myths We Live by and How to Overcome Them (2025) and is actively serving on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition.
Details of this retreat
Saturday, August 1
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
In Person and Online via Zoom
Regular bathing is essential to prevent various ailments from arising. Similarly, if we don’t cleanse our minds regularly, they become polluted, anxious, confused, and unhappy. Join psychotherapist Karuna Cayton and Buddhist scholar Geshe Tenzin Legtsok for this day-long teaching on how to reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, drawing from both modern psychology and the ancient wisdom of India.
Two initial steps to improving our mental health are 1) becoming more observant of our own thoughts and emotions, and 2) meaningfully distinguishing between patterns that serve our well-being and those that cause harm. Learn how to turn your attention skillfully inwards; deepen your discriminating wisdom; and strengthen positive emotions like love, contentment, and calm in the face of negative emotions like anger, craving, and obsession.
With the wisdom gained through observation of our inner world, we can make better choices about how to direct our attention in each situation life presents.
Schedule
9:30 am – 11:00 am—Session 1
11:00 am – 11:30 am—Break
11:30 am – 12:30 pm —Session 2
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm—Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm—Session 3
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
In Person and Online via Zoom
Regular bathing is essential to prevent various ailments from arising. Similarly, if we don’t cleanse our minds regularly, they become polluted, anxious, confused, and unhappy. Join psychotherapist Karuna Cayton and Buddhist scholar Geshe Tenzin Legtsok for this day-long teaching on how to reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, drawing from both modern psychology and the ancient wisdom of India.
Two initial steps to improving our mental health are 1) becoming more observant of our own thoughts and emotions, and 2) meaningfully distinguishing between patterns that serve our well-being and those that cause harm. Learn how to turn your attention skillfully inwards; deepen your discriminating wisdom; and strengthen positive emotions like love, contentment, and calm in the face of negative emotions like anger, craving, and obsession.
With the wisdom gained through observation of our inner world, we can make better choices about how to direct our attention in each situation life presents.
Schedule
9:30 am – 11:00 am—Session 1
11:00 am – 11:30 am—Break
11:30 am – 12:30 pm —Session 2
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm—Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm—Session 3
Getting Here
Land of Medicine Buddha, 5800 Prescott Road, Soquel, CA, USA
