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MINDFULNESS AND INNER GROWTH

8-10 September 2022

Venue

Wongsanit Ashram, Central Thailand

Facilitators

Pracha Hutanuwatr

Mindfulness is an indispensable tool for any inner growth approach without which any lofty ideal will not be sustainable. This 3-day practical learning will make this timeless art a living reality in our daily life. We will study, observe, explore and practice the 7 factors for Awakening and the 4 Foundations for Mindfulness. This is not an abstract calculation. Rather it is the practice of not taking anything personally and taking full responsibility for our impact on society and the planet at the same time. Participants will learn to master skillful means of: grounding in the body; embracing our feelings & emotions; dis-identifying with thoughts and memories; loving kindness meditation; meditation on death and dying. These will help us be less self-centred, more unconditionally confident and content.

LEARNING GOAL

To put oneself together to be stable and whole in the chaotic modern world with empathy and less self-centeredness.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main objectives of mindfulness practice, in general, are to

  1. calm the mind: less distraction and ‘monkey mind’, easier to focus

  2. empower the mind: lots of energy: ready for work

  3. be happy and joyful without external stimulants

  4. see things as they are; more understanding

  5. be less self-centred; more compassionate


The main objectives for change workers are to

  1. develop sensitivity to other’s feelings and thoughts/ base for non-exploitative/ non-competitive /cooperative relationship

  2. transform ego-self to eco-self; not to take things personally but engage actively

  3. make us a healthy worker for social change; prevent burn-out, depression, allowing us to commit seriously to the work with a sense of acceptance/equanimity, humour and joy.

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Full Programme

Recommended Reading

  • Chenoweth, E. & Stephan, M. J. (2011). Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict, New York: Columbia University Press.

  • Flaxman, F. & Flook, L. (2008). Brief Summary of Mindfulness Research. Medicine, Health Care, and Society 6th Annual Conference, Worcester, 10-12 April 2008.

Retrieved From: http://marc.ucla.edu/workfiles/pdfs/marc-mindfulness-research-summary.pdf

  • Nhat Hanh, Thich (2007). The Art of Power. New York: HarperOne.

    • Chapter 1 True Power

    • Chapter 3 The Art of Mindfulness

  • Nhat Hanh, Thich (2001). Call Me By My True Names: The Collected Poems. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press.

  • Now and Zen: How mindfulness can change your brain and improve your health. Longwood Seminars, March 8, 2016.

Retrieved From: https://hms.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/assets/Harvard%20Now%20and%20Zen%20Reading%20Materials.pdf

  • Paulus, T. (2000). Hope for the Flowers. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

  • Roth, G. (1997). Sweat your Prayers. Movement as Spiritual Practice. Dublin: Newleaf, Gill & Macmillan.

    • Chapter 1 The Great Divide, page 1-9

  • Satyana Institute. Principles of Spiritual Activism.

Retrieved From: http://www.satyana.org/principles_new.html

  • Trungpa, Chšgyam (1973). Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism. Shambhala Publications, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts.

    • Chapter 1 Spiritual Materialism

    • Chapter 11 The Four Noble Truths

  • Wanis-St. John, A. & Rosen, N. (2017). Negotiating Civil Resistance, Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace.