Most Metarobic exercises such as Tai Chi and Yoga are also forms of mindfulness based meditation (when performed with a mindful intent, the focus of the mind on a focal point. See the Mind/Body Research page for more information on this aspect).
Mindfulness can take many forms, related to increasing awareness of self-sabotage, anger, fears and anxiety, as well as their sources and how to best deal with internal conflict. Often this is by living in the moment, mindful of (or focused on) the present, empty of past trauma or current anxieties. But it can also involve coming to a greater understanding and ability to deal with the sources and causes of anger, fear, anxiety and depression. As such, the practice of mindfulness can also be used to deal with conflict resolution on a group or even national scale.
The conflict in the Middle East is having some people call for bombing the heck out of them, deporting and/or barring Muslims from the United States, and doing anything which will end the threat NOW. The reality is that there is no quick resolution, and any attempt to end this without understanding its source, and where hate comes from (at home and abroad), is doomed to failure.
In personal conflict, a mindfulness based approach is to understand both sides in a way which will bring long lasting resolution, aimed at a truly good solution for all parties concerned, ideally beyond violence. The mindfulness based approach advocates emptying your mind of all preconceptions, of your own views, opinions and desires. By becoming an empty vessel one can better put themselves into the others place – to understand why THEY think they are right and you are “wrong.” Putting yourself objectively in the other’s place allows you to understand their views, opinions and desires. If you can do this to the degree that you can actually come to understand why they think they are right, even to the point that you could see (from their view) that they are right, then you can come to a point that actual dialogue and conflict resolution can take place. If you can come to the point that you can understand why they see they are right, there is a better chance that you can create open dialogue to the point that they can agree that you are also right (from your perspective), for reasons they can now understand. Now open and true dialogue can take place, and ideally a truly good and ethical resolution which can be accepted and supported by both parties. Peace, resolution and even better yet, right action.
This same process can be applied to co-workers, groups, committees, race and class wars, as well as conflicts between countries and religions. This can be a really hard and unpleasant thing to do – after all, who can really (or would want to) put themselves in the place of terrorists, and people who act with inhuman actions beyond human comprehension. Actions beyond the typical bounds of human comprehension can really stretch the application of Mindfulness Based Conflict Resolution, but by attempting to do so, solutions may arise which might not otherwise. Solutions which may have the greatest possibility of bringing eventual peace, if not understanding. Within the world as well as within the self.
Mindfulness can take many forms, related to increasing awareness of self-sabotage, anger, fears and anxiety, as well as their sources and how to best deal with internal conflict. Often this is by living in the moment, mindful of (or focused on) the present, empty of past trauma or current anxieties. But it can also involve coming to a greater understanding and ability to deal with the sources and causes of anger, fear, anxiety and depression. As such, the practice of mindfulness can also be used to deal with conflict resolution on a group or even national scale.
The conflict in the Middle East is having some people call for bombing the heck out of them, deporting and/or barring Muslims from the United States, and doing anything which will end the threat NOW. The reality is that there is no quick resolution, and any attempt to end this without understanding its source, and where hate comes from (at home and abroad), is doomed to failure.
In personal conflict, a mindfulness based approach is to understand both sides in a way which will bring long lasting resolution, aimed at a truly good solution for all parties concerned, ideally beyond violence. The mindfulness based approach advocates emptying your mind of all preconceptions, of your own views, opinions and desires. By becoming an empty vessel one can better put themselves into the others place – to understand why THEY think they are right and you are “wrong.” Putting yourself objectively in the other’s place allows you to understand their views, opinions and desires. If you can do this to the degree that you can actually come to understand why they think they are right, even to the point that you could see (from their view) that they are right, then you can come to a point that actual dialogue and conflict resolution can take place. If you can come to the point that you can understand why they see they are right, there is a better chance that you can create open dialogue to the point that they can agree that you are also right (from your perspective), for reasons they can now understand. Now open and true dialogue can take place, and ideally a truly good and ethical resolution which can be accepted and supported by both parties. Peace, resolution and even better yet, right action.
This same process can be applied to co-workers, groups, committees, race and class wars, as well as conflicts between countries and religions. This can be a really hard and unpleasant thing to do – after all, who can really (or would want to) put themselves in the place of terrorists, and people who act with inhuman actions beyond human comprehension. Actions beyond the typical bounds of human comprehension can really stretch the application of Mindfulness Based Conflict Resolution, but by attempting to do so, solutions may arise which might not otherwise. Solutions which may have the greatest possibility of bringing eventual peace, if not understanding. Within the world as well as within the self.
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