We are a global community exploring the potential for secular mindfulness training and practice to contribute to more sustainable, caring and socially just societies. We share a common interest in how the human capacity for mindful awareness can contribute to effective responses to social, economic and environmental challenges; and how mindfulness practice, courses and communities need to be responsive to the social and political context of stress, wellbeing and change. We inspire and support each other through knowledge sharing, capacity building and collective inquiry, and have been doing this since 2014.
The network is open to anyone who is a mindfulness practitioner and interested or engaged in work to address social, economic and/or environmental challenges. When you join you gain access to our online community hub where you can take part in online discussions, search for like-minded people, download and upload resources, get invites to network webinars, events and training courses, and be part of a growing international community.
We currently have around 300 members from over 20 countries, and you are welcome to join us wherever you are!
We use Mobilize for our community hub which includes a mailing list, member directory, and resources and events sections. By signing up to the Network you’ll be able to:
View and engage in Network discussions by email or via the Mobilize platform.
Take part in events, webinars and trainings exploring various themes around mindfulness and social change
View member profiles, find people with similar interests/experience and see their roles, affiliations and location.
Message other members directly (though your email address will not be visible to other members)
Access and share relevant resources such as articles, reports, audio, video etc
You can apply to join the Network by filling in this Registration form. We will get back to you once we have reviewed your application. The information you provide in the form will be included in your profile, apart from your email address. You can also change your profile and email settings after signing up.
We take data protection seriously and have a Privacy Policy in place to clarify our approach.
We also have a Facebook group you are welcome to join too.
We don’t have a fixed membership fee, but we do ask members for voluntary donations annually to cover our operating costs, including the community platform, website hosting etc.
If you’d like to ask us questions before applying please contact the co-organisers of the network, Arindam Basu and Stacey Mandel: team@mindfulnessandsocialchange.org
Mindfulness can help us to discern, interrupt and transform power differentials and biases. By Beth Berila. First published in openDemocracy’s Transformation section. According to Ronald Purser, mindfulness can be transformative when it helps people “connect the dots between their personal…
Mindfulness is a powerful resource for radical transformation and dismantling oppressive structures. By Gee and Paula Haddock. First published in openDemocracy’s Transformation section. A lot has been written recently about how mindfulness can serve the social reproduction of capitalism. CEO’s…
We need a new praxis of spiritual and political liberation that isn’t muted by the weak balm of self-improvement. By Ronald Purser. First published in openDemocracy’s Transformation section. “True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the…
Mindfulness has huge potential in transforming education, but not if it’s only used as stress relief for students. By David Forbes. First published in openDemocracy’s Transformation section. “Our children need mindfulness in schools,” Brooklyn’s Borough President and mindfulness enthusiast, Eric…
Why paint inner development as a barrier to better systems? Amid crisis and complexity we need both. By Jamie Bristow. First published in openDemocracy’s Transformation section. I was working for the climate change campaign 10:10 around the time that NGOs…
Improving democratic governance is a challenge that goes way beyond cultivating calm and compassion. By Rachel Lilley and Mark Whitehead. First published in openDemocracy’s Transformation section. The widespread use of mindfulness to deal with anxiety, depression and a lack…
Mindfulness and Social Change Network 