Plenary Panels
The plenary sessions will provide a rare opportunity for representatives of these two traditions to learn from one another and to push the boundaries of their understanding. The small group format will allow every participant to engage personally with presenters from both traditions.
The plenary sessions present and explore concepts, insights, and knowledge from the two traditions as they apply to human relationships. They are:
Plenary Panel 1
Basic Relational Concepts in Buddhism and Psychoanalysis
- William Waldron, Ph.D., Faculty, Department of Religion, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont.
- Anne Klein, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Director and Buddhist Teacher, Dawn Mountain Center, Houston, Texas.
- Concetta Alfano, Ph.D., LCSW, Training and Supervising Analyst, Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, California; Senior Faculty, New Center for Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, California; Co-founder, Center for Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, Santa Monica, California.
- Jeremy Safran, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Clinical Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York City, New York; Faculty, Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, New York University, New York City, New York; President, International Association of Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, New York City, New York.
- Chair: Deborah Luepnitz, Ph.D., Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Psychoanalyst, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Plenary Panel 2
Self and No-Self in Buddhism and Psychoanalysis
- Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, President and Founder, Nalandabodhi, North America; President and Founder, Nitartha International; Principal Teacher, Nitartha Institiute, North America; Publisher, Bodhi Magazine, Seattle, Washington.
- Shinzen Young, Ph.D., Buddhist Teacher; Founder, Vipassana Support Institute, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
- Frank Summers, Ph.D., Training and Supervising Analyst, Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, Chicago, Illinois.
- Michael Lewis, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Director of the Study of Child Development, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
- Chair: Polly Young-Eisendrath, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont; Consultant for Leadership Development and Clinical Supervisor, Norwich University, Norwich, Vermont; Jungian Analyst and Psychologist, Calais, Vermont.
Plenary Panel 3
Rupture, Trauma, and Healing in Buddhist and Psychoanalytic Communities
- Wendy Egyoku Nakao, Abbot and Head Teacher, Zen Center of Los Angeles/Buddha Essence Temple; Founding Member, Zen Peacemakers Order.
- Grace Schireson, Ph.D., Founder and Head Teacher, Empty Nest Zendo, North Forks, California; Clinical Psychologist.
- Barry Magid, M.D., Zen Teacher, Ordinary Mind Zendo, New York City, New York; Supervisor, Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, New York City, New York.
- Jeffrey Rubin, Ph.D., Training and Supervising Analyst, Westchester Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Bedford Hills, New York.
- Lou Breger, Ph.D., Professor of Psychoanalytic Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences Division, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
- Chair: Daishin Buksbazen, Psy.D., LMFT, Training and Supervising Analyst, Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, California; Teacher, Zen Center of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Teacher, Hill Street Center, Santa Monica, California.
Plenaries are followed by Q&A sessions among panel participants and members of the audience. Breakout Groups present a variety of topics about personal, therapeutic and spiritual relationships, and allow for more intimate conversation.
