MBSR-inspired mindfulness
The foundations of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can be found in what is now called Insight Meditation in the West. This tradition is largely a contemporary expression of the Theravadan (or Vipassana) Buddhist tradition from Asia.
About the tradition
In developing Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Jon Kabat-Zinn was influenced by his study in the Zen/Chan lineages of the Buddhist tradition. He has been heard to say that “MBSR is Vipassana with a Zen attitude! Being both a scientist and a rigorous practitioner of Vipassana and yoga, he was one of the first who re-contextualised “mindfulness” in a secular way that it could be offered in a physical and mental health setting and began researching the outcomes in a systematic way.
What can attendees expect?
During this series we will be exploring a number of different mindfulness practices to help us come to know the nature of our own minds and bodies. This will involve practices helping us interrupt operating on automatic pilot and cultivate more presence in our lives. We will also explore practices to help us ground awareness in the body and interrupt stress reactivity, and learn more skilful ways of relating to patterns of thinking and our emotions. We will learn not only about skilful regulation but also gain more insight into our own patterns as well as the nature of experience itself, and the role of kindness and compassion in helping us meet whatever is arising within our internal and external worlds.
About the teacher
Elizabeth (Libba) Granger
BEc, LLB, Dip. Som. Psych, PACFA Reg
Libba is the Managing Director of Openground for Organisations and has been running customised mindfulness programs in a range of different organisational settings for 15 years. More recently she has been involved in teaching customised trauma sensitive mindfulness programs to veterans and their family members through the Department of Veteran Affairs.
She has also been teaching Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to the general public since 2008 and continues to be inspired by the changes that people make enhancing their own wellbeing and supporting ongoing personal growth. Prior to that Elizabeth worked as a litigation lawyer for 14 years, including at partnership level, and because of this background, has been passionate about bringing mindfulness into organisations and opening people to the best in themselves and their lives.
She also sits on the Advisory Board of the Mindful Futures Network (MFN) which is part of the not for profit organisation, Australia 21. The MFN specifically looks at new research and applications of mindfulness, empathy and compassion in shaping social change in Australia as well as linking with similar organisations around the world.
Further resources
Find additional resources on the Openground website.
