Cultivating Emotional Balance (Ceb)

During the 2000 Mind & Life Institute conference, organized annually as a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and western scientists, the Dalai Lama requested that a secular program be developed to address these destructive emotions, not just in conversation but also in society. In response, emotion researcher, Paul Ekman, PhD and contemplative scholar, B. Alan Wallace, PhD, developed a 42-hour psycho-educational program called Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB). The aim of CEB is to teach skills that facilitate greater emotional regulation and focused attention through didactic and experiential methods. CEB is an evidence-based curriculum that draws from empirical research on emotion, coupled with contemplative practices that are rooted in Buddhist traditions. Throughout the program, participants learn to identify the physiology and facial expression of emotions, develop attention skills and mindfulness, as well as cultivate meaningful aspirations for genuine happiness and resilience. A primary goal of CEB is for participants to gain greater flexibility and choice in cognitive and emotional processing.