Working With Attention

A long-distance learning program.

April 1 - 30, 2008

For information and registration, call (802)453-4440 or e-mail us at todo@together.net. You may also register on-line.

“Life is a matter of attention. Your experience of life is not based on your life, but on what you attend to.”

Much of our psychological and emotional distress is associated with an exaggerated degree of self-focused attention. Strengthening your attention skills can help to improve your mental health and to enhance your enjoyment of life.

Through daily exercises, based on Japanese methods of psychology this program provides practical benefits while blending the spiritual and psychological with the tasks of daily life.

“The act of observation itself is an antidote to self-delusion, teaching that things are as they are, and not as we would prefer them to be.”

You may learn to appreciate the richness of nature more deeply, concentrate better on your work, and improve your relationships with others. You may be able to respond more constructively to unpleasant feelings such as depression and anxiety, and you may also develop or deepen your own spiritual practice. By developing new habits of attention, you may keep track of your keys, your glasses, and your time. And, as you apply yourself to each day's exercise, you may experience the richness of the world in a way that revitalizes your spirit.

This program requires an average commitment of about 30 minutes per day and many of the exercises are integrated into your daily routine. Yet with the structured guidance provided by this program, and the online support of other program participants from around the world, you can succeed in developing greater skill in using your attention in many areas of your life.

“The foolish reject what they see, not what they think; the wise reject what they think, not what they see.”
Huang Po

This program is designed as a practice program. You'll receive a model program with daily assignments/exercises, written support materials, and a faculty advisor who you can contact during the month for feedback, consultation or questions. Resource materials consist of an audio tape entitled Life is a Matter of Attention by Gregg Krech, along with selected readings.

The program's online discussion list is open only to class participants and allows you to share your experiences, ideas and comments related to the theme of attention. Many participants have found that the discussion enhances their daily efforts. The ideas, tips, challenges and successes that are shared on the list contribute to a sense of camaraderie amongst participants, provide an ongoing stream of real-life examples, and create a sense of shared purpose. As part of a larger learning community, each participant's efforts not only benefit their own life but also support those making a similar effort.

Program Cost: $80 ($65 for ToDo Institute Members)
Tuition includes a book and written materials, calendar of assignments for the entire month, participation in the online discussion group, and access to a program advisor throughout the month for questions and consultation. If you have participated in this program in the past, you can receive a 50% alumni discount. Overseas participants add $5 for additional postage. Late registrants (after the 20th of the month prior to month of the program) add $5 late fee.

For more information on Attention and Japanese Psychology, read the article When It Comes to Attention, "I" am the Enemy.

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Long-distance Learning Programs

Our distance learning programs are practice programs. The emphasis is on doing exercises and assignments and learning from your own experience. You should be prepared to devote an average of 30 minutes per day to the exercises and assignments. As part of a larger learning community, your training not only benefits you but also supports others who are making a similar effort.

The tuition cost is $65 per program for members and $80 for non-members; the cost for a couple registering together is $10 more. Tuition includes written materials and/or audio tape, calendar of assignments for the entire month, participation on the private mailing list for the course, shipping costs and access to a program advisor throughout the month. There is an additional discount of $30 if you register for at least three programs in this series. Additional discounts are available for alumni (please call). If you would like more information about these programs please contact us at (802) 453-4440 or by e-mail todo@together.net. You may also register on-line.

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Who Are We?

The ToDo Institute is a non-profit educational center located nestled in the foothills of the Green mountains in central Vermont. We serve as a meeting place between east and west, where methods of Japanese Psychology blend with western culture to provide powerful tools for enhancing our lives. The applications of our work bridge the gap between the spiritual, the psychological and the practical. Facilitators for this distance learning program include Linda Anderson Krech, MSW and co-author of A Finger Pointing to the Moon: A Workbook for Establishing Direction and Focus in Daily Life.

If you'd like more information about what we do, you can take a tour at our homepage and browse through our library. Thank you.