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Mindfulness in Education Conference 2015

I recently returned from three  days in Denver for the 2015 Mindfulness in Education Conference. It consisted of two days of wonderful speakers and workshops, and a final day of mindfulness practice on Sunday. 

There are several such conferences now across the country, but this one was founded about eight years ago by Richard Brady, a former high school math teacher from Washington D.C. I've been fortunate to attend every conference put together by the MiEN folks, (Mindfulness in Education Network), and each year just seems to get better. It's now a three day event, with speakers and experts from around the country convening to share the insights from their work in the fields of mindfulness and education. 

My wife accompanied me on this trip, and after a day or two, she asked me,  "So what are you learning?.... Are you learning anything new?" 

I had to pause when she asked me this question. Certainly most of the concepts are familiar by now: defining mindfulness, the basics of the practice.... maybe some elementary brain  science. And yet, every speaker brings a new perspective, a new slant on these timeless practices. Some educators are wedding mindfulness to new fields of inquiry. For example, Renee Hill from Virginia State University- in a funny and provocative talk- shared how she includes contemplative practices in her philosophy class. And in the photo above, Dr. Dzung Vo -who works with teens in his medical practice- gave a "refreshed" definition of mindfulness, building on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn: Paying Attention in a particular way: On purpose in the Present Moment with Unconditional Love.

There is no end to the subtleties to be learned about mindfulness, about the mind, about education, and about life. 

One theme that emerged over the three days was that of interpersonal mindfulness- the idea that if mindfulness is to have its greatest impact it has to be practiced in the larger social context, whatever that may look like. Many people understandably take up a mindfulness practice to deal with personal pain: stress, anxiety, depression, or overwhelm...but it soon becomes apparent that salvation must in some way include others, for we are connected with others in so many ways, and our state of mind affects- and is affected by- other people.  

During a break on Saturday, I had a wonderful conversation with a young lady from Rutgers University. She glowed with excitement about the conference, and about the possibilities for mindfulness growing at her school. "I've found my tribe!," she exclaimed between bites of her sandwich. 

I know the feeling. 


For more information about the Mindfulness in Education Network, go to:
Mindfuled.org

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