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Mindful social justice

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…

Don’t wait for the future of mindfulness – it’s already here

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…

The need for critical social mindfulness in schools

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…

Time for new thinking about mindfulness and social change

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…

Does mindfulness in politics make any difference?

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

Mindfulness isn’t a panacea, but it’s increasingly important in our work for transformation. By Luke Wreford and Paula Haddock. First published in openDemocracy's Transformation section. As mindfulness becomes more prevalent in western societies, it’s understandable that its popularity as a…

Moving mindfulness from ‘me’ to ‘we’

If mindfulness is to become a force for social and political change it needs to radically expand its scope beyond individual therapy. By Ronald Purser. First published in openDemocracy's Transformation section.   Mindfulness provides important psychological and emotional benefits for…

The faux revolution of mindfulness

McMindfulness is the new capitalist spirituality. By Ronald Purser. First published in openDemocracy's Transformation section.   According to its backers we’re in the midst of a “mindfulness revolution.” Jon Kabat-Zinn, recently dubbed the “father of mindfulness,” goes so far as…

A new social mindfulness resource

By Barbara Ibinarriaga Soltero. Being Mindful of Our World offers a way for people to learn about mindfulness, meditation and contemplative practices and to find out about creative responses to critical debates on the social context of mindfulness, especially regarding…