Soul’s Search for Happiness: From Ananda to Individuation
Oregon Friends of Jung Presents
A Weekend with Dr. Ashok Bedi
Soul’s Search for Happiness:
From Ananda to Individuation
Exploring Happiness, Meaning & the Bliss Body through
Eastern Wisdom, Depth Psychology & Neuroscience
February 19–20, 2027 • Portland, Oregon
FRIDAY EVENING TALK • 7:00 – 9:00 PM
“Is Happiness Real or an Illusion?”
In these chaotic and uncertain times, so many of us are searching for meaning, clarity, and an anchor. Is happiness something we chase—or something we discover within? Dr. Bedi will explore this timeless question through the lenses of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, modern neuroscience, and depth psychology. From the ancient concept of Ananda (bliss) to the neurotransmitters that shape our moods, this talk weaves Eastern spiritual wisdom with contemporary science to reveal the soul’s deeper search—not for fleeting pleasure, but for lasting purpose and meaning. The evening includes audience conversation and Q&A.
SATURDAY WORKSHOP • 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
“Awakening the Bliss Body: Pathways to Ananda”
This experiential workshop invites you on a journey from the gross body to the bliss body, drawing on the Taittiriya Upanishad’s five sheaths of consciousness. Participants will begin with a personal Happiness Assessment to ground the exploration, then move through teachings on the Bhagavad Gita’s paths of selfless action, devotion, and balance—alongside the neuroscience of bliss, including the roles of serotonin, oxytocin, nitric oxide, and endorphins. The workshop includes guided Pranayama (breathwork), mindfulness meditation, journaling, and reflective conversation—practical tools for activating your own inner wellspring of joy and meaning.
ABOUT DR. ASHOK BEDI
Ashok Bedi, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, and Training Analyst at the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago. A widely published author and sought-after speaker, Dr. Bedi is known for his warm, engaging style and his unique integration of Eastern spiritual traditions—Hindu philosophy, the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, and yogic practices—with depth psychology and neuroscience. His clinical practice and published research on Pranayama and its neurological effects bring both scholarly depth and lived experience to his presentations. He has lectured internationally and is recognized for making complex ideas accessible and personally meaningful for audiences of all backgrounds.
Upcoming Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 Season – Oregon Friends of Jung