CBRT Program Manager Teri Sivilli Contemplative practices are creating a culture shift and the Garrison Institute works to bring it to the professional fields that need it most. Recent articles highlight how aid workers are at risk for PTSD and how mindfulness-based approaches can benefit them. The Institute brings these benefits to aid workers through its Contemplative-Based Resilience Training…
Visual mapping of compassionate pro-social behavior Researchers at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion, Altruism Research and Education used an open-source mapping tool to see how pro-social behaviors and acts of compassion and kindness affected people who witnessed them in a controlled experiment. After five days participants reported lower levels of depression, anger and stress, and higher levels of…
Thomas Moore Please join us March 31 for a free public talk with Thomas Moore. Moore is the author of the bestselling Care of the Soul and 15 other books on deepening spirituality and cultivating soul in every aspect of life. Moore’s new book A Religion of One’s Own is about creating a personal, authentic spiritual path that bridges the…
Thoughts recorded at a Climate, Mindand Behavior symposium. This spring the Climate Mind and Behavior (CMB) program of the Garrison Institute, in partnership with the Kresge Foundation, will convene a three-day by-invitation summit of local government service providers from around the country. The meeting will address how they can be most effective at helping municipalities take action on climate change.…
Can contemplative practice support culture shifts in key social change fields like education and climate change? Our Climate, Mind and Behavior (CMB) and Contemplative Teaching and Learning (CTL) programs offer thoughtful monthly updates that connect the latest research and news from the field to the big-picture questions we’re all pondering. CMB director John McIlwain asked in a recent issue, “Is…
Photo by Resurge International In Syria and many other conflict and disaster zones around the world, physical danger, chronic stress, burnout and constant exposure to others’ suffering are occupational hazards for aid workers. Our Contemplative Based Resilience Training (CBRT) program teaches contemplative skills that enhance their resilience, well-being and effectiveness in tough environments. We’re offering CBRT trainings to humanitarian…
Together with the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, in November we’re presenting the second semi-annual Buddhist Contemplative Care Symposium, “Communication and the Interpersonal Relationship Within Palliative and End of Life Care.” It’s a unique opportunity for doctors, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, chaplains and volunteers to explore contemplative skills that deepen their connection with patients and improve patient…
Susan Myers Contemplative teaching and learning is growing fast as research expands and educators explore contemplative strategies in their work. Teachers are chronicling this firsthand in our “Coming to CARE” blog, including this entry by Susan Myers, who introduced yoga breathing into her art classes, which she calls “art breathing.” This August we’re offering a face-to-face opportunity for…