Mindfulness and compassion teachers and researchers, connecting worldwide

"I imagine that in the past two years a lot has transpired in your lives, changes of all kinds, some uplifting and joyful, some sobering; gains in some areas, painful losses in others. As we know, changes of all kinds, whatever they are, can function as major motivators for us to let life itself become the meditation practice, moment by moment by moment, and as reminders to see if we can't bring a modicum of gentleness, forbearance, kindness, and compassion to the changes and the suffering we are all subject to and experience at different moments in our lives and in different ways.

It seems to me that, at a moment when the world is even more dysregulated and inflamed than it was in 2024, this is a perfect time for us all to come together in the digital space, share what has unfolded in the past two years in our lives and practice, and perhaps explore ways that we might support each other in both our practice and in our ongoing lives; inquire how we might use our strong commitment to ongoing practice and to an expanding sangha of belonging and intentionality, both online and in our own locales, to strengthen and amplify the transformative potential of embodied wakefulness and interconnectivity; and how we might continue to interface with the larger world in ways that might contain and attenuate to some degree the currents of greed, hatred, delusion, and suffering, writ both large and small, that move through ourselves as well as through the larger world, and instead, choose to nurture and embody healing, wisdom, and compassion.

That is a big intention for a two-hour reunion, and of course, it is only an aspiration. But if we trust in emergence, showing up will be its own statement of curiosity, commitment and presence from each of us, an affirmation that we need and value community, that it might be possible to nurture a global sangha of intentionality and belonging that already exists in us and in the larger world in so many different ways, and that we can continue to work and practice together, welcome newcomers, and support each other going forward in whatever ways we might imagine and feel comfortable with, for the benefit of ourselves, our families, our colleagues, communities, institutions, societies, and the Earth itself.

I am very much looking forward to seeing you there if you care to join us. Love, Jon."