Stuff to explore online
The OG “Mindfulness-Based”: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. As noted in my post about mindfulness and “mindfulness,” I do have a hankering to go deeper than . . . well, just “mindfulness.” That being said, MBSR works, and I want nothing more than for my patients and friends experiencing stress and burnout to get relief.
If you’re in Washington, do yourself a favor and check out Mindfulness Northwest. Seriously. They even have MBSR offerings specifically for healthcare providers.
If you’re not in Washington, and/or you’d like to study MBSR more at your own pace, Palouse Mindfulness is a treasure. Literally the entire curriculum of MBSR, offered entirely for free, with periodic Zoom meetings available to connect with other people working their way through MBSR.
“White Guy Buddhism.” Excellent Substack post about some of the cultural impacts of Western values on Buddhism’s path in the States. From the Substack WeirdCraft:
Spirit Rock. On the West Coast and available online, Spirit Rock is a goldmine if you’re interested in exploring Buddhism more deeply. I’m currently enrolled in both their Buddhist Psych Training for psychotherapists, and a sutta study. The teaching is extremely high quality. Explore it here.
Everything Happens for a Reason. Okay, full disclosure: This book isn’t Buddhist at all. The author is Christian, and either a theologian or historian of Christianity. But it’s AWESOME for both 1) laughing your ass off, and 2) exploring how harmful trite little feel-good phrases can be. The author, having spent years exposed to prosperity gospel teachings, is diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, hearing that “everything happens for a reason” was and is not helpful. If you enjoyed my post on psychobabble and near enemies, you might like this very quick-to-read memoir.
Books
NOTE: There are lots of different traditions in Buddhism! In the interests of simplicity, I won’t differentiate between them all here, but if and when you ever do explore the dharma, keep in mind that there is a lot of diversity of thought and practice.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Classic by Soto Zen monk Shunryu Suzuki.
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment: Great introductory book on mindfulness by badass Thich Nhat Hanh.
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times: Another classic by Ani Pema Chödrön. Sooo good for the soul when struggling.
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha: Come to think of it, the phrase “radical acceptance” has become its own kind of psychobabble these days. Tara Brach’s book — another beginner-friendly text — beautifully addresses the self-hatred rife in the West.
Awakening the Buddha Within: If you’ve been exposed to a little bit (or a lot) of mindfulness-based writing or thought, and you’re interested in really diving into Buddhism, I highly recommend this book.
Be the Refuge: Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists: Definitely not an introduction to Buddhism or mindfulness, but a very important cultural history and exploration of Buddhism’s Asian roots (and misrepresentation) in the US.