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Saki
Santorelli, director of the Center for Mindfulness, got things going
Friday night by declaring that “the time has come… for practice,
discipline, turning inward, so that we can find the capacity to act in
the world in new ways.” Kabat-Zinn
then emphasized that, in the face of the world’s many troubles,
mindfulness is not a quick fix, but it does offer ways to find a deeper
experience of our minds and hearts. And this deeper experience can
influence society at all levels and in many ways. “Seeds are being
planted by many people,” he said, “people who are on fire with
dedication and enthusiasm to live authentically and share that with
others. The seeds will grow into something much larger.” The
field reports began with Rhonda Magee, professor of law at the
University of San Francisco, who talked about how she had gradually
brought more and more elements of mindfulness into the curriculum.
Kristi Nelson, director of resource development and community relations
at the Center for Mindfulness, suggested that the practice can help us
align our money habits with our deepest values. Jenny Lykken, of Google,
reported on a variety of programs at her company that promote emotional
intelligence and mindfulness. Ali and Atman Smith outlined their
program for at-risk youth. And finally, retired Army Captain Elizabeth
Stanley talked about how the program she started, Mindfulness-Based Mind
Fitness Training, has been teaching soldiers and marines how to
increase their mind–body awareness while on duty. Congressman
Tim Ryan posed some timely questions during his talk: Is slowing down,
paying a little more attention, and being kinder a radical agenda for
America? Who can argue with those values?
Videos
of the conference, including guided meditations, keynote addresses,
field reports, and the town hall, are available free at
live.soundstrue.com.
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