Concerns of a Former Buddhist Monk A psychotherapist commented to me the other day that, “Mindfulness has little or nothing to do with introspection. It’s about learning to be in the ‘here and now,’ living in the present moment.” Such simplistic notions of mindfulness upset me, especially coming from a healthcare professional. The fact is, … The post The True Meaning of Mindfulness appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

Peer-pressure, shame, embarrassment, fear of judgment—these are some of the reactive mental patterns that trigger our behavior. In Mindfulness Live we talk about reactivity all the time, focusing on one pattern per week. There are the negatives, like guilt, anger, denial and fear, as well as the positives, such as increased attention, empathy, discernment and … The post What we do in Mindfulness Live appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

I was trained as a Buddhist monk, so to me mindfulness means more than stress reduction. Already, thousands of #MBSR practitioners have found that it also delivers resilience and a deeper sense of purpose. Even more rarely discussed is its role in ethical life. Sadly, the words 'ethical' and 'moral' have become quaint, old-fashioned and apparently irrelevant. … The post Mindfulness & Civility appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

Buddhism began a new experiment in the 1970s. After being prodded and explored by a few eccentric Victorians, there was now talk for the first time of ‘Western Buddhism.’ It wasn’t clear how it would turn out, but it felt immanent. What’s grown since then isn’t western so much as modern—not a product of any one culture. Religious … The post The Buddhism Experiment appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

When people hear that my wife has multiple sclerosis (MS) and can’t walk, they cringe painfully. Sure it’s not good news—but they assume it’s a nightmare disaster of a situation with no upside, and that we can’t possibly have a life. They’re so wrong. I always knew what to expect. Caroline warned me repeatedly, “Go! … The post How Chronic Illness Helped My Relationship Grow appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

Mindfulness is often thought of as a spiritual practice. Nothing could be further from the truth. The practice of mindfulness begins in the body. Step One is to attend to your sensations—in other words, the electrical signals sent to your brainstem, as well as its relays back to the eye, ear, nose, tongue or skin. … The post Fake News About Mindfulness appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

In the four months since this class began, my whole outlook to it has changed. I was concerned about making such a commitment, afraid it would become too demanding. Like you, I’ve got lots of stuff to do—more than everIt turns out I can’t wait for those meeting three times a week. I need them … The post Mindfulness Live appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

Caroline and I went out this afternoon to pick up supplements. We ordered in advance; they dropped the order in the back seat. The transaction took seconds and we all wore masks. It was easy and organized. So I wonder about those people who refuse to wear masks, who feel unfree when they’re asked to. … The post How Free Can You Be? appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

What a year! Not exactly one we want to commemorate, but unforgettable—a game-changer. Life as we know it stopped. There’ll eventually be a new normal, but it’ll take some getting used to. Let’s not forget that change itself is normal. Even pandemics have their time and place in the saga of human history. It’s a … The post Bye-bye 2020 appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more

For me, mindfulness isn’t just a way to stay calm. I was still a young man when it became the most important thing in my life, even though no one else had the faintest idea what I was doing. Nothing was harder for me than living in the moment, and yet there was nothing I … The post A New Way to Learn appeared first on Stephen Schettini ..read more