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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Thank you Melli et al. So happy to have found you all and this wonderful summit. May this spirit continue. Peace to all!!
Dear Melli,
I know that you are doing your best to be humble; watching you resist the temptation of being proud, when Jon Kabat called you a genius for putting this summit together, was priceless! But, I say it, and I am sure many of us (if not all of us) will agree, that you have come up with one of the greatest and most groundbreaking methods of spreading the teaching of how to love yourself then others, self compassion, and most importantly, “how to truly live your life, while you are alive”. It’s now on us to practice and let that seed you’ve planted grow.
With the biggest bow from Vancouver, Canada to you and all of your support team , for bringing those teachers to our homes and hearts.
Yes, thank you Melli so much for offering this wonderful gift to us all!
We need an upvote button. 🙂
Thank you so much for this journey. I´ll pay it forward sharing with family ( not easy 🙂 , my friends and at work, as a school psychologist. loved to be a part of this summit. Bem hajam! Cristina, Figueira da Foz, Portugal
I am so grateful to have been a part of this summit. With love and light to all presenters and participants.
Thank you so much for this wonderful summit! I so appreciate the the work and the wisdom this has been evident here. My life has been enriched because of it.
Thank you Melli and Matt for this summit. I am moved to tears watching and listening Jon Kabat-Zinn. I’ve read many of his books and listened to his talks but it is only this past year that I did the hard work – the 8-week program on my own from his book. For lack of a better word, it is transforming and also saved my life. This summit has been a continuation of my learning of living life in the moment with compassion for the world and myself. Gratitude to all.
Many thanks for the effort, dedication to mindfulness, team work it took to organize such a memorable summit, and belief that mindfulness will one day change the world. Most importantly, I am inspired to share all that I have learned during the summit . I am sad to say that due to technical difficulty, I missed the last two days of speakers .
Much gratitude to you Melli, Matt and the speakers involved in the summit. My heart is over-flowing <3
I have truly learned so much and found this summit to be life changing. Thank you Melli for this gift. I’ve faithfully dedicated each day for the last 31 days to this summit and trying to learn as much as I could. This summit came at a time that was for me filled with discontent and fear causing sleepless nights. It has been a journey that has changed all of that and has opened a space to grow toward a purpose with the confidence I couldn’t find before. From Oct 1, each day was spectacular but each day got better than the day before because of the interconnectedness of the information and guidance on the wisdom and love that our world needs for healing and peace. I have loved the entire summit but Jon Cabet Zinn was the icing on the cake. I would love to do the 8 week MBSR training and hope there will be something posted about that. Love and peace to everyone who participated in this summit. Libby in Mobile, AL USA
Dear Melli,
As I look back on this lovely month, I realize you have added to my practice as much as any of your speakers. So thank you from my peaceful soul for your work on this project and your meaningful insight!
You added fun to a practice I thought had to be serious and put flexibility into what I was taught was more rigid, just to name a few.
Be well until our paths cross again, graceful Melli!
Lovingly,
Jack xx
Melli , a very heartfelt thanks to you and your entire team. You have been a wonderful teacher and friend to me this month, and I have been deeply touched by the summit. This may have been the most enlightening month of my life, in fact I think now is when I might actually start living. Its 10 pm for me here in Dubai, I listened to Vidyamalas session at around 10 30 am, and at the moment where she acknowledged the wonderful work you have done by bringing this summit, I was moved to tears. I really dont know how to explain why, but i was feeling deep gratitude towards you. The same was happening to me while listening to you and Jon now, I have been crying without any proper explanation to it. The only thing I know is that you have given a wonderful gift to us Melli, and I wish the best for you. May you be blessed always.
Attended the first 11 and last 3 sessions. Much gratitude ti you Melli and everyone. What was most profound for me at this time was/is mindful eating. Yet i seek to / AM living a more mindful way.
Thank you so much, Melli and your team. This summit has been wonderful! I feel as though my eyes have been opened to a whole new world. Sending a big hug from Bell Island, Newfoundland, Canada
Thank you so much for this Melli…… I am so sorry the month is over I looked forward t it every day and I learned so much…….I very much believe the saying ” when the student is ready the teacher will appear” and this Summit has certainly done that for me…. I am in Dublin so the live stream is at 9 pm…… I have a party to go to but hope I might steal away for a few minutes to join in…. as John said …. To tie a nice bow on the Summit????????????????
This has been an amazing experience. THANK YOU! From my heart, thank you!
Those question marks were meant to be little smiley faces with heart eyes……… lol
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done. It was an amazing journey. I highly apprecaite your GREAT effort 🙂
Beautiful and very enriching Mindfulness summit. A reverence for Melly, Matt and all participating teachers. Yes, it is very comforting to feel united and numerous in order to exist as awake and compassionate human beings. Our planet needs us. This wave of awareness has paid off in the global brain and help restore peace and respect for life in all corners of the Earth. Fraternal hug from Madrid (Spain).
Thank you Melli for an incredible month of learning and discovering so many wonderful things. You have done an amazing job putting together this summit. This has been an incredible experience. THANK YOU : )
Huge THANKS to Melli and team for this AMAZING MONTH!
Thank You Melli, Matt, team, and all the speakers for your heart-full good work and true generosity. I also want to thank all the people who made thoughtful comments. We have learned a lot. Far Northern Coastal California, USA
My heartfelt thanks to you. Melli, your passion has radiated through the summit in the most gentle and warm way – I feel like you’re one of my closest friends! Jon, your writing first introduced me to mindfulness and I was moved to tears today hearing you talk with such compassion and wisdom. Until this month, my mindfulness journey had been very private. I started exploring the practice after finding myself desperately ill in hospital with my life as I then knew it brutally stripped away. To find a place of stillness, of peace and acceptance has been the biggest but also the most rewarding challenge. To know that other people share the same experiences has given me a wonderful and much needed sense of connection. It’s also strengthened my resolve and a dream that seems to be unfolding in front of me to help others on their journey. I am looking forward to the live meditation so very much. I’ve been imagining people joining in around the world in different climates and time zones. I’ll be curled up under a cosy blanket in the UK, hoping not to be interrupted by trick or treaters!
Millie, in your last interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn, you mentioned that your eyes welled up when Saki Santorelli mentioned the sacredness of meditation. At that very moment of your revelation, my eyes also filled up with your moving declaration.
Your incredibly competent shepherding of the entire summit has been a beautiful thing to experience. Your attentiveness, perceptions and interjections of the present moments were wonderfully executed. You were the most gracious host and welcoming presence to all your guests. Your beauty and open attentiveness were a joy to behold.
Thank you Mellie and Matt for your generosity in hosting this summit, I’ve enjoyed participating – much appreciated.
Grazie for this amazing experience
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and I love how this reminds us how we are all connected so beautiful!
Thank you Melli and Matt for all your hard work and a big thank you to all the wonderful teachers for sharing your wisdom so generously.
Many thanks for this amazing summit, Mellie. I have been sharing new and meaningful ways of mindfulness with my high school students who are open to this whole concept. I send you love and gratitude in the totally awesome work you are doing. Powerful beyond words.
Nine bows in deep gratitude and respect to Jon, Melli, Matt, each speaker and participant in this summit. May our lives go well and go forth and flower (in a secular way) to enlighten and enliven each and every life we touch.
Cannot one achieve this level of awareness as a practicing and faithful praying Christian? Though many discuss the divine and faith, living in this mindfulness way surely is possible for those who believe and have received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Sure Linda, I imagine that you may call the practise, prayer. As far as I know compassion is the root in all religions, and a way to address human interaction for best survival for all living creatures.
OMG!!!! What a fine and refined sharing of ideas and feelings. This last interview addressed a conversation my husband I were having over breakfast, making me feel that there is REALLY a community of people who, like the main character in Heinlin’s Stranger in a Strange Land Valentine Smith, extends love while extending their hand (and time). Love, awakening, verbs with nouns forms, things and actions. These talks have helped me consolidate the calm and ebullent joy I experience as a psychotherapist. I needed the discussion about secularism. I am not Buddhist , and all the same I have practiced mindfulness all my life. I am heartened to feel it validated Thank you and may the wind be at all our fellow summit participants’ backs, for smoother sailing along our journey.
May this summit projejt continue. Thank you for share it with us.
Melli and Matt thank you very much for your great work. From Spain and with a deep gratitude, I feel us like a very kind and beatiful persons. For me, this has been an incredible experience and unforgettable.
From te bottom of my heart thank you, thank you, thank you for this precious life changing experience. Thank you Melli, Thank you Jon Kabat-Zinn, Huge thanks to all the people involved that made this possible. Love,
Maria
Thank you so much Mellie for the last 31 days. I’ve enjoyed the Summit very very much. So looking forward to the live meditation coming up very soon.
On my way back from Hallowean party in Oxford, UK to be with you all for the Livestream meditation. How lucky are we to have Jon lead us tonight! I have loved every speaker and it has deepened my practice along with my mindful moving meditation – T’ai Chi Chih. This month will stay with me and my students for years to come – thank you Melli for making it happen. With love, Tina xx
Does anybody know how long the meditation will be? Just trying to organise my day here in New Zealand! 🙂 Have LOVED this whole month!
Thank you Melli and Team a million times! With love and gratitude for your generosity, kindness, wisdom, and wonder that flows from your presence.
That was an amazing month of presentation with an array of speakers and wonderful guided meditations who gave wealth of information, wisdom, suggested readings, and courses.
I also loved your style of interviewing full of awe and wonder, it brought me daily joy every minute of the 31 days.
I will always have deep gratitude and respect for all the amazing and brilliant spiritual, religious, and non-religious speaker, writers, Teachers, Masters, philosophers, and spiritual healers who have come before us for thousands of years and the ones among us who for generation after generation have laid-down the groundwork; the foundation of Loving-Kindness…
…and deep gratitude to you Melli and your Team, as well as to the many who carry that Mindfulness “torch” to greater illumination on a global scale for the good of humanity.
Looking forward to the closing session with you and Jon Kabat-Zinn.
With love and blessings.
Helena Saraydarian (California, USA)
Melli, I loved the conversation/video above with you and Jon Kabat-Zinn. He answered so many of the my concerns, questions, and thoughts that passed through my mind during the entire 31 days as I listened to all the speakers. Jon explained the entire concept of Mindfulness and clarified it so beautifully. Truly a brilliant man. Im going to listen to it again today!
Re: the live stream, sorry for the technical difficulties, I could not hear Jon even with my sound up highest on lives tream video and my pc. But felt the presence and the inspiration of all who gathered.
And thank you Melli for your brilliance, love, and light for presenting this globally. A HUGE thank YOU, and to Matt, and Team!
So happy to hear Melli that you’re planning some form of continuation once the summit has ended. It’s felt very special this past month to be part of a worldwide community of like-minded people. I live on the Wirral, UK, where mindfulness classes are only just becoming available, so hopefully thanks to you the word will now spread further and it will start to become mainstream. I was so excited about today’s talk and meditation with Jon Kabat Zinn, the interview was great and very emotional. Once again thanks to you all for putting this summit together, can’t express my gratitude enough xx
Dear Melli and team, thank you for this inspiring summit! All the best and go well : )
With love Esther
Thank you…and please keep the connection going:))
Wow!
Thank you so much, Melli. This summit has been a wonderful experience and has enriched my practice and my understanding. I don’t see the link to the live stream, and thought it should be up by now. Am I just missing it?
Dascha – it’s up now here: http://www.ustream.tv/mindfulness
Yet another expression of gratitude to you Melli for putting this wonderful summit together and to all the speakers and participants. I watched and practiced every day and learned an *enormous* amount. I hope you are able to keep the momentum going with some sort of continuation of this journey for all of us.
So greatful for this beautiful journey! Thank you Melli, for making this wonderful connection worldwide. A deep bow to you and all the people who made this possible….
Thank you so much Melli!
This has been such a wonderful journey and I had just started meditating before this summit. Hearing all these talks made me see mindfulness meditation in a completely free and opened way and it makes me feel excited for what will come next 🙂
Love and light to you, your team and all the people who dedicated time to this wonderful gift!
Greetings from Albania,
Ana
Thank you Melli for this excellent month, full of learning and changing. My gratitude. From Brazil.
am I the only french speaking people following this wonderful summit? i was deeply deeply involved following all these days and i am so happy to encounter so many wonderful personns all over the world. tahnk you so much for all the job. I amso grateful and I bow to all of you, Meli and Matt, all speakers and all followers.
Thank you Melli from the bottom of my heart. I am looking forward to Take part in the global live meditation. A deep bow for you and all the teachers. With LOVE from Iceland
Thank you so much Melli for this opportunity you have given us to meet so many interesting and wise persons!!! You are a very special person, God bless you.
Dear Melli and all who have been generously involved in this adventure this month,
Thank you!
I am nourished by your commitment to living your mission, a mission which is a gift to life on Earth and about launching perpetual seeds of awareness, kindness, compassion, and insight. I am inspired to live my own mission, which includes sharing mindfulness. Thank you for bringing us into your home and sharing these blessed conversations with us, Melli. May Peace Joy Courage and Creativity blossom, bear fruit, and go to seed in all of us and thus, our Beautiful World.
Grace and Light
Teresa