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This book argues for the central role played by absorption in the functioning of the human mind. The importance of absorption makes itself felt in different ways; the two studies combined in this book concentrate on two of them. The first study, 'The Symbolic Mind', argues that, largely as a result of language acquisition, humans have two levels of cognition, which in normal circumstances are simultaneously active. Absorption is a (or the) means to circumvent some, perhaps all, of the associations that characterize one of these two levels of cognition, resulting in what is sometimes referred to as mysitcal experience, but which is not confined to mysticism and plays a role in various "religious" phenomena, and elsewhere. In the second st...
Publisher description: As David White explains in the Introduction to Tantra in Practice, Tantra is an Asian body of beliefs and practices that seeks to channel the divine energy that grounds the universe, in creative and liberating ways. The subsequent chapters reflect the wide geographical and temporal scope of Tantra by examining thirty-six texts from China, India, Japan, Nepal, and Tibet, ranging from the seventh century to the present day, and representing the full range of Tantric experience--Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and even Islamic. Each text has been chosen and translated, often for the first time, by an international expert in the field who also provides detailed background material. Students of Asian religions and general reader...
The human voice is one of the principal conveyers of social and affective communication. Yet relatively little is known about the neural circuitry that supports the recognition of different vocally expressed emotions. We conducted an FMRI study to examine the brain responses to vocal expressions of anger and happiness, and to test whether specific brain regions showed preferential engagement in the processing of one emotion over the other. We also tested the extent to which simultaneously presented facial expressions of the same or different emotions would enhance brain responses, and to what degree such responses depend on attention towards the vocal expression. Forty healthy individuals were scanned while listening to vocal expressions...
William MacAskill on Effective Altruism and Doing Good Better (Submitted, Website)
How much care do you take when you make a donation to a charity? What careers make the biggest difference when it comes to helping others? William MacAskill of Oxford University and the author of Doing Good Better talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the book and the idea of effective altruism. MacAskill urges …
Toby Ord on Giving What We Can (Submitted, Website)
In this interview, Toby firstly talks about consequentialism and the implications for development, with particular focus on cost-effectiveness. Secondly, Toby explains his personal decision to donate a substantial proportion of his income to the developing world, and shares with us the factors that guide his choice of recipients.
Peter Singer on The Life You Can Save (Submitted, Website)
Professor Peter Singer talks on Development Drums about his new book, The Life You Can Save. This book sets out an ethical case for why people should give more money to people in developing countri…
Doing Good Is No Place for Emotion – Podcast with Will MacAskill (Submitted, Website)
When the next natural disaster strikes, Will MacAskill does not want you to donate to the relief effort. And if a relative dies from a disease, he doesn’t think you should try and raise money for that cause. Rather, he wants you to focus on the "ongoing disasters" that sicken, maim and kill thousands of people every day, mostly in the developing world.
The Rise of Effective Altruism, Or Generosity for Nerds (Submitted, Website)
Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to William MacAskill, associate professor at Oxford University and author of a great new book: Doing Good Better. Will is one of the cofounders and leading voices of Effective Altruism, which he calls “Generosity for Nerds.”
Altruism (2002) (Submitted, Website)
We've all heard "It's better to give than to receive" — Is that right? and, if it is, Why? Is there a scientific basis for sharing? Or do we do it just to make ourselves feel better?
Altruism (2001) (Submitted, Website)
How much are YOU really willing to give? For Washington Post writer Martha McNeil Hamilton, giving meant a kidney. Martha donated a kidney to her co-worker and friend, Warren Brown and documented the experience in detail. On the next Talk of the Nation, Neal speaks with Martha McNeil Hamilton and Warren Brown about their incredible story of friendship and giving.
Prof Ng's take on ethics, economics, revolution and making a much happier world.
Tanya Singh on ending the operations bottleneck in effective altruism (Submitted, Website)
Every great project needs people who get lots of stuff done - reliably and fast.
We probably believe morally monstrous things. What should we do about that? (Submitted, Website)
Oxford philosophy Prof Will MacAskill points out that Kant was one of the earliest proponents for democracy - but he also thought that women had no place in civil society...
Being Good and Doing Good: A Conversation with William MacAskill (Submitted, Website)
In this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Oxford philosopher William MacAskill about effective altruism, moral illusions, existential risk, and other topics.
The Science of Doing Good: My Conversation with William MacAskill (Submitted, Website)
In this inspiring interview, William MacAskill, co-founder of The Centre for Effective Altruism and associate philosophy professor at Oxford University, shares how we can be better at doing good and compounding our efforts to make the world we live in a better place.
Why? (Submitted, Website)
In our first episode, we explore the reasons we have to care about other people, why being more effective is so important, and why helping others also makes our own lives better.
How? (Submitted, Website)
If we're trying to do the most good, how should we think about finding out what works, how can experimental methods give us better insights, and how do we face up to evidence that challenges our existing beliefs?
What? (Submitted, Website)
If we want to make the biggest difference, what are some actions we can take that really help, what causes do we have the biggest potential to affect, and what is the link between poverty, malaria, and bednets?
Sex, Empathy, Jealousy: How Emotions And Behavior Of Other Primates Mirror Our Own (Submitted, Website)
De Waal writes about primate empathy, rivalry, bonding, sex and murder in his new book, Mama's Last Hug. The title of the book was inspired by a tender interaction between a dying 59-year-old chimp named Mama and de Waal's mentor, Jan van Hooff, who had known Mama for more than 40 years.
Business Altruism (Submitted, Website)
Commentator Paul Raeburn examines an Exxon-Mobil project to drill oil in the Central African country of Chad. Proceeds are set to go to help the people of the struggling nation, and Raeburn says if the plan works, it could start a new trend for business endeavors with developing countries.
Are We Wired To Be Altruistic? (Submitted, Website)
When Abigail Marsh was 19, a complete stranger risked his life to save her from a car accident. Today, she studies what motivates us to help others — and why some of us are "extraordinary" altruists.
Can Altruism Be Learned? (Submitted, Website)
At the prison where Cheryl Steed works, certain inmates are chosen to be caregivers for elderly inmates. The program has made her wonder — can altruism be learned?
How Can We Be More Effective Altruists? (Submitted, Website)
Philosopher Peter Singer's work focuses on "effective altruism" — how to do the most good to make the world a better place. He argues effective giving involves balancing empathy with reason.
How Far Would You Go To Help Others? (Submitted, Website)
Larissa MacFarquhar writes about extreme altruists, people who make great sacrifices to help others. She says most of us aren't prepared or willing to do that — which is why we don't give more.
Why People Take Risks To Help Others: Altruism's Roots In The Brain (Submitted, Website)
In the face of natural disasters and disease, there are always people who step forward to help. Their brains may tell why. This story originally aired on Sept. 22 on Morning Edition.
Moral behavior in animals (Submitted, Website)
What happens when two monkeys are paid unequally? Fairness, reciprocity, empathy, cooperation -- caring about the well-being of others seems like a very human trait. But Frans de Waal shares some surprising videos of behavioral tests, on primates and other mammals, that show how many of these moral traits all of us share.
Expanding your circle of compassion (Submitted, Website)
It's hard to always show compassion -- even to the people we love, but Robert Thurman asks that we develop compassion for our enemies. He prescribes a seven-step meditation exercise to extend compassion beyond our inner circle.
How to motivate people to do good for others (Submitted, Website)
How can we get people to do more good: to go to the polls, give to charity, conserve resources or just generally act better towards others? MIT research scientist Erez Yoeli shares a simple checklist for harnessing the power of reputations -- or our collective desire to be seen as generous and kind instead of selfish -- to motivate people to act in the interest of others. Learn more about how small changes to your approach to getting people to do good could yield surprising results.
What is Altruism? (Submitted, Audiovisual)
Why some people are more altruistic than others (Submitted, Website)
Why do some people do selfless things, helping other people even at risk to their own well-being? Psychology researcher Abigail Marsh studies the motivations of people who do extremely altruistic acts, like donating a kidney to a complete stranger. Are their brains just different?
How to let altruism be your guide (Submitted, Website)
What is altruism? Put simply, it's the wish that other people may be happy. And, says Matthieu Ricard, a happiness researcher and a Buddhist monk, altruism is also a great lens for making decisions, both for the short and long term, in work and in life.
The why and how of effective altruism (Submitted, Website)
If you're lucky enough to live without want, it's a natural impulse to be altruistic to others. But, asks philosopher Peter Singer, what's the most effective way to give? He talks through some surprising thought experiments to help you balance emotion and practicality -- and make the biggest impact with whatever you can share. NOTE: Starting at 0:30, this talk contains 30 seconds of graphic footage.
The Science of Good Deeds (Submitted, Website)
The 'helper's high' could help you live a longer, healthier life
Altruism | Defined (Submitted, Magazine Article)
Altruism is when we act to promote someone else’s welfare, even at a risk or cost to ourselves. Though some believe that humans are fundamentally self-interested, recent research suggests otherwise: Studies have found that people’s first impulse is to cooperate rather than compete; that toddlers spontaneously help people in need out of a genuine concern for their welfare; and that even non-human primates display altruism.
A meta-analytic investigation of the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on post traumatic stress (Submitted, Journal Article)
A number of studies have investigated the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTSD) compared to control conditions. The current meta-analysis consolidated findings from 18 studies reporting results for 21 samples of participants. Across studies, mindfulness-based treatments compared to control conditions were effective in ameliorating symptoms of PTSD, with Hedges' g=-0.44. Hedges' g was -0.59 for comparison of mindfulness-based interventions to waitlist control conditions. Changes in mindfulness may underpin the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on PTSD symptoms and thus the meta-analysis examined findings regarding increases in mindfulness. The 12 studies that assessed mindfulness found that the interventions significantly increased mindfulness, Hedges' g=0.52. Moderator analyses indicated that interventions with longer mindfulness training were more efficacious in reducing symptoms of PTSD. Across studies, gender, age, veteran status, or length of time between the intervention and assessment of PTSD symptoms did not moderate the impact of mindfulness-based interventions. The results provide a foundation for future research directions and have implications for work with those impacted by trauma.
OBJECTIVE:We sought to examine psychological mechanisms of treatment outcomes of a mindfulness meditation intervention for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
METHODS:
We examined mindfulness and decentering as two potential therapeutic mechanisms of action of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptom reduction in patients randomized to receive either mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or an attention control class (N=38). Multiple mediation analyses were conducted using a non-parametric cross product of the coefficients approach that employs bootstrapping.
RESULTS:
Analyses revealed that change in decentering and change in mindfulness significantly mediated the effect of MBSR on anxiety. When both mediators were included in the model, the multiple mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect through increases in decentering, but not mindfulness. Furthermore, the direct effect of MBSR on decrease in anxiety was not significant, suggesting that decentering fully mediated the relationship. Results also suggested that MBSR reduces worry through an increase in mindfulness, specifically by increases in awareness and nonreactivity.
CONCLUSIONS:
Improvements in GAD symptoms resulting from MBSR are in part explained by increased levels of decentering.
Mindfulness-Based Awareness and Compassion: Predictors of Counselor Empathy and Anxiety (Submitted, Journal Article)
Mindfulness‐based awareness and compassion were examined as predictors of empathy and anxiety among 152 master's‐level counseling interns. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis supported that awareness and compassion differentially contributed to explaining the variance in counselor empathy and anxiety. Implications for counselor education are discussed.
Mindfulness and Coping with Stress: Do Levels of Perceived Stress Matter? (Submitted, Journal Article)
Few studies have explored whether mindfulness facilitates more adaptive coping with stress, and the evidence for this is mixed. It may be that mindfulness influences coping responses only among relatively stressed individuals, but this has not been tested. Two randomized controlled experiments (Study 1, N = 204; Study 2, N = 202) tested whether a brief mindfulness induction enhances coping among adults and whether perceived stress moderates these effects. In Study 1, we found that a mindfulness induction produced less self-reported avoidance coping but only among relatively stressed individuals. In Study 2, a mindful acceptance induction produced more approach and less avoidance coping than relaxation and self-affirmation controls, and these effects were strongest among individuals reporting high levels of perceived stress. These findings suggest that perceived stress is an important moderator of the influence of mindfulness upon coping responses.
Anxiety, Dispositional Mindfulness, and Sexual Desire in Men Consulting in Clinical Sexology: A Mediational Model (Submitted, Journal Article)
This study aimed to examine dispositional mindfulness as a mediator of the relationship between anxiety and sexual desire in men consulting in clinical sexology. A sample of 105 adult men seeking sex therapy completed measures of dispositional mindfulness, anxiety, and sexual desire. Close to a third (28.7%) of participants reported lack or absence of sexual desire as their main reason to consult in sex therapy. Path analysis confirmed a mediation model and revealed that the association between anxiety and lower sexual desire was fully mediated by dispositional mindfulness. These findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may be a relevant component to integrate in the treatment of men who present anxiety symptoms and low sexual desire.
Impact of stress reduction on negative school behavior in adolescents (Submitted, Journal Article)
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine the effect of stress reduction via the Transcendental Meditation program on school rule infractions in adolescents.
Methods
Forty-five African American adolescents (ages 15–18 years) with high normal systolic blood pressure were randomly assigned to either Transcendental Meditation (n = 25) or health education control (n = 20) groups. The meditation group engaged in 15-min sessions at home and at school each day for 4 months. The control group was presented 15-min sessions of health education at school each day for 4 months. Primary outcome measures were changes in absenteeism, school rule infractions and suspension days during the four-month pretest period prior to randomization compared with the four-month intervention period.
Results
Comparing the pretest and intervention periods, the meditation group exhibited a mean decrease of 6.4 absentee periods compared to an increase of 4.8 in the control group (p
Mindfulness, perceived stress, and subjective well-being: a correlational study in primary care health professionals (Submitted, Journal Article)
BACKGROUND:Primary health care professionals (PHPs) usually report high levels of distress and burnout symptoms related to job strain. Mindfulness, defined as non-judgmental-present-moment awareness, seems to be a moderator in the causal association between life stressors and well-being. This study aimed to verify correlations among self-reported mindfulness, perceived stress (PS), and subjective well-being (SW) in Brazilian PHPs.
METHODS:
We performed a correlational cross-sectional study in a purposive sample of Brazilian PHPs (physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, and community health workers), working in community-oriented primary care programs (known locally as "Family Health Programs"). We used validated self-reporting instruments: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Subjective Well-being Scale (SWS). We performed a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), through regression coefficients (beta) in relation to the professional category (nursing assistant), in addition to the length of time in the same job (under than 6 months) that had indicated the lowest level of PS.
RESULTS:
Participants (n=450) comprised community health workers (65.8%), nursing assistants (18%), registered nurses (10.0%), and doctors (family physicians) (6.0%); 94% were female and 83.1% had worked in the same position for more than one year. MANOVA regression analysis showed differences across professional categories and length of time in the same job position in relation to mindfulness, PS, and SW. Nurses demonstrated lower levels of mindfulness, higher PS, and SW negative affect, as well as lower SW positive affect. Being at work for 1 year or longer showed a clear association with higher PS and lower SW positive affect, and no significance with mindfulness levels. Pearson's coefficient values indicated strong negative correlations between mindfulness and PS, and medium correlations between mindfulness and SW.
CONCLUSION:
In this study, there were clear correlations between mindfulness, PS, and SW across different primary care professional categories and time in the same job position, suggesting specific vulnerabilities that should be addressed through the development of staff awareness, stress prevention, and well-being interventions.
Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness-based training program in reducing stress and promoting well-being among critical care nurses. Design A quasi-experimental, single-group, pre-post study design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Setting This study was conducted in a tertiary referral centre in Malaysia. Subjects A non–probability voluntary sample of 41 critical care nurses participated in the program. Thirty seven (90%) completed the program, with at least 80% attendance. Intervention The intervention is an adapted and brief version of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (b-MBCT) using the local promotional name of ‘Mindful-Gym’. b-MBCT is a group-based program, carried out for five weeks at two hours per week with practice sessions in between. It was delivered as part of the hospital’s continuing nursing education program. Main outcome measures Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) were used to measure the stressrelated outcomes. As for the well-being outcomes, the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) were used.Results fter completing the program, the participants reported significant improvement in the level of perceived stress (PSS: p
7-Minute Mindfulness Practice for Responding to Stress (Submitted, Website)
A mindfulness practice from Shamash Alidina's "The Mindful Way Through Stress: http://www.shamashalidina.com/books/
The Science of Meditation (Submitted, Website)
In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson about the current scientific understanding of meditation practice. They speak about the original stigma associated with meditation, the history of introspection in eastern and western cultures, the recent collaboration between Buddhism and western science, the difference between altered states and altered traits, an alternate conception of mental health, “meta-awareness,” the relationship between mindfulness and “flow,” the difference between pain and suffering, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and other topics.
Stress Proof (Submitted, Website)
Dr. Mithu Storoni is a Cambridge-educated physician, researcher and author, interested in chronic stress and its implications on mental well-being, decision-making, performance, and brain health. In her latest book STRESS PROOF – the scientific solution to protect your brain and body and be more resilient every day, she takes cutting-edge research findings from over 500 published studies and distills them into hundreds of lifestyle-based tricks to help our brains achieve improved mental clarity, increased tranquility, sharper focus, and heightened performance.In our conversation, Mitthu shares with us:
The physical symptoms of stress
Tips to improve your emotional regulation
The perils of rumination and how to overcome it
The physiological differences between acute and chronic stress
The benefits of different kinds of meditation (mindfulness, open-monitoring, etc.)
The research on how lifestyle interventions (ie. The mind diet, cognitive training) can be used to treat chronic stress
Stress Less: 100 Mindfulness Exercises for Calmness and Clarity by Kate Hanley (Submitted, Website)
Mindset coach, yoga teacher, and writer, Kate Hanley, helps busy people stop stressing about the things that don't matter. She is the author of A Year of Daily Calm and The Anywhere, Anytime Chill Guide and is a veteran journalist whose work has appeared in dozens of publications. Episode 496: Stress Less: 100 Mindfulness Exercises for Calmness and Clarity by Kate Hanley (Meditation & Slow Living). The can get her newest book and learn more here: http://MsMindBody.com Please Rate & Review the Show! Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com and Join the Ol' Family to get your Free Gifts!
Meditation for Busy People | Guided Meditations for Anxiety and Stress (Submitted, Website)
Join host Hypnotherapist Chel Hamilton for short, guided meditations to calm your anxiety, overcome negative thinking, increase your confidence, and more - in 15 minutes or less! Please Note: The meditations presented in this series are from a wide variety of sources and do not subscribe to any particular religious ideology. Every effort is made to present the meditation techniques in this podcast series in a non-dogmatic, non-religious based way. Please do not listen to this meditation podcast or any other meditations while doing something that requires your complete attention… like driving your car. Stay safe - thanks! For more information visit: http://chelhamilton.com
Can Mindfulness Really Help Reduce Anxiety? (Submitted, Website)
Mindfulness is a great way to reduce anxiety increase focus. But what is it and how does it work? Here’s what you need to know about mindfulness.
Can mindfulness exercises help me? (Submitted, Website)
Engaging with the world around you can lower your stress. Here's how to practice mindfulness meditation.
What is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? | Mindful Living Programs (Submitted, Website)
A Meditation on Working with Anxiety (30 min) (Submitted, Website)
This meditation combines breath awareness, the body scan, and mindfulness of thoughts to explore sources of stress and anxiety. From mindfulness teacher and author Bob Stahl, PhD.
Mindfulness (Submitted, Website)
This week Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Alyssa Rheingold about Mindfulness—an approach to improve psychological wellbeing and reduce stress. Dr. Rheingold is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Associate Director of the Sleep and Anxiety Program at MUSC.
60 Minutes Mindfulness featuring Jon Kabat Zinn (Submitted, Website)
Denise Schrier Cetta produces & Anderson Cooper reports on what it’s like to try to achieve “mindfulness,” a self-awareness scientists say is very healthy, but rarely achieved in today’s world of digital distractions.Jon Kabat-Zinn, who is Professor of Medicine Emeritus and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School is interviewed
Carpool Q&A on Mindfulness (Submitted, Website)
Mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn answers supporter questions about how to put mindfulness skills into practice and live more wisely and mindfully in response to life's challenges.
A Guided Walking Meditation from Jon Kabat-Zinn (Submitted, Website)
This 9-minute guided meditation from Jon Kabat-Zinn explores embracing mindfulness with every footfall — varying the practice for speed and distance.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: What it Is, How it Helps (Submitted, Website)
What is "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction"?
MBSR Online Course (Submitted, Website)
MBSR Online Course
Need Stress Relief? Try Mindfulness Meditation (Submitted, Website)
This practice is about paying attention in the present moment.
Mindfulness for Stress Reduction (Submitted, Website)
Would you like to reduce your stress? Very few people would say no to that offer! But what exactly does it mean?
Meditation and Mindfulness for Anxiety (Submitted, Website)
Research findings show significant benefits.
Leena Pennanen (Submitted, Website)
Onko mindfulness vain trenditermi vai voiko läsnäolon harjoittaminen todella muuttaa maailmaa? MBSR-menetelmän aikoinaan Suomeen tuonut Leena Pennanen ja Taneli keskustelevat läsnäolon harjoittamisen hyödyistä ja harhaluuloista, joita mindfulness-harjoittelu usein kohtaa. Haluaisitko sinä pitää aivosi nuorena vielä seuraavat vuosikymmenet?
Why Mindfulness Meditation Is The Most Important Life Skill for Self-Awareness (Submitted, Website)
You're listening to the 19th episode of the Humans 2.0 podcast, solo-series, FLOW! Today's episode is about the most impactful activity I participate in morning and night. Mindfulness meditation of course!A study from UCLA found that long-term meditators had better-preserved brains than non-meditators as they aged. Participants who’d been meditating for an average of 20 years had more grey matter volume throughout the brain — although older meditators still had some volume loss compared to younger meditators, it wasn’t as pronounced as the non-meditators. "We expected rather small and distinct effects located in some of the regions that had previously been associated with meditating," said study author Florian Kurth. "Instead, what we actually observed was a widespread effect of meditation that encompassed regions throughout the entire brain."
This week on Relationships 2.0 my guest is Linda Lehrhaupt, PhD author of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: The MBSR Program for Enhancing Health and Vitality About the book: Practicing mindfulness helps us meet life’s challenges with gentleness and clarity. By fully engaging in the present moment as best we can, we nurture our capacity to approach difficulties with less judgment and water the seeds of wisdom and openheartedness in ourselves. This book offers a concise and thorough immersion in the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn. It features straightforward instruction in the main exercises of MBSR ― sitting meditation, walking meditation, eating meditation, yoga, body scan, and informal, everyday practices. MBSR has been shown to help alleviate symptoms associated with chronic illness, anxiety, pain, burnout, cancer, and other stress-related conditions. The authors, two leading MBSR teacher trainers, provide step-by-step instructions as well as illustrative real-life examples. Readers embarking on a course in MBSR will find clear guidance, trainers will gain a valuable tool for their teaching, and anyone experiencing or receiving treatment for challenges of mind, body, or spirit will find practical, inspirational help. About the author: Linda Lehrhaupt, PhD, is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Mindfulness-Based Approaches and one of Europe’s most senior MBSR teachers.
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