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
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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.
Buy full access pass
Purchase a full access pass to unlock downloads for the full interview transcripts, audio, video and separate audio meditation tracks.
Buy full access pass
Purchase a full access pass to unlock downloads for the full interview transcripts, audio, video and separate audio meditation tracks.
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I want to join my voice with all the other participants, and extend my deepest gratitude to Melli,Matt, the team and all the wonderful speakers and meditators guides. What a wonderful experience, and the closing with the online meditation, even with the ads, was really moving and inspiring. I’m sure I will miss seeing Melli every day.. I feel I found a community to share my mindfulness journey with; even if physically apart, I felt deeply connected. I would love to continue this connection in some way. My heartfelt thanks to you all, from Sao Paulo, Brasil.
I wish to also share my gratitude to Melli and all who contributed to the Mindfulness Summit. Everyday of the month of October was filled with happiness as I looked forward daily to taking part in the seminar. I’ve loved feeling in touch with so many people who have a common and genuine love for mindfulness no matter how they each practice and an understanding of how it effects us and we in turn connect to the world. Thank you Melli for reaching so many and bringing us together. I look forward to future moments. IB, St. Barthelemy, FWI
Thank you Melli, Matt and the team who organised this inspiring summit. Melli, your warm, calm and inviting manner imbued the summit with such a lovely energy. The daily activities have allowed me to reconnect with what is important, present and precious and I thank you for that opportunity. The array of speakers was impressive and it must have taken so much work to organise and I want to express my gratitude for this. I look forward to being able to listen to the talks again thanks to the membership. Wishing you well and hoping to see you at one of your retreats
I would also like to thank Melli and Matt for all their hard work it has been an amazing experience for me. I have been reading and learning about mindfulness for several years but this came at a time when I really needed to be mindful. Thank you.
I
Mahalo nui loa for your kokua once again! Mellie i will miss my morning encounters with all the magnificent speakers you brought to this wonderful Mindfulness summit, and look forward to future events.
Blessings to you always and your team! from Maui.
Juvenal.
Thanks Melli and team for your generosity and initiative ! Events like this are the icing on the cake of life!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all involved in this summit.
Thanks for expressing exactly my feelings about this experience , Lucia . Dear Melli , Matt & all your helpers and contributors , I can only add that the summit was wonderful for me as I have M.E. , so can only share with other meditators online .
Melli, presenters and all that helped make this last month possible. Thank you. I did donate to get the program and can’t wait to go through this again. So glad you had a vision or dream of doing this, Melli. You will never knew how many people you have impacted around the world. Than You
Thank you Melli and Matt this whole experience has been amazing!
Bless you both.
Deep gratitude to all for this wonderful enriching event over the month of October.
Thank you Jon Kabat-Zin, the tears from my heart are still flowing from my eyes and washing away the dust! Bless you.
Much Peace and Gratitude Melli and Matt. I have appreciated every segment in the Summit and only missed day 16 with Dan Siegel and Caroline Welch. Fortunately i am familiar with Dan Siegel’s work on the teenage brain. All the Best with wherever the Summit takes you and us…
Thank you,Melli for a wonderful journey with you and all of us together.The summit has been a wonderful gift and I am grateful for the chance to learn and grow to become one with my true,authentic self , to share our gifts together.
Thank you Mellie such wonderful host and team for your time and space putting the summit together. I felt like going back to school this month learning about life. I wish you and everyone always well and safe. Thank you Jon for a great session to round off. Much appreciated, Rose, Hong Kong
Thank you Melli for being open to listen to your own heart and for following your inspiration. As the days passed by and I listened to all these wonderful presentations, I could not believe I was getting all this information FREE. In times of such grit for money and possessions and looking at some of the other conferences’ prices, your generosity inspired me to share the information with family and friends.
Thank you for your generosity, your kindness and your compassion with those who can not pay for these conferences.
I ended up “finding” the money to pay for basic access, I wanted to be able to have it “forever ” to share it with others.
Every morning contacting your link was my first conscious act, and the wisdom I got from the 13 inch screen was like a great kindness shower.
I loved the interview style better that the lectures. Your questions were so natural, so enlighten…
I was not able to hear Jon, I did not get a good connection even after trying all the recommendations. I hope you up lode the presentation to this site.
Thanks again for your efforts to share such great life knowledge.
Many Thank yous !!! <3
Thank you so much Melli and all involved, I have tuned in to every session and it was a deeply renewing experience. Congratulations on having the vision, commitment, networks and energy to take on such a huge job. I will miss it greatly but have so many new books to read and ideas to explore. Namaste.
Wonderful speakers with so much knowledge of life and self . Wish people who wish to harm others will learn compassion, understanding of the other.
Thank you again Melli and Mat. I am saddened that this daily practice of tuning in must come to an end. I too purchased the pass so I can listen once more, as my notes could not capture all that I was hearing! I am new to this practice and particularly enjoyed the science behind it. How our brain pathways actually change due to the practice. So grateful to have stumbled across this on FB. So many great speakers and meditation styles. Once more Divine intervention point the way for me! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart and soul!
Thank you so much Melli – l came in very late – but have been astonished and moved by the goodwill of this project ( and enormously impressed by its conception and realisation). I am heading into a retreat and couldn’t have had a better send off. Looking for ward to integrating again afterwards.
Many thanks for all energy and effort o in bringing together Mindfulness Summit.
Deepest heartfelt thanks to Melli, Matt and all the wonderful speakers for this amazing journey.
My deepest gratitude goes to Millie, the speakers and the Mindfulness Team for providing this global on-line mindfulness/meditation project. To my companions in this journey, many thanks, I felt supported by your comments. This is my first serious intent to approach mindfulness as a way of life and I see in amazement that I started to make baby steps. I learn from every presenter and some reached my heart to stay there for life, thank you for becoming part of me.
Millie, you are an inspiration, you brought together the world as a “mass” to start changing the planet. Just knowing the power of one person to change the world is sufficient for me to be a believer. You use the power of the mind and you achieve what for others would be unachievable. Congratulations. I hope this is not a good bye, but a so long….. Blessings and peace to all.
thank you, thank you. sad to leave the summit, but happy to take all of you with me.
i met jon in 1980, shortly after he had begun his program in boston. a huge bow to his dedication,
humor, and savvy in working with the mainstream health system!!
A massive THANK YOU to Jon Kabat Zinn – although he and I have never actually met, I consider him one of my most influential Mindfulness teachers. Through his publications and online talks, I have become inspired and motivated to practice – both personally and include it in my counselling sessions.
What I have learned at this Summit has simply been invaluable. Being part of a community of 200, 000+ and sharing these powerful and meaningful presentations with them has been amazing and something I will not soon forget. Thank you, Meli!
Cheers,
Andrea Dasilva
Thank you so much Melli and Matt and all the amazing speakers who have given so generously of their time and wisdom.
This mindfulness summit has accomplished its objective of bringing mindfulness to the masses. I came to this summit at the beginning of October naive about mindfulness and finish this summit at the end of October with such a deep understanding and appreciation for mindfulness. I know that what I have learned will not only impact the rest of my life, but that of my children, my family and all those around me. You should be incredibly proud of what you have achieved with this summit. Congratulations and thank you again!
Every day this month started on such a good note thanks to this summit. I had already decided I’d re-watch it all again because there was so much inspiration from each presentation. Add in all the other resources and I’ll have inspiration and encouragement for a long time to come. My warmest thanks for this generous gift to the world.
Thank you so very much for this experience. This is the first time I’ve commented because I do not feel that I can find the words to express my deep gratitude. I admire you for your vision, and how courageous you have been to put this entire 31 day summit (at no cost!) so that you could reach out and do your part to make this world a better place. What an inspiration! Thank you for this gift!
Thank you, merci. This has renewed my commitment to informal and formal mindfulness practices. The summit has allowed to revisit familiar speakers and get to know new ones. Well done.
Very enlightening and wonderful presentations. I am a novice, now hooked on mindfulness.
Thank you my Australian friend
A deep bow of gratitude sent to you Melli and to all of the presenters. Fabulous summit and I look forward to the next one :-)).
I wish to also share my gratitude to Melli and all who contributed to the Mindfulness Summit. Everyday of the month of October was filled with happiness as I looked forward daily to taking part in the seminar. I’ve loved feeling in touch with so many people who have a common and genuine love for mindfulness no matter how they each practice and an understanding of how it effects us and we in turn connect to the world. Thank you Melli for reaching so many and bringing us together. I look forward to future moments. IB, St. Barthelemy, FWI
Thank you all a million times over for this!!! This has been such an empowering and valuable experience. This summit has really given me so many resources and tools in order to deepen my practice. Thank you so much!!! 🙂
Thank you, Melli, for creating this experience. I am new to mindfulness in many ways. This has brought it into focus for me, helping me to begin to put the pieces together. Jon’s words especially pull it all together for me. This was a woderful culmination of the summit. I am eager to continue on this journey!
Thank You!
my gratitude to all the speakers and to Melli. My heart and mind are filled with joy as I begin this wonderful journey. I am looking forward to next one. I hope that there will be some talks in Spanish in the future.
Lily R
Thank you so much. This has been a nice experience.
Thank you so much, Melli…I’m so grateful for all the benefits of mindful practice in my daily life. I’m a teacher bringing mindfulness to my first graders in school and witnessing huge benefits on them too. Thank you again!
As I saw the names and places scrolling down the screen before Jon’s moving mindfulness meditation, tears came from the realization of all the lives this Summit has impacted. And tears for the end of it to be here. This summit has been so meaningful in my life, brought me back to regular meditation practice, and mindfulness in ways I can’t thank you enough for, Melli. Matt, too, deserves credit for his extraordinary work in bringing this summit to so many other inspiring mindfulness seekers here. My deepest appreciation to both of you, your team, and all the wonderful speakers, the brilliant scheduling, that variety of subjects all were exceptional. Your thoughtful attention to listeners throughout is something I’ve never seen before. In helping me to return to mindfulness meditation and staying in the moment, Mellie and Matt and team, you’ve also given me immense hope for the future.
Wow this summit has been amazing and I want to say a big thank you to Melli, Matt and the team for producing such a high class summit. What an incredible idea you’ve brought to fruition!
Thank you Melli and your team for making this a possibility. I hope your effort will make this age old practice heal and help people from within. I wish we will create a better now and ensure a wonderful tomorrow where everyone will survive in peace and harmony and beauty.
Deep bows of gratitude for the gift you have all manifested together in this troubled splendid world! A beautiful comprehensive conversation to wrap up the month, noting specially JKZ’s explaining the non-dual perspective’s implications for personal, social and environmental activism, all of which are surely sacred. One suggestion for a further talk: although JKZ and others spoke of non-dual awareness, I recall nothing said of how it manifests in practice — how it feels and what it might mean. A non-dual experience typically shows up by surprise (grace), potentially at any stage of meditation. Often it is all wonder and delight, but it can be disorienting, even terrifying, especially when it contradicts the recipient’s worldview. Moreover, the gradual falling away of personal self can induce a depressing sense of emptiness. I recommend one or more follow-up talks, describing these experiences from both secular (neurophysical) and sacred (Hindu / Buddhist / Kashmir Shaivist) perspectives. Blessings of Indra’s Internet! 🙂
My heart-felt gratitude to Mellie and the Mrs Mindfulness team for such a wonderful gift of the Mindfulness Summit. Your compassion, love and insights are truly inspiring. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Thank you so much Mellie and Matt for all your time and efforts in making this happen. I feel truly blessed to have been able to share in this journey. My life and the lives of so many others will be so different as a result of this gift you have given us.
Thank you, thank you and thank you again Melli for organizing the most wonderful 31 days! What an adventure so many of us embarked on! All the best to you and all that took part from both sides of the screen! Awesome!
Thank you.
I have just listened to Jon’s live stream meditation and for the first time experienced ‘transmission.’ As I listened my friend’s cat came calling for attention. My friends were engaged in a robust conversation with a neighbour and I was aware that while everything was happening I could fall into silence. Jon’s voice spoke to the childhood of my visions and I felt my whole 67 years on earth has purpose I thought lost. These past 6 months I have been away from my home. Called to daughter and nana duties I’ve lived in 3 different homes and lost contact with all my usual personal habits/rituals including my daily dose of ‘books and art’ on ABC radio. In these months I began to witness how people have a wide diversity of lifestyle. I have also become saturated with how my society is addicted to spending, possessions and outer world focus. The gift is seeing I have changed and am not only content to live in a new way I cannot fully return to my old patterns. For the last three weeks I have been ill and found the daily dose of Summit to be the best medicine. My life has changed and will continue to do so under the guidance of silence and observation of how I respond to life. Even the time from listening to this mornings talk to Jon’s meditation I now feel lighter yet more solid. Perhaps it is that I have a sense of boundaries which connects me to myself in a way I’ve never had before? Thank you Jon! walk gently Christine
Thank you so much to Melli & Matt, the summit was absolutely fantastic. Here’s really hoping it can carry on in some way.
Thank you for this possibility. Someday I will go for a retreat week.
Hege
Thank you so much for a brilliant summit. I have looked forward to and enjoyed tuning in every evening from Scotland. It has for me kick started something that will be ongoing, and I feel the difference already. Looking forward to learning more, starting with reading some books by some of the amazing speakers, and continuing with some of the practices they have introduced me to . And I am sure that the summit will have a wide reaching and ongoing impact for so many people as the ripples spread. Melli, you did it! X
Thank you so much Melli for your amazing effort in putting all this together. Thanks too Matt for all of the technical support. I am so grateful to both of you and to all the teachers and practitioners who contributed each day. The summit has really inspired me and given me lots of new perspectives to work into my practice. I will listen to the talks over and over again and am sure I will continue to learn from them. The livestream with Jon Kabat-Zinn yesterday was amazing – probably my only chance ever to have Jon lead me in meditation in real-time and the sense of everyone else meditating too was very special. Thank you everyone.
Melli, wonderful summit. It has certainly given me a wider perspective on Mindfulness, especially the importance of being true to yourself. I will be 70 next year and believe this will transform the rest of my life.
My best memories are of the changing sceneries behind you in the house, especially the beautiful interview which started at night, then transformed into dawn. Many thanks again, I will be dropping into the interviews in the future.
Thank you so much! It really has been a wonderful summit. I tank you with all my heart! I´ll send you a lot of greetings from Sweden.
Thank you Melli for organising this. I have already learned such a lot and actually started to experience emotion rather than do all I can to avoid it. That has been difficult at times but I finally starting to just be and its such a relief!
Heartfelt thanks for this wonderful summit – to Mellie and Matt and all who organised the event and to all the speakers who shared their wisdom and humanity with us, and thankyou to Jon for completing the circle for us. With love and gratitude from Wales.
My deepest gratitude to Melli, Matt, the entire team and all the particapants!
This whole month went straight “from the heart to the heart”. It is amazing to belong to such a worlwide community and every day I became more and more aware of it. It would be great if this summit could go on in one way or the other. For now, I start training myself once more in the art of letting go.
Again my warmest and heartfeld “Dankeschön” from Mannheim, Germany.
After listening to all the talks and doing all the meditations, I’ve come to realise that most people have been referring to “Western” mode of life. I live in Cambodia, working with impoverished communities, and I was wondering where and how mindfulness could develop here. I’m convinced that it would be most beneficial, especially for children who have to live through incredible hardship. So I have a question for all of you speakers and listeners, are there any resources I can access that would help me with that?
Thank you for posting Jon Kabat Zinn’s meditation. I did join yesterday and I was experiencing the advertisements, so I am now going to participate without interruption.
Thank you to all who made the summit possible.
I feel awake and open!
Thank you!