UF Mindfulness

Fall 2024 Course Alert!

Undergraduate/Graduate course elective available this fall semester.

**The course is part of the UF Certificate in Spirituality and Health.

Summer Course Announcement!

Mind-Body Practices and Spiritualities
SDS 6938 Special Topics for Graduate Level
MHS 3930 Special Topics for Undergraduate Level

When: Summer semester, 2024 (Mondays; periods 3-5 (9:35 am to 12:35 pm).

Where: UF Norman Hall. Room 1707A.

Instructor: Sabine Grunwald, Ph.D. in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, Director of the UF Mindfulness Program ([email protected]).

Course Description: In this course, we will explore contrasting mind-body constructs and practices from Western psychological, modern spiritual, and Buddhist perspectives. We will immerse ourselves in the study of select mind-body practices, explore their theoretical underpinnings and traditional roots as well as benefits for wellbeing, health, and human flourishing. Such learning approach discovers the ‘Why’, ‘What’, and ‘How’ that undergirds mind-body practices. Mind-body meditation practices bring forth transpersonal and transbody states of consciousness and embodiment which will be discovered, observed, and studied. We will explore mind-body interactions, psycho-spiritual experiences, and potential liberative transformation paths and goals. To embody the lived experience of a particular moment through mindfulness and body awareness means to viscerally feel sensory, motor, emotional, and imaginal experiences rather than to funnel arousal into mental concepts, ideas, and categories (“chatter mind, ruminating mind”). Evidence-based research and phenomenological qualitative research studies that have assessed the effects of mind-body practices on health, well-being, and spiritual/mystical experiences will be given special attention in form of student projects and papers. This course is highly experiential and stresses engagement and study of various mind-body practices and spiritualities.

The course is open to all students at UF; it counts toward the UF Certificate in Spirituality and Health.

Learn more:
https://www.ufmindfulness.org/uf-grad-undergrad-courses

Please join us in humbly welcoming Marajina Bhikkhuni for her FIRST dharma talk at Karuna Cottage on Tuesday April 16th at 4 pm.
The dharma talk titled "Right View in a Theatre of Delusion" will explore "our day to day productions to uncover the empty theatre in which they premiere."
The April 16th sangha will include:
Introduction/dedication of merit intention
10 minute settling in with focused breathing
45 minute discourse
Q&A
15 min seated meditation
This offering of the Buddha's teaching is free. Any donation received onsite will benefit Karuna Cottage. We are most grateful for her teachings.

Join The Heart of Nature Summit, where leaders like Jane Fonda, Marianne Williamson, Tara Brach, Paul Hawken and many more come together to share transformative insights with you.

The Heart of Nature Summit begins this coming Tuesday and concludes on Earth Day...

Register is FREE: https://www.heartofnaturesummit.com/

Why join us at The Heart of Nature Summit?

This isn't just a Summit — it's a solution to the pressing need for both personal rejuvenation and ecological restoration.

Through this event, we tackle critical issues such as environmental grief, personal well-being, and the necessity for creative, sustainable solutions to the problems our world faces.

Here's how The Heart of Nature Summit can impact your life:

Enhance Personal Health - Dive deep into nature therapy and contemplative practices that renew your spirit and improve your overall well-being

Empower Your Compassionate Action - Learn how to harness the power of your emotions for positive environmental and social change

Strengthen Community Ties - Connect with like-minded individuals who are eager to make a difference, building bonds that inspire collective action

Cultivate Joy and Resilience - Discover the unspoken beauty and wisdom of nature, which can bring lasting joy and resilience into your life

Drive Innovative Change - Engage with creative thinkers who are pioneering the path to a sustainable future, and find out how you can contribute

Plus much more... https://www.heartofnaturesummit.com/

What a joy to work and be together!

Say 'hello' to our other keynote speaker, Yao-Chin Wang who will present "Mindfulness in Hospitality and Tourism: Applications and Research Findings" at the Global Human Flourishing Symposium: Inspiring Science, Wisdom and Compassionate Action

April 4 (8:15am-2:15pm), University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries, Rm 100

It's a presentation you don't want to miss!

Check out the full schedule and reserve your spot today: https://www.ufmindfulness.org/specialevents

Say 'hello' to keynote speaker, Monika Ardelt who will present "Moral Virtues, Spirituality, and Flourishing: Why Does Wisdom Matter?" at the Global Human Flourishing Symposium: Inspiring Science, Wisdom and Compassionate Action

April 4 (8:15am-2:15pm), University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries, Rm 100

Check out the full schedule and reserve your spot today: https://www.ufmindfulness.org/specialevents

Join us at the Global Human Flourishing Symposium:
Inspiring Science, Wisdom and Compassionate Action. April 4 (8:15am-2:15pm), Smathers Library UF, Rm 100. Register at https://www.ufmindfulness.org/specialevents. Two keynotes, mindfulness practice sessions, and more.

360 Mindfulness Session on Monday March 18 (5:30 to 6:30 pm) "Ostara Meditations" with Misti Oxford Pickeral & Chuck Pickeral (in-person). The in-person sessions will take place at the UF Field & Fork Farm and Gardens, https://fieldandfork.ufl.edu/about/getting-here-2/. Free parking is available and near the building. More info at https://www.ufmindfulness.org/workshops and
https://www.ufmindfulness.org/workshop360spring2024

Workshops | UF Mindfulness Join us for mindfulness meditation practice at the Harn Museum of Art. The in-person practices are facilitated by members of the 

“What we wear is a reflection of how we want to be seen." -- We don't think this is we had in mind 🤣

Community Sand Mandala with world renowned Tibetan monk and artist, Lama Tashi Norbu at the Harn Museum of Art tomorrow 2-4pm and Saturday 2-5pm.

☯ What's a Sand Mandala? The construction of a sand mandala is symbolic of our interconnectedness through many lifetimes – and the deconstruction is symbolic of letting go of our attachments. Never seen a Sand Mandala before? Here’s your chance!

Be here now my friends ...

360° Mindfulness events are in-person all month long!

This FREE series is open to all -- no affiliation with UF or experience with mindfulness practices are required.

Sessions begin 5:30pm at UF Field & Fork Farm and Gardens. Parking is free and easy. Find information about getting here: https://fieldandfork.ufl.edu/about/getting-here-2/.

This presentation will showcase mindfulness-related applications in the hospitality and tourism industries. Dr. Wang will also share research findings from his hospitality and tourism studies in mindfulness.

Another wonderful keynote you don’t want to miss!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 4th:
https://www.facebook.com/events/989067575953370

Is it wise to be good or is it good to be wise? Dr. Monika Ardelt will explore whether morality and spirituality are necessary for the development of wisdom and, conversely, whether wisdom might strengthen morality and spirituality and lead to flourishing..

It's a talk you won't want to miss!

Join us, Thursday, April 4th for our annual symposium:
https://www.facebook.com/events/989067575953370

Join us Monday, March 4, at the UF Field & Fork Farm and Gardens. This free session will focus on turning pain into compassion with Tonglen meditation. It will be a beautiful practice in a beautiful space! We gather @ 5:30pm.

Parking is easy, and the bats will be coming out just as we finish! Find information about getting here, https://fieldandfork.ufl.edu/about/getting-here-2/.

At UF Mindfulness, we are passionate to co-create mindfulness for the whole UF community—undergraduate and graduate students, Post-Docs, faculty members, researchers, staff, administrators, as well as the Gainesville community.

We are also a catalyst to build compassionate, safe, and empowering communities contributing to the greater good.

Speaking of community, join us on our new Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/ufmindfulness/

The UF Mindfulness Program was launched May 2015 with funding by the UF Creative Campus Program. Since then, our team has expanded as a self-funded program. We are engaged in collaborative networking and teaching of mindfulness across campus, and have formed three pillars focused on Teaching & Practice, Research, and Student Development.

Interested in learning more about our free mindfulness events? Sign up to receive our newsletter today: https://www.ufmindfulness.org/sign-up-for-newsletter

Lama Tashi Norbu is visiting Gainesville from March 5- 9.

Tashi is a Tibetan Buddhist monk and artist, he "embodies a unique fusion of tradition and modernity. He served as a Thangka Painter under His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s residence. Tashi was recognized for his gifts and sent to the west to study contemporary art, evolving then into a contemporary Tibetan artist who skillfully integrates traditional and modern elements to create art in support of his culture."

Below are the events, descriptions, dates and ticket pages for each one. Please share this email with your friends.

-- Tuesday March 5th: Buddha Painting Workshop with Lama Tashi Norbu
2- 4 pm at Gainesville Karma Thegsum Chöling-KTC
https://tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/tibetan-buddha-painting-workshop-gtc-gainsville-march-5-2024

-- Tuesday March 5th Live screening of LAMA MANI w/ Q&A by Lama Tashi Norbu
7:00 pm at Gainesville Karma Thegsum Choling
https://tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/live-screening-of-lama-mani-gainesville-march-5-2024

-- Thursday March 7th Mantra Lounge & Live Painting w/ Lama Tashi Norbu
6:45 - 8:45 pm at the Harn Museum of Art
https://tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/mantra-lounge-live-painting-w-lama-tashi-norbu-gainesville

-- Friday March 8th Sacred Tibetan Sand Mandala with Lama Tashi Norbu
2:00pm - 4:00pm Harn Museum of Art
https://tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/sacred-tibetan-sand-mandala-with-lama-tashi-norbu-gainesville-1

-- Friday, March 8th Tibetan Healing Concert with Lama Tashi Norbu & Jordan Loder, Sam & Luci
7:30 -9:30 pm Shambhala Gainesville
https://tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/tibetan-healing-concert-gainesville-march-8

-- Saturday, March 9th Sacred Tibetan Sand Mandala with Lama Tashi Norbu
2-5 pm at the Harn Museum of Art Destruction ceremony 4-5 pm
https://tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/sacred-tibetan-sand-mandala-with-lama-tashi-norbu-march8-9

Check out his website https://www.lamatashinorbu.org/
page https://www.facebook.com/ltashinorbu