"Tracing Mindfulness Back to Its Sources": T. T. and W. F. Chao Workshop with Bhikkhunī Dhammadinnā and Paul Harrison

This workshop is a part of the T. T. & W. F. Chao Buddhism and Contemporary Society Series and will explore the early Buddhist sources of mindfulness meditation in theory and in practice. Participants will be guided through an examination of the teachings that form the shared inheritance of all later Buddhist traditions and that also inform many contemporary applications. Throughout the day, we will be looking into multiple constructs and perspectives on mindfulness and their practical implications, discovering how theory, practice, and their interweaving have continually evolved—shaped by diverse maps and goals of the Buddhist path across time, through different cultures, and into present-day recontextualizations. The workshop will offer participants the opportunity for experiential exploration of the relevant practices together with an accessible scholarly grounding in the primary textual sources in translation. This event is free and open to the public, and everyone is welcome. However, because of space limitations, registration is essential. Registration will close on November 10. Some prior exposure to basic Buddhist or mindfulness teachings and practices is helpful but not a prerequisite for participation. Schedule: Morning Session 09:00–09:10 Introduction 09:10–09:20 Guided Meditation 09:20–10:00 The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna) in Theory & Practice: An Overview 10:00–10:30 Discussion 10:30–10:45 Short Break 10:45–11:30 The Four Foundations of Mindfulness: Guided Meditation 11:30–12:00 Discussion 12:00–13:00 Lunch Break Afternoon Session 13:00–14:00 Evolving Constructs of Mindfulness 14:00–14:10 Short Break 14:10–14:40 Guided Meditation 14:40–15:00 Discussion & Closing Instructors: Bhikkhunī Dhammadinnā is a monastic scholar who teaches meditation, drawing on primary sources with mindfulness of how their historical and ideological developments impact practice. Paul Harrison has taught in Stanford’s Department of Religious Studies for almost 20 years and specializes in the study of Buddhist texts in their original languages. Preparatory Reading: This link will take you to a copy of Chapter XIII of the Venerable Anālayo’s 2013 book, Perspectives on Satipaṭṭhāna, where you will find English translations of three versions of the shorter sūtra on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness from three different Buddhist schools. Please read at least the first one, the Pāli version from the Majjhima-nikāya or Middle Length Discourses of the Theravādin canon, which is the best known. The other two are optional. ​Meals, Seating, and Accessibility: Complimentary vegetarian boxed meals will be available for registered guests. If you have particular dietary requirements, we ask that you please bring your own lunch for the midday break. For guests who would like to participate in seated meditation on the floor, we ask that you please bring your own cushions as needed. There will be chairs for guests who prefer them. If you will need special accessibility accommodations, such as an assistive listening device, please reach out to [email protected] by November 10.