Hi, starting off a blog is a bit daunting but here goes…
Evidence for the link between cortisol (the stress hormone) and depression seems to grow stronger. The recent piece of research looked at teenage boys. The question in my mind is … given mindfulness seems to lower cortisol levels, does this give credibility to the notion that mindfulness practices can head off depression early in ones life?
I’m lucky enough to live within cycling distance of the Realm of the Deathless! Well actually it’s a Theravadin Monastery in Great Gaddesden, just outside Hemel Hempstead, called Amaravati which, in Pali I believe, means The Realm of The Deathless. I’ve biked up the hill today, Easter Sunday, and I’m writing this is the delightful…
Just returned from a glorious day at Amaravati monastery organised by the lovely people in ALBA the Amaravati Lay Buddhist Association. Walked back over Ashridge to Berkhampsted station in the twilight got lost in the dark.. but so saw a bright moon and Betelgeuse. Silent sitting and walking in the morning , followed by a…
You know when something is going mainstream when mindfulness gets 2 mentions on Radio 4 for within 12 hrs or so. This morning Vishvapani, during “Thought for the day”, talked about the denizens of our parliament taking it up. On “The Bottom Line” a publisher mentions that over 100 books about mindfulness were published last…
The discussion about the corporatisation of mindfulness is getting interesting. Thich Nhat Hanh has joined in the discussion during his recent visit to US where he held workshops at, among other places, Google and The World Bank. His view: that as long as business leaders practice “true mindfulness” it does not matter if the intention…
“No man (or woman) is lonely eating spaghetti; it requires to much attention” Christopher Morley. I love this quote. I saw it first on the wall of a cook shop in Islington. I don’t know if Mr Morley was a meditator but his little riff nicely illustrates the point we can only attend to one…
Nifty bit of research that involved actually talking to managers who have a mindfulness practice. I can certainly identify with the outcome. Indeed much of my practice took place in busy organisations and teams. Not always succeeding but sometimes managing to achieve seemingly effortless calm in the midst of deadlines and expanding to do lists…..