Mindfulness and Compassion in the New Millennium: How Ancient Practices Can Meet Modern Challenges
From Ms Ann SHEN _
TY Lee Mindfulness Series 2019
Mindfulness and Compassion in the New Millennium: How Ancient Practices Can Meet Modern Challenges
Tuesday 3rd September 2019
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium
Singapore Management University
Few developments in the field of human well-being have been more pervasive in our society in the past few decades than the application of mindfulness to cope with human stress, pain, illness and suffering. The science behind this ancient practice is vast and growing, and the empirical support for the simple discipline of bringing attention to the present moment is remarkable. More recently, society’s embrace of mindfulness has expanded to include not just the mind, but the heart as well. The basic human capacity for compassion, the inclination to be happy and free from suffering is intricately entwined with the clear seeing of mindfulness, creating a powerful means of human healing and growth.
Dr Hickman will briefly review the modern history and accomplishments of the mindfulness and compassion endeavours, as a backdrop for looking to the future of these practices and ways that they may support us to face the challenges ahead. Modern citizens of the world are facing unprecedented challenges in this new millennium, fueled by technology, dwindling resources, and socio-political turmoil. Nonetheless, we are experiencing pervasive feelings of loneliness, isolation and alienation that contribute to harmful and destructive behaviours in many forms. Even the illusion of importance that comes from being “crazy busy” is slowly eroding our ability to be genuine . . . and genuinely happy.
However, the personal practice of mindfulness, compassion and self-compassion may be the means to finding our way, as citizens and as a society, to a fulfilling life of peace, ease and understanding, even amid huge challenges and worldwide problems. This talk will explore how awakening the heart through the practice of mindfulness and compassion can help us find the inner compass of our values, our deeply-held human ethics and unlock our deep desire to live lives of joy and fulfilment. When each of us can touch what is most valuable inside of us, together, we can, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi “be the change we wish to see in the world”. The talk is meant to inform, inspire, challenge and shift our perspective on our life journey and how we share that journey with every human being.
About the Speakers
Dr Steven Hickman is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Founding Director of the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. He is an Associate Clinical Professor in the UCSD Department of Family Medicine and Public Health. Dr Hickman is also the Executive Director of the non-profit Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, which is dedicated to disseminating the practice of self-compassion throughout the world. Steven is a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self-Compassion and is a teacher trainer for both programs. His area of speciality is the training of teachers of mindfulness and self-compassion, and he founded the UC San Diego Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute dedicated to providing professional training and certification in the full spectrum of mindfulness-based programs. He is married and has three young adult children, affording him ample opportunities to practice what he teaches.
Jochen Reb is Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources as well as the founding Director of the Mindfulness Initiative @ SMU at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University (SMU). His research focuses on two main areas: judgment and decision making in organisations, and the role of mindfulness in organisational contexts such as leadership and performance. He is the author of numerous articles published in leading academic journals as well as several case studies on decision making and mindfulness in organisations.
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