Mindfulness
PCW supports the development of mindfulness for individuals, groups, and communities in several ways:
Using mindfulness in behavioral healthcare training
One-time workshops
Series of offerings customized to the culture of your space
Consulting
Research
Read more about Jo’s contemplative background here.
Mindfulness from our perspective
The root term for mindfulness, sati, has shifted in meaning over the last 2500 years from "memory" to "lucid awareness," to "bare attention" - terms which only begin to describe the heart of mindfulness. The way we pay attention is just as important as paying attention itself - mindfulness was developed in a complex tapestry of cultural and spiritual values embedded within Buddhism.
At the same time, forms of mindfulness have always existed in cultures across the globe, with slightly different definitions, values, and supportive practices.
When we are mindful, we are always mindful of something. We might be mindful of the body as we lay in bed, we might be mindful of the sun on our face while laying in the park, we may even become mindful of challenging thoughts, approaching them intentionally with aloha, developing pilina with them, to alleviate the suffering that comes from avoidance or pushing away. The way we do this is with kindness, friendliness, aloha, pono, wisdom, compassion.
Despite frequent contemporary misappropriation of the practice, true mindfulness is inseparable from justice, the body, community, and collective awakening. As Larry Yang reminds us, "Mindfulness practice has to be about inclusivity and diversity and justice if it is to be kind and compassionate and wise." From the book Radical Dharma, williams, Owens, and Syedullah echo this notion, "Love and Justice are not two. Without inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters."
The benefits of mindfulness can be transformational, though everyone experiences the practice in their unique way. Empirical evidence suggests likely benefits such as:
Reduced stress, symptoms of burnout, anxiety, depression, and symptoms of trauma
Improved focus, interpersonal effectiveness, and wellbeing
Enhanced emotion regulation and pain management skills
Increased likelihood of health-supporting behaviors
We don’t view mindfulness as a cure-all here. The real outcomes depend on a range of variables: who’s teaching, who’s learning, how mindfulness is delivered (e.g., as part of a targeted intervention), environmental factors - the list goes on. It’s important to note that mindfulness is not relaxation, and it’s not always pleasant. What’s more, as with any activity, there are risks to mindfulness for some folx.
Our approach to mindfulness teaching (and just about everything else :)) at PCW is trauma-informed, accessible, and adaptive. The practitioner is always empowered to choose what’s supportive and kind in each moment.
Read more about mindfulness from the empirical literature:
