Jon Kabat-Zinn – The Deeper Dimensions of Mindfulness
Jon Kabat-Zinn – The Deeper Dimensions of Mindfulness
Jon Kabat-Zinn is a Professor of Medicine Emeritus, mindfulness teacher, bestselling author and founder of the groundbreaking Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. He is the founding Executive Director of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Jon has received numerous awards for his work on MBSR such as the Interface Foundation Career Achievement Award and the New York Open Center’s 10th Year Anniversary Achievement in Medicine and Health Award in 1994; the Art, Science and Soul of Healing Award from the Institute of Health and Healing, California Pacific Medical Center in 1998; the 2nd Trailblazer Award for pioneering work in the field of integrative medicine by the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine in 2001; the Distinguished Friend Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in 2005; and, an Inaugural Pioneer in Integrative Medicine Award from the Bravewell Philanthropic Collaborative for Integrative Medicine in 2007. Jon has been a pioneer in making mindfulness mainstream.
In this interview Jon touches in on the deeper dimensions of mindfulness practice and the ‘self realisation’ that unfolds as a result of the practice. He clears up some common misconceptions about mindfulness and invites us to know for ourselves the sacredness that is inherent in this present moment (If we’ll only wake up to it).
He also answers the question “Is there a right way to practice” or a “right tradition” and gives wise advice on dealing with one of the biggest challenges in awakening.
Listen to Jon Kabat-Zinn here
Show Notes
Join The Mindfulness Summit Journey here
Come and join the community discussions at any time on our Facebook page
Here is a link to all of Jon’s books
You can find out more about the Center For Mindfulness here
A link to Eckhart Tolle’s Book ‘The Power of Now’
Check out Melli’s blog, events and retreats at MrsMindfulness.com
Audio
Video
Transcript
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Purchase a full access pass to unlock downloads for the full interview transcripts, audio, video and separate audio meditation tracks.
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Purchase a full access pass to unlock downloads for the full interview transcripts, audio, video and separate audio meditation tracks.
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Well, here we are. The last day of this mindful month together. It seems the summit is naturally deepening towards the end as we all continue to practice together. As you reflect on how this journey has been for you what comes to mind? For me it’s been a wonderful time of connecting with community (you all), of falling more in love with the practice and trusting myself and my own inner wisdom. I’ve loved sharing this very special journey with you and will keep you posted about a potential continuation of this summit!
With much love and much respect – Melli
This has been such a gift! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As a complete novice to mindfulness … I would like to take this opportunity of saying how much I have enjoyed and appreciated all the shared wisdom, shared knowledge and heartfelt compassion from this community. I have already started sharing mindfulness with those I work with (colleagues and clients) … my partner … my family. Engaging in mindful eating has been a huge (and timely) bonus for someone I love and who has been newly diagnosed with diabetes … and who now has to change habits of a lifetime. I have given a book on the subject … and purchased other books for Christmas gifts … such is the joy in engaging in moment to moment ‘experiencing’. I can’t wait to indulge in all the websites I have been bookmarking, from all the speakers … and really appreciative, Melli, this beautiful Summit … so passionately/compassionately put together by you (and others) to spread the message of love and how to enhance ones life. A heartfelt ‘thank you’. x
Thank YOU!
Melli, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this entire experience. I have learned so much, laughed and cried, been deeply touched and inspired, and am just in awe of what you’ve provided. This could not have come at a better time for me and it’s been life changing. I am committed to paying this gift forward in a thousand small and great ways ????
Ignore those question marks above. I forgot that emoticons don’t translate here!
You’re inspiration and vision are changing the world Melli.. From the inside out…don’t stop. With love and deepest thanks xx
Thank you so much, what a fabulous project and very much enjoyed.
Learnt about wider applications of Mindfulness – business, school, parenting, creativity, addiction. The revolution is underway. Thanks again Meli and team. xx
Melli,
Miracles abound-you have opened your heart, soul and arms and look what you have wrapped around you. Now, the miracle is shared. One of my teachers many years ago gave me a life changing gift. The gift of knowing that I might connect with others in such a way that there would be rapport with each individual and the entire group all at the same time. Here’s to you for nurturing a mindfulness community with your teachers and learners, in which you have rapport with each and with all together at the same time. Wow weeee, that blows the mind but only opens the heart to infinite love.
With a wink, a hug and an eye to the horizon, Paula
Thank you for putting together such a wonderful event!
Personally, the summit redifined Mindfulness for me. Mindfulness is not l 20 or 30 minutes of sitting , it is a way of life minute by minute regardless of the circumstances we are living in at any particular moment in our lives. Mindfulness is every breath.
I echo the thanks to you, Mellie O’Brien for the Mindfulness Summit. I never imagined how much I would learn over the course of this month with the different interviews, practices, or talks. The range of content expanded my knowledge and experience, exposed me to practitioners, educators, innovators, experimenters, guides, most of whom I had not known existed prior to this event. I am glad for the possibility that this will be extended in some fashion. Continued refreshing is important in any practice following an intensive experience to keep it energized. I look forward to the next part of the journey.
Melli ,i have tears in my eyes and gratitude for those 31 days that brought so much wisdom in mindfulness teaching to help me navigate in the right direction in a world that needs more love and compassion ,thank you so much you reflect beauty as well as love.
This was appreciated more than words can express. A truly wonderful and insightful experience. Thank you for the opportunity.
Thank you so much. This has been so great. Amazingly enough, I only missed ONE ! That is a huge thing for me and feel like I may be more consistent with my practice. You were a very special part of my day and I hope for more!
love, P*
Openness, connection and joy are 3 words which I feel about this experience. As a total beginner, I look forward to seeing what my mindfulness experience will be. What I know already is that I feel that I am among friends.Thank you Melli and crew and guests. You make the world a better place. Melli, I’m going to miss your sweet, world loving spirit! Good luck to you, good luck to us all.
Melli ~ I am so grateful to have come across the invitation to join you & the mindfulness submitt ~ I have so much stress in my life . I am always looking for anything to help me help myself . Thank you for putting together such a wonderful panel of speakers. I have been taking notes and added all the links to refer back to.. I missed one due to a late night in america. I am in the medical field and wanted you to know that a pharmaceutical representative mentioned she was following the summit! Her comment was she needed to take care of herself. I am happy to say she is . You are delightful to listen to and I enjoyed this experience. Thank you for caring so much~ the world is a better place with you in it. Peace & Love ~ Barbara
Please do continue it Melli. it’s been so wonderful!
To Melli, to all of your team and all of your speakers
You have touched my heart
I give you thanks –
you and me are i
i am the soaring bird in flight
i am the still mountain
my heart is the wide blue sky
the endless ocean
the tender shoot
i am all things
i am nothing
I am complete
I am empty
breathing in
i breathe in
breathing out
i breathe out
_/\_
So nice
i and i
Dear Melli, Thank you so much for all your hard work in putting together this amazing mindfulness summit. Having mostly practised alone in the UK, I cannot describe how significant it has been for me to feel that I am connecting with a whole community of other people all across the world who are also trying to live more mindfully and create a kinder, more compassionate and connected world. It has been so wonderful to feel part of something much bigger than me and to feel that I am not alone in this journey. The teachings we have listened to have really helped to deepen my practice, to feel more committed to regular practice and much more fully integrate mindfulness into my everyday life. I must admit to feeling a sense of sadness and loss this morning on realising that this is the last day, but as I reflect on the last month I also feel a sense of celebration at all the new realisations, experiences, and possibilities that this summit has brought me. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to having made this experience possible!
Hi Tracey, You are not alone! We have a whole community here to support you. I feel that this is not the end but actually the beginning of something that will be ongoing. Stay tuned as we figure out how we can continue to support this amazing community.
I am so glad to hear that this summit has supported you intention to live a more kind and mindful life. I’m so glad you are here with us. Love to you – Melli x
This summit has been amazing. I’ve learned so much, and the added links have blown my mind with how much is out there. I love mindfulness, it completely changed my life by not changing anything at all and this summit has only added to my joy. Thank you♥
Dear Melli, your team and your guest speakers, thank you so much for the wonderful month of open hearted learning, insight and inspiration you have shared with the world! I also echo all the other lovely comments people have been saying in thanks during the last month. I am feeling a bit sad that the interviews have ended for now, but am so glad I purchased the downloads so I can continue to listen to the amazing speakers for a long time to come. Thank you thank you thank you x Jenny from Sydney Australia
I have to learnt how to love myself, something I had now allowed myself. I have always been THERE for others and will continue to do so with love in my heart for them but the difference being I will have love in my heart for myself too.
Thank you all involved in the summit for this inspiring journey, love and kindness to all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I’m so very much inspired by The Mindfulnesssummit to take up mindfulness again. I’m so greatful for you to organise this wonderful event. I’m so humbled by the love and wisdom of all the speakers. I was really moved to tears again and again and especially by the beautiful words of Jon Kabat Zin. I met his book recovering from lymes dissease in 1990 and it helped me to get through difficult times just by learning to accept what is. Dear Melli (and team) I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Mindfully yours, Hans
Thanks Hans! Your kind words sink deep tonight after a long day of work : ) We’re so glad to know this summit has been helpful for you. Wonderful to have you as part of this community. I wish you presence and peace…Mindfully yours : ) Melli x
Thank you for this summit. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about mindfulness from so many people who are so knowledgeable. It was an amazing eye opener!. Thank you for sharing it on line and making it so accessible, and for the guided meditations. It gave me the sense that the first step on this long journey is as easy as taking the decision. It’s all at hand.
Jon has been an an icing on the cake Melli. What a wonderful end to the summit. I can never be more beautiful….Thank you a million times Melli and Matt behind the scene …I am really grateful for the opportunity that has been provided you Melli and your team….. Thanks again and my sincere respect…
I have a happy heart to see the wonderful Jon Kabat-Zinn, it was thanks to him that I discovered the power of mindfulness only a few months ago when I stumbled on a youtube video. Since then I have read Full Catastrophe Living and Where Ever You Go, There You Are. He really has changed my life for the better as I’m sure he has done for so many others.
At the same time I am sad to see the end of this summit. As I am alone I have no others to talk about mindfulness with and no one to connect with, so it’s been so good to have been involved in the discussions on this site and reading what everyone has been saying. I will miss it. Thanks Melli and the mindfulness team for all you have done and thanks to all the speakers. I’m really looking forward to tonight’s live meditation, a very special treat to have it lead by Jon Kabat-Zinn himself ! A great end to a great summit.
I can’t thank you enough for designing and facilitating this summit Melli and Matt. It has been a remarkable journey which has taught me so much and reinvigorated my passion for mindfulness , or heartfulness. What I have loved is the kindness and openess of the speakers and the sacred compassion that had oozed through you and the talks. I am very much looking for ward to live meditation later today….. and am sitting with my sadness that this is the last day, although I wait in anticipation for news of more things like this. Keep being what you are being Melli.
With warmest gratitude
Rachel (UK)
Oh, I feel the same. Thank you so much Melli and Matt for making this fantastic summit possible! And big thanks to all the great speakers.
I’m so grateful to you all. Also feeling a bit sad, that it’s the last day. Melli, you started to feel like a distant friend whom I have been looking forward to meeting everyday. Now I will deepen my practise and include some of the new aspects of mindfulness that I’ve learned from the course. Looking forward with curiosity to the continuing of this fantastic community. Love to all of you out there! <3
Hi Jim
I’m sure if you look around locally you will find some sort of group you can practice with. Or if you dont want to connect in this way there is plenty online!
Hi Eric,
Unfortunately there are no groups locally for me, but I will be looking online to continue the mindfulness 🙂
Melli and team and speakers big hugs and kisses for all you have given us. A special thanks to Jon for the work he has done- his MBSR programme was the key that opened the door and signposted the way along the path for me and so many others.
Looking forward to sharing the live stream meditation later.
PS I’ll shout for OZ in the rugby in your honour !
The most important thing I need to say right now is, Thank You Melli!! It has truly been a wonderful month of mindfulness. I have learnt so much. I am primary school school teacher in a school where mindfulness is just starting to become part of our everyday practice. I was worried that “Mindfulness” was becoming a bit of a buzz word, but this summit has given me a deeper understanding of what mindfulness is and consolidated my belief in the importance of teaching mindfulness to children. Jon today has really articulated for me the true meaning of mindfulness. It is something I will continue to remind myself of as I continue with my own practice and as I continue my journey in teaching children mindfulness. I have gained a lot from tuning in each day, but above all else is the realisation that mindfulness is heartfulness. Thank you xx
Dear Melli,
Thank you so much for creating this summit. It has extended my commitment and awareness of the diverse values of mindfulness. As a novice, I now see it as part of my ongoing learning and hope I can find the way to integrate it into my life without too much active striving for improvement!!!! I really appreciate all you’ve done and thanks to everyone involved.
Thank you so much for this incredible month. Your hard work, the vision to create this community has changed my perception of almost everything! Every speaker has touched me, I have looked forward to each practise. I genuinely hope that there will be some continuance!! And what a way to finish 😉 thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am beginning to feel that after 23 years of struggling and fighting illness that there is finally hope that I may learn to live with it.
Thank you Melli, I am grateful to you and all that presented for the last 31 days. I havebeen lucky enough to enjoyed every presentation.
Thank you for Melli, all the presenters and everyone involved for making this happen / facilitating this unfolding! All the best!
Thank you Melli and Matt for all your hard word, dedication and for sharing your “crazy idea” read: genius generous idea!) with us all.
You have truly embodied the spirit of mindfulness by sharing this journey with us (and for us) at no cost, so we can all benefit and be of benefit to each other..
Deep gratitude and respect to you both for this amazing summit.
I look forward to the continuation of this journey and witnessing the ripple effect of sharing mindfulness with the masses!
Big love xxxxx
Thank you for an amazing 31 days. I feel my understanding of this practice and its potential for self learning has increased immensely because of all this phenomenal content your brought to us. I keep a gratitude diary and every single day the summit has featured in my daily list of things to be grateful.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart (and the middle, the sides, the front and the back and all over ;-)!!!
Thank you so much Melli! I’m incredibly greatful to be able to join this wonderful experience. Many thanks
Jessie
Thank you, Melli and your team, and all the speakers,
31 days have been fantastic!
Congratulations to you for having created this proposal !!
Greetings from Catalunya, Spain
THANK YOU, Melli & Matt and your team for having had the courage and conviction to act on your idea and bring so many diverse and inspirational individuals into the homes of so many people. For me, the summit has offered the opportunity to learn and grow on so many levels, not least to honour our own authentic way of being in relationship, with ourselves and so with others and the world around us near and far, and in a truly heartfull way.
Many Blessings to you all at this time of Samhain, the Celtic New Year when we honour all those who came before us and enter the dark half of the year in the northern hemisphere and when we can take the opportunity to symbolically sink down into the “dark” aspects of our own being and without striving, to trust, be still and wait patiently and heartfully for the return of the light at Imbolc when we can sow the seeds which have been nourished in the dark and let go of what no longer serves the nourishment of those potential new shoots.
Le gra, with love
Thank you Melli and thank you to everyone who has contributed to make the Mindfulness summit possible. I have tuned in each day and feel so grateful and nourished.
How Bout Love! There it is right there. Fabulous! x
Thank you very much Melli all the presenters and the whole team involved organising and delivering the summit. Thank you for making this mindfulness summit possible. I have learnt a lot from the experts in the field and still open to learning more about this beautiful journey of discovery of inner self-being we all inhabit. Yet many of us keep running without stopping until it is too late. And yet it is all that we have – to change the world we live in we need to know who we really are. You mentioned today that you thought it was a crazy Idea at first to come up with this summit. It takes a crazy idea to transform the world significantly. At least you have transformed my life for the better. I now have answers to many questions as a beginner in mindfulness meditation. Although I read more books and still reading and learning, this summit has opened my eyes in understanding clearly what I AM GETTING MYSELF INTO. THE REALISATION OF ‘JUST BEING’ IS transformative.
I am very privileged to have attended the whole summit and shower myself into this wisdom of mindfulness oasis. I can go on and on about how stimulated this summit has been. You are a blessing to the world. Many Thanks.
Dear Melli,
For the past month, I have gone to bed each night with my computer and headphones ready to go (out of my work bag) by my bed so that I could wake up and listen to the day’s interview and meditation without waking up the rest of the family. Tonight I will not do that, which is quite sad. I learned mindfulness through the Palouse mindfulness course online, which has a similarly dispersed community (and advertised your summit which is how I learned of it). Through the summit, I have been exposed to teachers I had never heard of but who really resonate with me and I now get to find and read and listen to more of their work.. Thank you, and thank you to all of the amazing speakers, for creating this opportunity.
Wow, in awe! Have tears in my eyes after listening to this heartfelt talk today. Jon Kabat-Zinn and Melli I bow to you both, thank you xxx
Tears in my eyes as well.
Thanks to you and your team for inviting us along on this amazing journey. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to take a mindfulness course at no cost here in Eastern Canada. It gave me the basics. During this past month, I have learned so much and especially the value of mindfulness in my daily life. I am continuing on this journey! I have purchased The Now Effect by Elisha Goldstein and will be replaying sessions and visiting websites. THANK YOU
I echo all the above.. And particularly the gratitude to you Melli and your team for putting on this world wide event. So happy to hear you are letting ideas percolate for a way for continue this wonderful journey in community. Love and light to all xx
The emotion I felt when Jon thanked you for being the ‘mother’ of this summit. It has been a wonderful experience and I would also like to thank you.
Thank you Melli for having the vision to create this wonderful Summit. Your outstanding program of such inspirational speakers has certainly started me on the path of changing from the inside out. I am truly grateful.
What a wonderful time we spent this morning with Jon! Gracias!!
A deep BOW to you (Mellie) and Mat for taking on this huge endeavor of bringing mindfullness “to the masses”. This has been quit the adventure and I hate that our time together has come to an end, I do however feel joyful in that, with everything learned this month, my journey into “awakefullness” will be a lot smoother.
To all of our teachers, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to enlighten us.
Namaste
I love that idea of “Life before death”, and the idea of “side effects” of Mindfulness. I confess I have been using it for the side effects, especially appreciating my Now, rather than waiting for Later for it to be better, and appreciate what is. It also makes my day go much better when I am less negatively reactive to events in my day. I am more likely now to listen to others mindfully too. It’s not perfect mindfulness, but it’s growing.
I can envision a video advertisement/public service announcement for Mindfulness like those for pharmaceuticals, where the side effects are listed in grim detail, but instead of being grim, it lists all the wonderful side effects. 🙂 Someone has probably already done that.
Wow, what would it look like if the U.S. Congress (and the rest of us), practice meditation daily?
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you Mellie, for this whole month-long journey, and to all the rest of the presenters.
My sincere gratefulness to Melli, Matt, all the varied and wonderful presenters and all who have helped with this life-changing project. My own goal for newly practicing mindfulness is to step away from the very individualistic “me” culture, and step toward a relational, cooperative, equitable model for my life and business. In addition to mindfulness, I am using guidance from business models such as Mondragon in Spain, and “generative business ownership” suggested by Marjorie Kelly in “Owning our Future”, which builds up people and planet, as opposed to “extractive” which takes away from people and planet. A suggestion for second phase of summit, might be sub-communities based on primary interest, that turn “the inner peace activism” Melli mentioned to an external activism that could change the world from the inside out. These sub-communities could exist as part of a larger community structure. It could be something similar to charterforcompassion.org (another excellent organization) or a part of it if it works out that way.
Thank you for this priceless, month long gift Melli. You are a genuine blessing to all. You truly are a selfless being.
Thanks you Melli and Jon for an inspiring talk. I look forward to the live meditation.
I have one concern about introducing mindfulness into schools. While it would be great to introduce it to children there wd be an implicit contradiction within education itself, it being competitive, concerned mainly with academic achievement and passing exams. I hope my view of education is out of date, but I fear it isnt!
Thank you, Melli. For a beautiful summit. For introducing me to so many amazing teachers in the field of mindfulness that were new to me. And letting me reacquaint and deepen the connection with those I was already familiar with. And for the opportunity to get to know you.
I don’t even remember how I got the information about the summit, just that I registered and decided to commit to listening to every talk. No more. No less. And it has truly transformed me. Looking back this month feels like a lifetime.
Thank you. Bless you.
Dear Melli and team
Thank you so much for this beautiful summit. I am new to the practice of mindfulness and all the talks and mediations have been truely inspirational. Suffering from a chronic health condition you and your team have made me feel part of a community again.
Thank you
I just want to say that I just accidentally saw a link to this mindfulness summit in an online mindfulness course that I joined just a month ago (Monash University, @ Futurelearn) from one of the comments there and I am so blessed and so glad that I did check it out (because honestly I was overwhelmed with all the mindful stuff coming out at that time) and decided to join.
I’ve learned a lot from this summit and I’m so grateful to you Melli and the Mindfulness Summit subscribers (might as well call it The Mindfulness Summit Community!) for putting this up and making this happen. It is true that we are all in this together. And because of that I would like to thank the people who joined and attended this summit in the comfort of their homes, or computer shop, or anywhere.
If a very intelligent and great teacher came to a classroom with all the materials, all the books, all the things that the class needs, yet no student attended—then everything is useless, even the teacher himself.
And that is how important each one of us here is. The whole summit would have been useless if you didn’t attend. But because you did–because each and every one of us did–then Melli’s effort (and the whole team behind this as well as the speakers) turned out to be worth everything.
And as your “classmate” I’d like to say thank you for attending the class and joining me. The next best thing to do now is to apply what we have learned here in our every day lives.
Maraming salamat!
– Bryan (Philippines)
I will miss tuning in everyday for what has been an extraordinary month of mindfulness. I am deeply grateful to you Melli and all the speakers and for being a part of what really does feel like a community. Heartfelt good wishes to everyone.
Melli , it has been an honor and a privilege to sit , to listen, and to allow the ultimate space to unfold. You have allowed the connection of many. Jon is a pioneer of mindfulness, and is a living guide as are many of the speakers you have shared with the universe. The heart of the universe laughs at it own practice of the breath. Thank you.
Thank you, Melli and everybody who contributed! It was such a great event! It helped bringing mindfulness in my everydays. All the best for you all!:)
GRACIAS Mellissa !!
I’ d like to thanks with all my heart the speakers, Melli and the organization team.
It was a great , amazing and uplifting journey. Best wishes for all.
Thank you to you and your team for this treasured experience.
Thank you very much Melli and all contributors to this summit. I just finished a MBSR course. It was fantastic to get more information and great inspirations here.
Melli, thank you so much. This has been a fascinating and insightful journey. It’s been so interesting to look at Mindfulness from all these different angles, from all these amazing teachers. Different views, and yet all speaking of the same thing. JKZ summed it up beautifully – what a wise man!
I am very grateful to you for organising the summit and to all the speakers.
Elizabeth (Scotland)
I have so enjoyed and benefitted from the speakers I have been able to watch … and to end with the profoundly inspiring, informative and brilliant words of Jon Kabat-Zinn… Wonderful! Thank you for putting this all together Meli! from Cape Town 🙂
Thank you Melli, and thanks to your crazy idea! You gave me the answers to my current self exploration questions in my head. I’ll be waiting to hear for the new episodes! I’m a soul living in Turkey and it was amazing to have this summit in English 🙂 thanks a ton!
Dear Melli,
Thank you very much for being such a wonderful host. I have followed you almost every day from Mallorca (Spain), a small island in the mediterranean sea. From here, I send you all my acknowledgment and gratitude, dedicating the merits from the meditations for the welfare of all sentient beings and wishing long life to all teachers who help so many people by showing the path. Thanks
Marian