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CENTER FOR CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES
Upcoming Events
Bringing Mindfulness and Healing To The Suffering In The Middle East And In Other Parts Of The World
We invite you to join us on Tuesday, May 7th at noon in ARTS 101 to hold space for each other and use mindful practices to process our emotions in response to the suffering in the Middle East and other parts of the world. Pausing and quieting so that we can increase our capacity for clarity and compassion for all. Acknowledging and accepting our emotions as they arise with kindness and without judgment. Reconnecting with our deepest aspirations for ourselves and the world we live in. Asking ourselves: What is that aspiration calling me to do at this time? What is love and compassion asking of me at this time?
CCP Summer Conference June 21 - 23, 2024 - Register Now!
Transforming Higher Education Through Contemplative Practices
June 21 - 23, 2024 | 3-day Conference at CSUSM
We invite you to join us for a three-day conference on how contemplative practices can transform higher education. The unprecedented events of the last several years have made it evident that we need to prepare ourselves and our students to be resilient in the face of constant uncertainty. Research has demonstrated that contemplative practices can expand our capacity for compassion, focus and resilience. More about the Center for Contemplative Conference
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course: FALL 2024
Center for Contemplative Practices is pleased to offer an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course to staff, faculty, students, and administrators. Developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. based on clinical research and his own experiences, MBSR is the most studied mindfulness program in the U.S. Research has shown that with consistent practice, MBSR can relieve stress in personal and professional settings and increase overall well-being.
The course takes place over eight Wednesday sessions and one Saturday session. To learn more ......
About Us
History & Purpose
Contemplative practices have been used for centuries in many diverse traditions including Buddhist practice, to quiet the habitual chatter of the mind, cultivate a capacity for deeper awareness and understanding of one’s purpose, and enhance feelings of connectedness and compassion. Recent research conducted by scientists in a variety of disciplines has empirically supported the value of such practices. The overall purpose of Mindful CSUSM: Center for Contemplative Practices is to provide support to all members of the campus community through contemplative practices, pedagogy and research that foster deep learning, reduced stress, increased capacity for compassionate listening and increased well-being. Our work is based on the premise, best stated by Nelson Mandela that: “If they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love”. Hence, our activities are focused on creating a more just and compassionate community. Learn more about Mindfulness
Our Mission
We wish to foster a community of awareness and appreciation for our own and other's experiences through contemplative practices, pedagogy and research. We affirm that in an increasingly interdependent world, learning to listen with kindness and curiosity generates compassion, connectedness and the ability to see the world from diverse perspectives.
Why Mindfulness?
Now more than ever before, we need to learn how to focus our attention and our energies towards meeting the local and global challenges we collectively face, such as pandemics, climate change, racial tensions, economic insecurity, and mental health crises. The unprecedented events of the last two years have made it evident that for our students to be successful we need to prepare them and ourselves to be resilient in the face of constant uncertainty. We must learn how to engage with people who have different lived experiences and worldviews with the intention of finding a shared purpose grounded in our common humanity. In short, we need to learn how to be more compassionate and how to work together toward the greater good. Having a Center for Contemplative Practices will coalesce our efforts at providing these learning opportunities in a consistent, coordinated, and time-sensitive way.
What Does the Research Say?
Research studies and our own experiences with contemplative pedagogy have demonstrated that mindfulness practices can expand our capacity to be resilient under uncertainty, to be compassionate, to be focused, and to listen to each other with kindness and curiosity. Consistent practice of contemplative techniques can literally change brain functionality and help us use our cognitive, emotional, and physical selves more effectively and foster deep learning. Research has shown that contemplative practices can help students improve readiness to learn, reduce stress and anxiety, increase focused attention, and regulate emotional reactivity. Contemplative pedagogy is now widely recognized and accepted by research and practitioner communities as an innovative and effective teaching practice. It can help create more inclusive, identity-safe student learning communities that have the courage and resilience to listen and learn from each other and together transform the world.
What We Offer
Online & In-Person Mindfulness Sessions
Come join us for a daily dose of mindfulness on a drop-in basis!
- online or in person
- no prior experience necessary
- bring a friend, a family member, or a colleague
Workshops, Retreats, & Courses
We offer 2-hour workshops, half-day retreats, four or six week or semester long courses
- all offerings are free
- no prior experience necessary
Contemplative Pedagogy Workshops
If you are an educator and want to learn more about how you can incorporate contemplative pedagogy into your classes please join us for a workshop, a summer retreat, or a year long faculty learning community.
Attend a Conference
We offer an annual conference in the summer. Please stay tuned for information about our next conference
Research Opportunities
Participate in research opportunities run by our faculty on contemplative practices and the impact of stress, compassion, civic action, and emotional well-being
Service Learning & Internships
We offer service learning and internship opportunities for students every semester.
Here's what some of our students have to say about their experience!
Partner With Us!
We are always open to the possibility of exploring new partnerships and ways of engaging with you.
Invite us to provide a Customized Session for you
We are happy to work with you to provide you or your unit/organization with customized sessions/workshops/ trainings/retreats.
Registration
If you would like to register with us or have inquiries: Center for Contemplative Practices Interest Form