Public Talk on Zen and Medicine

The Department of Philosophy and the Honors College are pleased to welcome Dr. Bethany Howlett (Rinzai Zen PRIEST, Doctor of Medicine, University of Wisconsin.) The technology of Zen training has been honed for over 1500 years. From zazen (seated meditation) to the martial and fine arts, students of Rinzai Zen incorporate breath, gravity, and the senses to encounter the sources of dukkha (often translated as suffering). Bethany Howlett, Rinzai Zen student and physician, began to explore these tools in 2015. As a newly graduated family medicine physician, Bethany needed a way to deal with the burnout of caring for patients. What she discovered on this path has had far-reaching implications for her leadership style, professional identity, and relationships. We hope you’ll join us as we explore the foundational components of Rinzai Zen, hear stories of how the training shows up in daily life, and learn practical ways to experience breath and gravity in one’s own body. We will conclude the session with an introduction to zazen meditation. All are Welcome! This event is free and open to the public and is hosted by the Philosophy Dept. and the Honors College and with generous support of the Mortimer Fleischhacker Fund for Philosophy at USF.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Program Assistant of the Philosophy Department, Brandon Marsh, at bmarsh@usfca.edu.