How can the principles of Tibetan Buddhism help practitioners deal with stress and anxiety?

By Evan Dawson,

Published May 17, 2023 at 2:37 PM EDT

(foreground) Bishal Karna and (background) Deborah King and Sue Kochan on "Connections" — (foreground) Bishal Karna and (background) Deborah King and Sue Kochan on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

A smiling man with short dark hair wearing a blue button-down shirt and a grey blazer. He is holding a pair of eyeglasses. The word "Connections" appears on the left side of the photo in vertical letters.

How can the principles of Tibetan Buddhism help those who practice deal with stress and anxiety and find inner resilience?

This hour, we explore the Tibetan practice of Chöd. “Chöd” means “to cut off” or “slay;” the spiritual practice asks the participant to tap into the power of fear and to test their understanding of emptiness.

How can this apply to modern life? We discuss it with our guests:

Deborah King, Ph.D., professor emerita in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center; retired clinical psychologist; and a member of Dharma Refuge, a local Buddhist sangha
Sue Kochan, artist, author, public speaker, Buddhist teacher, and former CEO of a Rochester-based agency
Bishal Karna, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Nazareth College