Spiritual Resources (Mindfulness & Meditation)
The Greater Good Science Center
The center studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being and teach skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.
Based at the University of California, Berkeley, one of the world’s leading institutions of research and higher education, the GGSC is unique in its commitment to both science and practice: Not only do they sponsor groundbreaking scientific research into social and emotional well-being, they help people apply this research to their personal and professional lives.
Since 2001, they have been at the fore of a new scientific movement to explore the roots of happy and compassionate individuals, strong social bonds, and altruistic behavior—the science of a meaningful life. And they have been without peer in their efforts to translate and disseminate this science to the public, including through their award-winning online magazine, Greater Good.
Insight Meditation Society
IMS is one of the Western world’s oldest and most-respected meditation retreat centers. They are dedicated to providing a spiritual refuge for all who seek freedom of mind and heart. Their experienced teachers offer guidance in Buddhist meditations known as vipassana (insight) and metta (loving kindness). While the context is the Buddha’s teachings, these practices are universal. They help to develop awareness and compassion in ourselves, giving rise to greater peace and happiness in the world. Their two adjacent retreat facilities – the Retreat Center and the Forest Refuge – are set among almost 400 secluded wooded acres in the quiet country of central Massachusetts.
Palouse Mindfulness (8 Week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program)
This online MBSR training course is 100% free, created by a fully certified MBSR instructor, Dave Potter, and is based on the program founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. A complete MBSR course, designed for people who are not able to take a live MBSR course for financial or logistical reasons. All of the materials used in the live courses Dave Potter taught, including guided meditations, articles and videos, are freely available on his website.
Mindfulness Exercises
Premium resources and trainings for you to deepen your mindfulness and teach mindfulness to others by Sean Fargo. Sean immersed himself in mindfulness practice as a Buddhist monk in Thailand for 2 years, and since then has spent the last 15 years focused on sharing mindfulness practices across organizations, into the community, and across the globe. Sean has worked alongside mindfulness pioneers such as Jack Kornfield, Gabor Maté, Rick Hanson and Sharon Salzberg, and has taught mindfulness and meditation for corporations including Tesla, Kaiser Permanente, Facebook, Ernst & Young, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, he served as an Instructor for the mindfulness program born at Google. Mindfulness is being aware of our moment-to-moment experience without judgment. Simple, but not easy. This website can help.
Mindful
Mindful Communications is a Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society. Mindful is the voice of the emerging mindfulness community.
Mindful works to provide insight, information, and inspiration to help us all live more mindfully. From corporate training through LifeXT by Mindful, mindful.org, online learning, their conferences and collaborations, their activities support people seeking to learn more as well as leaders working to bring genuine mindfulness practices into the mainstream.
They offer courses, corporate training, personal stories, news-you-can-use, practical advice, directories, and insights that speak to anyone from novice meditators looking for guidance to corporate managers exploring new ways to cultivate workplace engagement and fulfillment. Mindful’s audience learns from leaders in the field about effective techniques for mindful living, and the science that points to its benefits.
Mindful Awareness Research Center
The UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) is a leading center for the study and practice of mindfulness. MARC’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of individuals and communities through the research, education, and dissemination of mindfulness.
MARC offers a variety of mindfulness programs and resources, including:
- Mindfulness classes and workshops: MARC offers a variety of mindfulness classes and workshops for individuals and groups. These classes teach the basics of mindfulness meditation and how to apply it to everyday life.
- Free guided meditations: MARC offers a library of free guided meditations that can be accessed online or through the MARC app. These meditations are a great way to learn about mindfulness and to start practicing it on your own.
- Research: MARC conducts research on the benefits of mindfulness for a variety of mental and physical health conditions. This research helps to inform the development of mindfulness programs and to demonstrate the effectiveness of mindfulness for improving health and well-being.
- Education: MARC offers training programs for mindfulness teachers and professionals. These programs help to ensure that mindfulness is taught and practiced in a safe and effective way.
The UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about mindfulness and how it can be used to improve health and well-being.
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a type of psychotherapy that combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness meditation. It is designed to help people who have experienced recurrent depression learn how to be more aware of their thoughts and feelings, and to respond to them in a more mindful way.
MBCT teaches people how to focus their attention on the present moment without judgment. This helps them to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, and to see them as they really are, without getting caught up in them. This can help people to break the cycle of negative thinking that can lead to depression. MBCT has been shown to be effective in preventing relapse in people with recurrent depression. It can also help people to manage anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions.
MBCT is typically used for people who have experienced recurrent depression. However, it can also be helpful for people with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, stress, and chronic pain. MBCT is typically a 8-week program, with one session per week. Each session lasts for 2 hours. MBCT is offered by a variety of healthcare providers, including therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists. You can find a list of MBCT providers in your area by searching online or contacting your local mental health clinic. I hope this summary description of MBCT is helpful. Please check out the MBCT website.
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health is a nonprofit organization that operates a health and yoga retreat in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1983, Kripalu offers a variety of programs and services, including yoga teacher trainings, workshops, retreats, and online courses. The Kripalu campus is located in the Berkshire Mountains, and the surrounding area offers stunning scenery and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. Kripalu’s facilities include a 160,000-square-foot yoga studio, a library, a spa, and a variety of dining options. Kripalu’s programs and services are based on the principles of yoga, mindfulness, and holistic health.
The organization’s mission is to “ignite personal and societal transformation.” Kripalu’s programs are designed to help people of all levels of experience connect with their bodies, minds, and spirits. The center’s offerings range from gentle yoga classes to vigorous vinyasa sessions. Kripalu also offers programs on a variety of topics, including stress management, weight loss, and relationships. Kripalu is a popular destination for people seeking a transformational experience. The center’s programs have helped thousands of people improve their health, well-being, and quality of life.
Here are some of the benefits of Kripalu yoga:
- Improved physical health: Kripalu yoga can help to improve flexibility, strength, and balance. It can also help to reduce stress and improve cardiovascular health.
- Improved mental health: Kripalu yoga can help to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and boost self-esteem. It can also help to increase focus and concentration.
- Improved spiritual health: Kripalu yoga can help to connect people with their inner selves and with the world around them. It can also help to develop a sense of peace and well-being.
If you are looking for a way to improve your health, well-being, and quality of life, Kripalu yoga may be a good option for you. The center offers a variety of programs and services to meet the needs of people of all levels of experience.
Self Compassion
Kristin Neff received her doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley, and is currently an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.
During Kristin’s last year of graduate school she became interested in Buddhism and has been practicing meditation in the Insight Meditation tradition ever since. While doing her post-doctoral work she decided to conduct research on self-compassion – a central construct in Buddhist psychology and one that had not yet been examined empirically. Kristin is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, creating a scale to measure the construct almost 20 years ago. She has been recognized as one of the world’s most influential research psychologists. In addition to writing numerous academic articles and book chapters on the topic, she is author of the book Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, and her latest Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power and Thrive.
In conjunction with her colleague Dr. Chris Germer, she has developed an empirically supported training program called Mindful Self-Compassion, which is taught by thousands of teachers worldwide. They co-authored The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook as well as Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals. She is also co-founder of the nonprofit Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.
Tara Brach
Tara Brach’s teachings blend Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world. The result is a distinctive voice in Western Buddhism, one that offers a wise and caring approach to freeing ourselves and society from suffering.