Mindfulness Talks
Mindfulness is the cognitive skill, usually developed through meditation, of sustaining meta-attention of the contents of one's own mind in the present moment. Mindfulness derives from sati, a significant element of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and is based on Zen, Vipassanā, and Tibetan meditation techniques. Though definitions and techniques of mindfulness are wide-ranging, Buddhist traditions describe what constitutes mindfulness, such as how perceptions of the past, present and future arise and cease as momentary sense-impressions and mental phenomena. Individuals who have contributed to the popularity of mindfulness in the modern Western context include Thích Nhất Hạnh, Joseph Goldstein, Herbert Benson, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Richard J. Davidson.
Clinical psychology and psychiatry since the 1970s have developed a number of therapeutic applications based on mindfulness for helping people experiencing a variety of psychological conditions. Mindfulness practice has been employed to reduce depression, stress, anxiety, and in the treatment of drug addiction. Programs based on mindfulness models have been adopted within schools, prisons, hospitals, veterans' centers, and other environments, and mindfulness programs have been applied for additional outcomes such as for healthy aging, weight management, athletic performance, helping children with special needs, and as an intervention during early pregnancy.
Clinical studies have documented both physical- and mental-health benefits of mindfulness in different patient categories as well as in healthy adults and children. Studies have shown a positive relationship between trait mindfulness (which can be cultivated through the practice of mindfulness-based interventions) and psychological health. The practice of mindfulness appears to provide therapeutic benefits to people with psychiatric disorders, including moderate benefits to those with psychosis. Studies also indicate that rumination and worry contribute to a variety of mental disorders, and that mindfulness-based interventions can enhance trait mindfulness and reduce both rumination and worry. Further, the practice of mindfulness may be a preventive strategy to halt the development of mental-health problems. Mindfulness practices have been said to enable individuals to respond more effectively to stressful situations by helping them strike the balance between over-identification and suppression of their emotional experiences by finding the middle point which is recognition and acceptance.
Evidence suggests that engaging in mindfulness meditation may influence physical health. For example, the psychological habit of repeatedly dwelling on stressful thoughts appears to intensify the physiological effects of the stressor (as a result of the continual activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis) with the potential to lead to physical health related clinical manifestations. Studies indicate that mindfulness meditation, which brings about reductions in rumination, may alter these biological clinical pathways. Further, research indicates that mindfulness may favorably influence the immune system as well as inflammation, which can consequently impact physical health, especially considering that inflammation has been linked to the development of several chronic health conditions. Other studies support these findings.
Critics have questioned both the commercialization and the over-marketing of mindfulness for health benefits—as well as emphasizing the need for more randomized controlled studies, for more methodological details in reported studies and for the use of larger sample-sizes. While mindfulness-based interventions may be effective for youth, research has not determined methods in which mindfulness could be introduced and delivered in schools.
Title | Speaker | |
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Sunday Lecture Mindfulness, Daily Life, Posture, Half-Smile, Non-violence, Cultivation, Precepts,... |
May 24 1987 SFZC |
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Zen Flesh/Zen Bones: DokusanSerial: BZ-00887 Saturday Lecture Dokusan, Instruction, Interview, Daily Life, Beginners, Rinzai, Intuition, Hindrances... |
Mar 21 1987 Berkeley Zen Center |
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March 4th, 1987, Serial No. 00334Serial: BZ-00334 Sesshin Day 5 Concentration, Doubt, Posture, Equanimity, Mindfulness, Silent Illumination, Nirvana... |
Mar 04 1987 |
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Sesshin Lecture Equanimity, Harmonizing, Fox, New Year, Concentration, Beginners, Cultivation,... |
Mar 03 1987 SFZC |
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March 2nd, 1987, Serial No. 00333, Side ASerial: BZ-00333A Sesshin Day 3 Concentration, Mindfulness, Equanimity, Building, Anger, Harmonizing, Commitment,... |
Mar 02 1987 |
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January 10th, 1987, Serial No. 00561Serial: BZ-00561 Lecture Practice Period, Half-Smile, Daily Life, Pure Existence, Aspects of Practice,... |
Jan 10 1987 Unknown Location |
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Introductory Lecture realization, Silence, Zendo, Daily Life, Mindfulness, Happiness, Freedom, Peace... |
1987 |
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Heart Sutra CommentarySerial: SF-02698 Commercially produced cassette: Parallax Press, PO Box 7355 Berkeley CA 94707 Peace, Evil, Daily Life, Birth-and-Death, Concentration, Bowing, Enemies, Happiness,... |
1987 Unknown |
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May 10th, 1986, Serial No. 01467, Side A Chanting, Daily Life, Heart Sutra, Beginners, Bowing, American, Hindrances,... |
May 10 1986 |
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Discipline in PracticeSerial: BZ-00871B One-Day Sitting Monastic Practice, Forms, Daily Life, Lay, Precepts, Commitment, Continuous,... |
Jan 18 1986 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Concentration and Wisdom: One-Sided Mind and Whole MindSerial: BZ-00870A Saturday Lecture Concentration, Wisdom, Samadhi, Attachment, Concentration, Precepts, Anger, Mahayana... |
Dec 14 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Seven Factors of Enlightenment: Part IIISerial: BZ-00869B Rohatsu Day 6 Enlightenment, Concentration, Equanimity, Composure, Attachment, Concentration,... |
Dec 06 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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December 6th, 1985, Serial No. 00169 Consciousness, Ego, Buddha Nature, Intimacy, Mindfulness, Subject-and-Object,... |
Dec 06 1985 |
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December 6th, 1985, Serial No. 00385 Consciousness, Ego, Buddha Nature, Mindfulness, Subject-and-Object, Delusion, Samadhi... |
Dec 06 1985 |
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Seven Factors of Enlightenment: Part IISerial: BZ-00869A Second Factor: Investigation, Deep Analysis, Rohatsu Day 5 Enlightenment, Concentration, Posture, stubbornness, Building, Harmonizing,... |
Dec 05 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Seven Factors of Enlightenment: Part ISerial: BZ-00868B Mindfulness and Effort in Sesshin, Rohatsu Day 4 Enlightenment, Effort, Sesshin, Mindfulness, Posture, Concentration, Equanimity,... |
Dec 04 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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One Month Practice Period at TassajaraSerial: BZ-00868A Rohatsu Day 2 Tassajara, Practice Period, Practice Period, Tassajara, Mindfulness, Nirvana Sutra,... |
Dec 02 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 10th, 1985, Serial No. 00987OSB Cam, Mindfulness, War, Renewal, Continuous, confusion |
Nov 10 1985 |
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November 9th, 1985, Serial No. 00866, Side B Concentration, Evil, Berkeley Zen Center, Silence, Passions, Four Noble Truths,... |
Nov 09 1985 |
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Investigation and the Five Controlling FacultiesSerial: BZ-00865A Saturday Lecture Concentration, Mindfulness, Doubt, Zazen Mind, Daily Life, resistance, Karma,... |
Oct 19 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Hearing Sounds with Our Whole Body and MindSerial: BZ-00884B Saturday Lecture Mindfulness, Zendo, Daily Life, Judgement, Vinaya, Greed, Continuous, Nirvana,... |
Sep 28 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Considering the Hindrances and Seeing the DharmasSerial: BZ-00884A Saturday Lecture Hindrances, Mindfulness, Concentration, Equanimity, Hindrances, Study Period, Sixth... |
Sep 21 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sutra Study: The Meaning of Zazen and KinhinSerial: BZ-00413B Saturday Lecture Zazen, Kinhin, Lotus Sutra, Posture, Daily Life, Sixth Patriarch, Mindfulness, Bell,... |
Aug 10 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sitting Sesshin as a BeginnerSerial: BZ-00425B Sesshin Day 1 Sesshin, Zazen, Peace, Intuition, Hate, Posture, Anger, Silence, Concentration, Bell... |
Mar 16 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Creating Practice Using the Forms at HandSerial: BZ-00425A Layman Pang, Saturday Lecture Lay Practice, Layman Pang, Mindfulness, Buddha Mind, Sixth Patriarch, Monastic... |
Mar 09 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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March 5th, 1985, Serial No. 01477 Mindfulness, Tassajara, Obstacles, resistance, Continuous, Daily Life, Building,... |
Mar 05 1985 |
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Doing Zazen All Day Long Without Crossing Your LegsSerial: BZ-00423B Saturday Lecture Buddha Mind, Monastic Practice, Daily Life, Four Foundations, Posture, Anger,... |
Mar 02 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Buddha's ParinirvanaSerial: BZ-00423A Saturday Lecture Parinirvana, Birth-and-Death, Nirvana, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Buddha's... |
Feb 16 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #3Serial: BZ-00409A Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha, Saturday Lecture Buddha, Koan, BCR-3, First Principle, Buddha Nature, Cultivation, Judgement,... |
Feb 02 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Mindfulness Practice in SesshinSerial: BZ-01523A Vipassana and Samadhi, Saturday Lecture Mindfulness, Vipassana, Samadhi, Concentration, Mindfulness, Attachment,... |
Jan 19 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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January 14th, 1985, Serial No. 00168 Concentration, Compassion, Lay, Soto Zen, Mindfulness, Don't Know Mind,... |
Jan 14 1985 |
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The Four Foundations of MindfulnessSerial: BZ-01521 Don't Bow When You Leave the Zendo, Saturday Lecture Mindfulness, Four Foundations, Mindfulness, Daily Life, Attachment, Four Foundations... |
Jan 05 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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What Shall We Do in the New Year? (discussion)Serial: BZ-00408B Psychology/Women's Practice, Saturday Lecture New Year, Psychology, Women's Practice, Mindfulness, New Year, Beginners,... |
Dec 22 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Bowing PracticeSerial: BZ-00406B Rohatsu Bowing, Bowing, training, Non-duality, Instruction, Buddha Nature, Demons, Enemies,... |
Dec 06 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sesshin and Daily Life; Questions and DiscussionSerial: BZ-00406A Rohatsu Sesshin, Daily Life, Daily Life, Mindfulness, Harmonizing, Don't Know Mind,... |
Dec 05 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Meaning of GathasSerial: BZ-00395A Saturday Lecture Gathas, Bodhisattva Precepts, Priest-and-Lay, Lay, Precepts, Priest, Vows,... |
Jul 27 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Tsembupa Avalokitesvara, Serial 00081 Posture, Breath, Concentration, Letting Go, Renunciation, Mahayana, Mindfulness, Non-... |
Jul 17 1984 |
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The Spirit of the Mahayana Serial 00031 Bodhisattva Vow, difficulty, Monks, Mindfulness, Sanctuary, Interview, Describe,... |
May 17 1984 2nd session (1st intro) New York City |
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April 28th, 1984, Serial No. 00433, Side A Enemies, Aspects of Practice, Attachment, Concentration, Hate, resistance,... |
Apr 28 1984 |
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Making the Commitment to PracticeSerial: BZ-00404B Saturday Lecture Practice, Commitment, Commitment, Obstacles, stubbornness, resistance, Tassajara, Lay... |
Apr 21 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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December 19th, 1983, Serial No. 00419 Mindfulness, Daily Life, Samadhi, Beginners, Aspects of Practice, training, Anger,... |
Dec 19 1983 |
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The Dharma of EffortSerial: BZ-01520B Saturday Lecture Effort, Mindfulness, Study Period, Concentration, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Religion... |
Nov 27 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Mumonkan: Case #14 Pt. IISerial: BZ-01520A Ordinary Mind Is the Way, Saturday Lecture Ordinary Mind, MM-14, Ordinary Mind, Discrimination, Mindfulness, Non-discrimination... |
Nov 19 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Dharma of Mindfulness: Tassajara GathasSerial: BZ-00903A Saturday Lecture Mindfulness, Tassajara, Gathas, Mindfulness, Monastic Practice, Daily Life,... |
Nov 05 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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October 15th, 1983, Serial No. 00416, Side A Intimacy, Mindfulness, Separation, Culture, Anger, Interview, resistance, Describe,... |
Oct 15 1983 |
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Fast For LifeSerial: BZ-00396B Not Attaching to Life, Saturday Lecture Fasting, Attachment, Birth-and-Death, Fasting, Daily Life, Mindfulness, Vows,... |
Sep 03 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Practicing Without HindranceSerial: BZ-00396A Seeing the Absolute and Relative, Saturday Lecture Practice, Absolute-and-Relative, Hindrances, Daily Life, Discrimination, Teacher-and-... |
Aug 27 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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August 25th, 1983, Serial No. 00398 Eight Awarenesses, Lay, Demons, Right Effort, Equanimity, Mahayana, Passions,... |
Aug 25 1983 |
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Mumonkan: Case #46Serial: BZ-00397B Saturday Lecture MM-46, training, Four Foundations, Lay, Chanting, Lay Practice, Cultivation,... |
Jul 09 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Five Hindrances Four Noble Truths, Anger, Doubt, Demons, Mindfulness, Greed, Hindrances, Balance,... |
Jun 30 1983 SFZC |