Mindfulness – Are we all on the same page?

1. Mindfulness in Indian Country meeting Indigenous Wellness Research Institute February 20 & 21, 2014 Mindfulness – Are we all on the same page? Bonnie Duran Dr.P.H., Associate Professor U. of Washington--School of Public Health  and Indigenous Wellness Research Institute 

2. Objectives • Definitions and uses of mindfulness in health and wellness • Reflect on one history of mindfulness in Indian Country • A short history of my journey-

4. Mindfulness in the West • Two sources of Mindfulness theory and practice • Buddhist study and practice • Western Medicine & Education

5. Origins of Mindfulness in Medicine • In 1979, Jon Kabat-Zinn adapted Mindfulness into a secular (now known as “applied”), 8-week program format “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction” (MBSR). • It was initially offered in a hospital setting for people with a variety of health conditions.

6. Overview of Mindfulness • Mindfulness is a potential quality of human consciousness characterized by an accepting awareness of and enhanced attention to the constant stream of lived experience. • Being mindful increases engagement with the present moment and allows for a clearer understanding of how thoughts and emotions can impact our health and quality of life. • Mindfulness can be cultivated through meditation practice. Mindfulness meditation practices have been formalized in programs such as (a) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR),(b) Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and (c) Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)(b) as well as other programs . • Although mindfulness is an inherent human capacity that has been examined introspectively for millennia, scientific interest in mindfulness is burgeoning in the fields of medicine, psychology, social work, and business, as well as other areas. • From http://www.mindfulexperience.org David Black MPH, PhD

7. The scientific study of mindfulness • Includes: • a database of research publications • measurement tools to assess mindfulness • the evidence base for mindfulness interventions • centers conducting mindfulness research @ http://www.mindfulexperience.org

8. Evidence Based Interventions

9. Mindfulness is blowing up….

10. More Mindfulness Definitions Bishop, Lau, and colleagues (2004) offer a two-component model of mindfulness • 1st Component involves the self-regulation of attention so that it is maintained on immediate experience, thereby allowing for increased recognition of mental events in the present moment. • 2nd component involves adopting a particular orientation toward one’s experiences in the present moment, an orientation that is characterized by curiosity, openness, and acceptance.

11. Mindfulness (SATI) in Western Buddhism • “As a mental quality, sati represents the deliberate cultivation and a qualitative improvement of the receptive awareness that characterizes the initial stages of the perception process. Important aspects of sati are bare and equanimous receptivity, combined with a broad and open state of mind. • One of the central tasks of sati is the de-automatization of habitual reactions and perceptual evaluations. • Sati thereby leads to a progressive restructuring of perceptual appraisal, and culminates in an undistorted vision of reality “as it is”.

12. Satipatthana- The Four Foundations of Mindfulness • The element of non-reactive watchful receptivity in sati forms the foundation for Satipatthana as an ingenious middle path, which neither suppresses the contents of experiences nor compulsively reacts to them.” http://www.watflorida.org/

13. New Classic

14. Early Retreats • American Indian/Indigenous Retreats- New Mexico

15. The Community Dharma Leaders program- 31/2 years Taught by Baraz and Brach, The Community Dharma Leaders program includes comprehensive training and competencies to: • Bring Dharma values and sensibilities into leadership within lay practice, professional, secular, and community venues; • Lead sitting groups; Teach beginning classes and daylong retreats; • Develop community-based Sanghasand dharma organizations; • Embody the skills needed for attunement, empathy and sensitivity to the role of teacher, the communities being taught and within the context of team teaching. • Facilitate rites of passage and develop competency with Buddhist ritual; and • Explore community outreach to people and communities heretofore underrepresented.

16. Buddhist/Mindfulness Retreat Teacher Training Program (Minister) • 4- year course of training- apprenticeship (SR 10/16-26) JK, WKZ • Sponsors: Western Theravada Tradition- Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, Insight Meditation Center, etc…

17. Mindfulness programing for POC • East Bay Meditation Center—Annual Indigenous Presence Meditation benefit for • POC retreats at IMS and SRMC • Chris Charles- Seattle Insight Teen Meditation Group

18. Other Training in Applied Mindfulness • UCLA MARC Center- Dr. Renda Dionne • Stanford Compassion Training Center • Dedicated Practitioners Program (DPP) • U Mass – MBSR • Compassion Institute in Univ. Winnepeg • Others??

19. In a perfect world… • Develop “Indigenous Presence” intervention for TCU or Tribal Behavioral health and treatment settings • Integrated into teaching • What else?