Podcasts about contemplative sciences center

Episode Notes **Since the Contemplative Commons opening April 4, the building has hosted events for the University community. Sam Cole, Commons' Assistant Director of Student Engagement, discusses how the Contemplative Sciences Center is molding itself to meet students' needs and provide a wide range of opportunities for students to discover contemplative practices that can help them thrive at the University. **

This trialogue is the first in a series exploring the latest interdisciplinary research into tantric completion stage practices such as yogas of dream, sleep, and death. Dr Michael Sheehy is the Director of Research at the Contemplative Sciences Center in the Department of Religious Studies in the University of Virginia. Dr Tawni Tidwell is a biocultural anthropologist and doctor of traditional Tibetan medicine. Dr Julian Schott is an Indologist, Tibetologist, and assistant professor at the University of Vienna. Dr Sheehy shares his cutting edge research into the tantric completion stage yogas of dream and sleep, reveals the implication of new directions in neuroscience and micro-phenomenology, and warns of the danger of esoteric practices becoming extinct. Dr Sheehy proposes a two-way split in the future of religious practice, Dr Tidwell reflects on the decline in the number of spiritual masters, and Dr Schott considers the real meaning of secrecy in Tibetan tantra. Video version: www.guruviking.com Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:22 - Current research about yogic practices of dream and sleep 02:46 - Overview of Tibet and Indian dream and sleep practices 04:15 - Michael's scientific studies of yogic lucid dreaming practice 07:53 - Opening a 2-way channel of communication between dreamer and scientist 08:46 - Rigorous micro-phenomenology 10:04 - Comparisons with classic descriptions and prescriptions found in Tibetan dream manuals 11:34 - Dreams are unpredictable spaces 13:53 - Understanding lucidity 16:27 - Psychological flexibility, imaginal simulation, and somatic awareness 22:28 - The impact of dream yoga on daily life 23:59 - 6 similes of reality and dream yoga 26:26 - Lucid waking practices & the illusory body 29:45 - 2-fold practice curriculum of day and night 31:16 - A devastating pitfall 32:07 - New ways to amplify practice 35:38 - Designing virtual reality simulations for dream yoga exercises 39:49 - Intersections with psychedelic research 42:16 - 2 ways to approach contemplative practice 47:05 - Generating interdisciplinary hypotheses 48:14 - Utilising VR meditations as practice supports 52:37 - Drawing on traditional expertise 53:27 - Bringing traditional practice categories into neuroscience research 55:27 - Neuroscience as the next level of translation 59:40 - Michael challenges ahistorical perspectives; Tibetan tradition has been highly experimental 01:02:32 - Community-based partnerships 01:05:02 - What does it mean that a practice is “secret”? 01:07:01 - The body in tantric traditions and secularising tantra 01:09:33 - A 2-way split in the global culture of religious practice 01:12:10 - Esoteric traditions are in danger 01:16:56 - Bold experimentation is historically consonant with the tradition 01:18:23 - Great masters are decreasing in number 01:23:17 - Esoteric practices have a coherent logic 01:26:22 - Traditional practices have undergone evolution and change 01:28:36 - Ethics of scholar-practitioners To find our more about the panel, visit: - https://michaelrsheehy.com/ - https://centerhealthyminds.org/about/people/tawni-tidwell - https://stb.univie.ac.at/en/about-us/team/julian-schott/user/schottj85/inum/1083/backpid/198178/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Naomi Worth is a scholar and practitioner of yoga and Tibetan Buddhism. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, and helped found the Contemplative Sciences Center. Naomi tells us about her time in Mysore studying Ashtanga yoga and her travels to Dharmsala to study with the Tibetan Buddhist community. She also shares her retreat experiences in the practice of Tibetan Yoga at Namdroling.She has written several papers on these topics including, The Body as a Vehicle to Enlightenment: A Brief History of Physical Practices in Haṭha Yoga and Tibetan Buddhist TantraShe is currently teaching high school in New York City.quantumyouth.orgNaomi's websiteNaomi's publications on Academia.eduOur website: Somaticprimer.comFor upcoming live courses: Vidyamethod.comOur Online Learning PlatformPlease consider supporting the show with a monthly donation.As always thank you for listening and enjoy the episode Support the show

In this weeks episode, I had the pleasure to speak with Michael Sheehy.Michael Sheehy is a meditation researcher and scholar of Tibetan Buddhism. He is a Research Assistant Professor and Director of Research at the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia.Michael studied extensively in Asia, including three years training in a Buddhist monastery in the nomadic Golok region of far eastern Tibet and more than twelve years conducting fieldwork to preserve rare manuscripts with monastic communities across the Tibetan plateau. His research on Tibetan lucid dreaming practices was featured in National Geographic. His forthcoming book is on the history and philosophy of the  Jonang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His current book project weaves practices of attention, imagination, and embodiment from Tibetan meditation manuals with contemporary discourses on mind, body, culture, and ecology.You can find out more about Michael and his work on his website https://michaelrsheehy.comThank you to all the listeners who are supporting the show and if you are not already then please consider supporting the show with a monthly donation and don't to forget to like and subscribe. Discover more about us and our ongoing courses at Somaticprimer.com & Vidyamethod.comAs always thank you for listening and enjoy the episode Support the show

Today, we're tackling Russell's thought-provoking question about Jesus Christ with Religious Scholar and Certified Ashtanga teacher, Dr. John Campbell. As the conversation turns to "Are we searching for our own personal Jesus in yoga teachers?" Harmony Slater, John, and Russell explore the tendency to idolize instructors, seeking external validation and solutions rather than cultivating our own inner power. This episode will challenge your assumptions and open doors to a more authentic yoga practice. Key Takeaways: Beyond Black and White Thinking: John Campbell critiques the pressure for strong opinions: "Everybody always trying to dumb everything down...you know, you have a black and white opinion about this or that..." The conversation explores the need for critical thinking and a nuanced approach to yoga teachers and transformation. The Simulation of Awareness: John delves into the overwhelming nature of information overload: "We have this constant narration machine of infinite complexity in our minds...this is exactly who I am..." He argues that true transformation comes from cultivating presence and inner peace, not getting caught up in external narratives. Yoga and the Cult of Personality: John observes, "[We] find ourselves in positions of great authority, which then turn out to be real shit-heels." Harmony Slater adds, "We're all doing that, right? With our interpersonal struggles." This conversation explores how easily we project unrealistic expectations onto teachers, potentially hindering our own growth. Presence and Authenticity: Despite the potential pitfalls, the episode acknowledges the power of yoga. John Campbell concludes that yoga, when approached mindfully, can be a powerful tool for cultivating presence, compassion, and a deeper sense of self. Now it's your turn! Ready to dive deeper? Join Harmony's 5-Day Free Breathwork Challenge to start building a powerful, self-directed yoga practice.  Share your thoughts! Leave a review and spark a conversation about your biggest takeaways from this episode. Connect with the community! Find us on social media or join Harmony's online community to connect with fellow yoga enthusiasts! Join the Finding Harmony Community. About Our Guests: John Campbell:  John Campbell is a scholar of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and holds a PhD in Religion from Columbia University. He has been a Fulbright Fellow and has taught at Columbia University and the University of Virginia, where he co-founded the Contemplative Sciences Center  for research and teaching centered on contemplative methods and traditions. He is currently working on a multi-volume translation from Sanskrit and Tibetan of commentaries on the Guhyasamaja Tantra, a Buddhist scripture.   He began practising yoga and meditation thirty years ago, and has since then taught yoga, meditation, and contemplative philosophy worldwide. A longtime practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, he is also one of the few Certified teachers of Ashtanga Yoga.  He lives in Newburgh NY with his wife, children, and assorted animal friends.  >>> You can find him teaching at the Newburgh Yoga Shala   Work with Harmony: Links and Resources: 5 Day Ancient Breathing Challenge for Stress Reduction with Harmony Slater Explore Harmony Slater's upcoming Workshops + Retreats: Lisbon, Norway, Germany and Turkey Connect with Us (We love to hear from you!) Harmony Slater's Website: http://harmonyslater.com Finding Harmony Community  Apply to work with Harmony: https://harmonyslater.com/harmony-slater-coaching ⁠Find Harmony on Instagram⁠ Follow the Finding Harmony Podcast on IG ⁠Two Minute Breathwork Session⁠   Thank you for listening! Join us next time as we delve deeper into the world of yoga and self-discovery on the Finding Harmony Podcast.

When does the student become the teacher?Jason Pickard made his mark in the world of finance as a very successful portfolio manager at a large hedge fund, but making that incredibly lucrative living left him sick, morbidly obese and psychologically “small.”Jason describes his incredible transformation to whole health inside and out thanks to the 4 Doctors and his spiritual relationship with Paul that has evolved from mentorship to deep friendship in this loving Living 4D conversation.Learn more about Jason's life and work with Paul at the University of Virginia's Contemplative Sciences Center.Show NotesJason finds soul through one of his first loves. (3:53)Jason became a millionaire as a trader by age 26. (8:11)Does Jason know more than a lot of CHEK Professionals? (17:47)The 4 Doctors of Trading. (23:45)Are you checking your morning heart rate? (36:07)How Jason used art and meditation to recover from losing $100 million in two hours. (44:47)From escaping chaos at home to meeting Alex Gray. (52:33)The power of music. (1:06:07)“If you can find something better, you can be my teacher…”  (1:12:56)What is your birth card in the Tarot deck? (1:39:23)A plant medicine ceremony is not a casual, recreational experience. (1:50:02)A sense of eldership. (1:58:46)Dreaming yourself into existence. (2:02:25)Jason describes taking HLC2. (2:15:00)A Dr. Diet duet. (2:24:48)Nature deficit disorder. (2:38:40)What Jason is dreaming into existence now. (2:44:45)ResourcesThe work of Paul Tudor Jones, Joseph Chilton Pearce, Terence McKenna, William C.C. Chen, Master Sifu Fong Ha, Ram Dass, Dr. Klaus Schwab and Weston A. PriceWeather tradingAlex Gray discusses working on The Great Turn and with the band Tool on YouTubeThe Shaman's Body by Arnold MindellMore resources for this episode are available on our website.Thanks to our awesome sponsors: CHEK Institute/IMS 1 Online, Cymbiotika (save 15 percent on your purchase by using the code CHEK15 at checkout), Organifi (save 20 percent on your purchase by using the code CHEK20 at checkout), Paleovalley (save 15 percent on your purchase by using the code chek15 at checkout), BiOptimizers (save an extra 10 percent on your purchase by using the code PAUL10 at checkout) and Airestech (save 15 percent on any purchase you make by using the code CHEK15 at checkout).We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.

(Health Series)“Our steadfast faith in our limitations keeps us operating at only a fraction of our true potential.” - Jason Pickard Most people, when they discover their passion and purpose, do all that they can to become a master of it.  But what if you grow up passionate about so many things because your real interest is in understanding the nature of Reality and in exceeding known limits of human possibilities? Jason Pickard knew, as a young teen, that he wanted to be a trader on Wall St. He quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the Top 30 traders under 30 years old. But after achieving unprecedented success on Wall St., while losing his health and almost his life in the process, he began pursuing his interests in yoga, martial arts, the visual arts, music, philosophy, meditation, and the healing arts –– from an Eastern, Western, and Indigenous perspective –– with some of the leading living masters in each of these fields. Since retiring in 2019 from his position as partner and portfolio manager at Tudor Investment Corp, one of the world's most esteemed hedge funds, Jason's primary focus has been his work in private counseling and coaching. He also works with businesses, groups, and other organizations as a group process facilitator. His specific passion is to help improve human performance and optimization by supporting people to find purposefulness and meaning in all the significant events of their lives.Jason is a member of the board of the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia. Over the last five years, he has led Pickard Fellowship retreats that give undergraduate business school students an opportunity to learn wellness and mindfulness so that they stay conscious and healthy while pursuing their vision in the business world.  He is a Holistic Life Coach Level 2 at the CHEK Institute, and has worked privately with Paul Chek for over 10 years, as his longest running private client.  He is currently training at the Process Work Institute in Portland Oregon with many senior faculty members and therapists, and is pursuing a Diplomate diploma.  Process Work, developed by Dr. Arnold Mindell, is a rich and varied way of perceiving the world, people, and groups.  It is an innovative and highly successful methodology for working with individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations.Jason lives in upstate NY with his beloved wife Kara and his three children.Jason's Email - jpickard62@gmail.com#BenStewart #JasonPickard #Optimazation #Wellness #Solutons Ben Stewart Podcast strives to offer awareness and solutions to a rapidly evolving world, while building community… Produced live, Thursdays at 5:00 PM EST. Cohost/Producer: IG @Gordon_CummingsJoin our kickass Discord community! - https://discord.gg/7QadgxEK4zSupport & Access Exclusive Content!https://www.benjosephstewart.com/plans-pricingCheck out my latest documentaries -  “Awake In The Darkness” - https://www.aubreymarcus.com/"DMT QUEST" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My95s6ZryPgVisit https://www.BenJosephStewart.com/ to get more involved.Check out my Gaia shows "Psychedelica" & "Limitless" with a free trial. - https://www.gaia.com/invite/join?rfd=AGvFiE&utm_source=iafMake sure to hit the like button and Follow me on:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenJosephStewartMinds: https://www.minds.com/BenJosephStewart/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BenJosephStewart/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1044023Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenJosephStewBitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/aanpGqOQt8ZX/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benstewartofficialOdysse: https://odysee.com/@BenStewart:6

Kirat Randhawa on Buddhist Philosophy and How it Can Help Us Cultivate Boundaries, Compassion & MoreOn this episode we discuss podcasting & being nervous, the downside of too much structure, how “discipline” can actual hinder us, meditation & what it should feel like, is It possible to be free from biases? how buddhism & enlightenment are misinterpreted, the meaning of “attachment”, what compassion looks like, what boundaries look like & more.Kirat Randhawa is a meditation instructor and an inspired student of Tibetan Buddhism based in New York City. She is currently a student at Columbia University studying the role of contemplative training within the field of psychology and how associated mindfulness practices can be used as instruments for individual and societal transformation.Having been raised in a spiritual home, meditation was at the center of daily life for Kirat. As her practice grew with her and transformed over the years, she began to translate philosophy into action. She learned to use meditation as a tool to practice self-compassion and extend kindness to herself as well as others.Through her research at The Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia to working with underserved communities across the city, she seeks to understand and deconstruct the multilayered conditioning that prohibits human flourishing. Her training at The Tibet House, MNDFL Meditation, and in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction lineage has allowed her to develop a multidimensional approach to support clients on their path toward greater alignment and joy. As a community organizer and explorer, Kirat celebrates leading a life centered around prosocial values and ethical wellbeing through her advocacy for local artisanal products and sustainable craft, plant medicine, sincere dialogue, and social connection.

There are two weeks until the next eve, but aren’t we always on the eve of something? Time never stands still, and neither does information. Data, facts, and anecdotes all swarm around at blistering speed, but it is possible to stand on the shore of the raging river and take stock, build a camp, and plan for the future. That’s kind of the point of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and podcast that is also always on the move. I’m your host, Sean Tubbs. On today’s edition:The consumer price index rises with the increasing cost of energy leading the wayThe corporate owner of the Daily Progress outright rejects a takeover bid from a hedge fundThe UVA Buildings and Grounds Committee contemplates a new building name The city-manager-who-wasn’t takes a job in PennsyvlaniaUVA health officials provide information on the variant Omicron and urge continued vigilance and mask-wearingIn today’s shout-out, a shout-out for shout-outs! If you’re interested in getting information out in this spot, consider supporting Town Crier Productions by making a $25 contribution through Patreon! That gets you or your nonprofit organization four shout-outs a month! These can be for a non-profit, an event, or just a message you want to get out to the word! There are a few guidelines, but this is a great way to support this newsletter and podcast, and to get some eyes and ears on something you want to shout out. Contact me for more information, or just sign up at Patreon.com to learn more! Omicron updateIn another sign Virginia is experiencing another surge in COVID cases, the seven-day average for positive test results is 8.1 percent today, up from 7.2 percent a week ago. Today the Virginia Department of Health reports another 2,848 cases today for a total of 994,069 confirmed cases. The total number of COVID cases in Virginia will likely cross one million total cases over the weekend. “It’s nothing sort of tragic to think about those numbers particularly when you think about the number of hospitalizations and deaths, and the families that have been impacted by the life lost due to that when we have a tool box of tools that can be used and employed to prevent that,” said Dr. Costi Sifri, the director of hospital epidemiology at the University of Virginia Health System. Today the Blue Ridge Health District reports 61 news cases and an additional fatality. The percent positivity in the district has increased to 8.6 percent. That figure was 6 percent a week ago. Yesterday, the Virginia Department of Health identified the first case of the Omicron variant somewhere in their Northwest region. The strain was first announced globally on Thanksgiving Day.“We know that it’s spread across and around much of the globe,” Dr. Sifri said. “All continents have cases of COVID except for Antartica and that it’s in nearly 60 countries last I saw.” Dr. Sifri said it’s still too early for sure, but for now it appears that Omicron may not be as cause severe cases of the disease despite news it may spread more easily. “I think that’s still very early data and something we need to take with a grain of salt,” Dr. Sifri said. Dr. Sifri said that early reports are that vaccines appear to have a level of protection against the Omicron strain, but it is diminished and not as robust. “The open questions are does that laboratory data really bear out in the real world, so that’s information that we need,” Dr. Sifri said. “The other question that’s too soon to answer is exactly how long that protection lasts.” Scientists are also studying the possibility that Omicron is more transmissible but that’s another open question until more data comes in. Dr. Sifri called the current wave in Virginia a resurgence of the Delta virus and is likely caused by more indoor gatherings. “So get vaccinated and importantly now, get boosted,” Dr. Sifri said. “We just talked about how the booster is for Omicron but really the booster is also very important for Delta. Remember that your antibody response and your ability to stave off infection after being vaccinated against Delta wears off.” Dr. Sifri said mask-wearing remains an essential tool in public settings to slow the spread. He also recommend people who feel ill should get tested as should people who are going to be heading to a family gathering for Christmas. As 2022 approaches, a new governor will take over in Virginia who may have a different position on masks and vaccines. There continue to be some people who called the entire thing a hoax. “I don’t hear from many of those people except when I’m taking care of them in the hospital and it’s usually in the past tense,” Dr. Sifri said. “‘I did not believe COVID was a big deal. I did not think COVID was a risk for me.’ And those are the people I see in the intensive care unit that are are struggling to survive COVID infection.”The next COVID numbers from the Virginia Department of Health will be out on Monday morning. Inflation upThe Consumer Price Index increased 0.8 percent in November, continuing a yearly trend towards higher costs across the country. Overall, inflation is up 6.8 percent over November 2020 before seasonal adjustments. Energy costs were up 3.5 percent with gasoline rising 6.1 percent. Food costs were up but at a much lower rate of 0.7 percent for food. According to a release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, November’s annual increase of 6.8 percent matches October’s increase, and that had been the largest 12-month rise since June 1982. The energy index increased 33.3 percent over the past 12 months and the gasoline index increased 58.1 percent over the last year. That’s the largest increase since April 1980. The average price for natural gas has increased 25.1 percent over November 2020 and electricity has risen 6.5 percent over the same period.At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that the average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.4 percent from October to November. That figure is down 1.9 percent year to year. According to a report released yesterday on the Work Experience of the Population, 26.4 million Americans experienced unemployment in 2020, up sharply from 12.9 million in 2019. Woolley hired (in PA)Never-to-be interim Charlottesville City Manager Marc Woolley has taken a job as the deputy executive director of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. That’s according to an article on Bloomberg Law. Woolley cited an unwillingness to face the city’s problems under an interim title. He told the publication that he would constantly be looking for another position in the face of pressure. Last Friday, Charlottesville’s procurement department issued a request for proposals to hire a firm to conduct administrative services on an interim basis. “The services… shall be provided by an individual who is either employed by or under contract with the Successful Offeror and who is approved by City Council,” reads the request for proposals. That bid process closes on December 14. The city issued an addendum to the RFP this morning in response to questions. Woolley would have made an annual salary of $209,102.40 and would have had a $500 a month allowance for a vehicle. We know now that there is one deputy city manager position vacant and several other departments are currently led by an existing employee in an “acting” capacity such as the city’s communications director and the head of information technology. The police chief position will not be filled until the firm is hired to provide interim city manager services. We’re also waiting to see what briefs will be filed in response to former City Manager Tarron Richardson’s federal civil rights lawsuit against Charlottesville City Council and others. (read the story)In today’s second subscriber-supported public service announcement: The Charlottesville Jazz Society at cvillejazz.org is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and perpetuation of all that  jazz, and there’s no time like now to find a time to get out and watch people love to play. The Charlottesville Jazz Society keeps a running list of what’s coming up at cvillejazz.org. Sign up for their newsletter today. Lee says no to AldenThe owner of the Charlottesville Daily Progress and many of Virginia’s other newspapers is rejecting a takeover bid by a hedge fund. Alden Global Capital announced in mid-November that it would purchase shares of Lee Enterprises at $24. Lee Enterprises responded initially responded by invoking shareholder protections. Yesterday they issued a press release stating the price was too low. “After careful consideration with its financial and legal advisors, Lee’s Board determined that Alden’s proposal grossly undervalues Lee and is not in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders,” reads a news release.In a second release yesterday, Lee Enterprise reported revenue growth in their fiscal fourth quarter.  Contemplative Sciences Center namedThe governing body of the University of Virginia met this week, as did its various subcommittees. The Buildings and Grounds Committee had a light agenda that included recommendation to approve the name of a new building. Colette Sheehy is the Senior Vice President for Operations and State Government at UVA. “We’re recommending Contemplative Commons as the name for the building that will house the Contemplative Sciences Center,” Sheehy said. The building will be built on Emmet Street between the pond at the Dell and the buildings that house the Curry School of Education. The Contemplative Sciences Center’s mission is to “advance the study of human flourishing at all levels of education” according to its website. “This building is designed as a hub for academic, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, interdisciplinary collaboration and research, and engagement between UVA and the Charlottesville community,” Sheehy said. The Centers’ construction is funded in part by a $40 million gift in 2016 from Paul Tudor Jones and Sonia Klein Jones. The couple was also instrumental in the center’s founding in 2012. The committee also approved site guidelines and the concept for the expansion of the UVA Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital at Fontaine Research Park. The project will add 16,400 square feet and renovate 50,000 square feet of the existing hospital. I’ll have more from the Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting in an upcoming installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

There is something about John that strikes a person as wholesome. In a different age, we might've described him as an "All American." Of course, that's before some of us were awakened to nativism and privilege. Still, watch Captain America and you can understand what allows him to hold Mjölnir. He has something pure and true about him that allows him to wield Thor's hammer. He is selfless and leads through example. He brings all of us in the room together, which is essentially beautiful. John was a preacher's son quite dissatisfied with dogma though sought out, like his father, to know things. He trained as a classical vocalist and guitarist. And yet, he preferred, like Miles Davis, to make something different, a punk hand made “people's music.” Upon finding yoga, he approached the project of yoking his mind and body as a carpenter would approach a piece of wood. He cut away that which wasn't necessary, bent the wood where he could, and efficiently created a work of art. John has the natural humility of the craftsman. He brings that humility to his intellect, which allows him to survey the land in a disinterested fashion— that is to say, without mental projection. John would strenuously argue that he is furthest person from perfect, and that is why he tries with all his might. Prior to joining the team at the University of Virginia in the Contemplative Science Center, John taught geology at a college for 7 years. He was an environmental geologist, who took on odd jobs painting murals and doing ceramics, while continuing to play and write music for an indie rock band. He's a skateboarder who would, on occasion, jump off bridges and howl back at the moon. Although he has a tattoo, he refuses to admit to being even remotely close to "punk." After a serious motorcycle accident in India, where he cracked his femoral head and broke his hand in several places. After only 18 months, he made an incredible recover and had relearned the practice, keeping a journal, and focusing his mind to the point where he was able to practice in a film project demonstrating primary and intermediate series with his teacher R. Sharath Jois. He recounts his first impressions of being in the Shala in Mysore, India, and how his relationship with Paramaguru Sharath Jois has grown and changed over the years. He's assisted Sharath Jois 4 times in the main Shala from 2012-2016, and continues to practice six days a week in a traditional way... Early morning hours, before teaching his classes and sharing his energy with his students. Even though he's a Fourth Series practitioner, John still feels inspired and hungry for more. He met John Campbell in 2008 and quickly became his most devoted student. Years later he was invited by him to become Program Manager for the Contemplative Sciences Center where continues to manage the Ashtanga Mysore Yoga program. He is one of only a few Certified Ashtanga teachers under Paramaguru R. Sharath Jois, and has made 12 trips to India. He has kept a daily Ashtanga Yoga practice for over 16 years, and humbly hopes to share this practice with the the same knowledge, strength, love, and humor as his teachers continue to share with him. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JOHN: WEBSITE I INSTAGRAM FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HARMONY I INSTAGRAM The Finding Harmony Podcast is hosted, edited and produced by Harmony Slater and co-hosted by Russell Case. Your contributions have allowed us to keep our podcast ad and sponsor free. MAKE A DONATION

In today’s Substack-fueled shout-out, Code for Charlottesville is seeking volunteers with tech, data, design, and research skills to work on community service projects. Founded in September 2019, Code for Charlottesville has worked on projects with the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Charlottesville Fire Department, and the Charlottesville Office of Human Rights. Visit the Code for Charlottesville website to learn more, including details on three projects that are underway. On today’s show:A brief update on the pandemic Charlottesville is seeking feedback on how to prepare for economic recoveryUVa Board of Visitors committee endorses plans for new hotel, conference center, and athletic complexA challenger emerges in the 57th House of Delegates race This upcoming Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the state of emergency declared by Governor Ralph Northam to deal with the COVID pandemic. After a surge related to the winter holidays, Virginia now has a seven-day average of 1,460 new cases reported each day, or around what that metric was the week before Thanksgiving. The seven-day average on February 5 was 3,365. During a press briefing yesterday, Dr. Costi Sifri of the University of Virginia said community members should still be vigilant. “We have had a pretty steep and steady decline over the last four to six weeks, but that’s stopped now,” Dr. Sifri said. Dr. Sifri said one possibility may be the new COVID variants that are out there. He said declines in new case loads are likely not linked to vaccinations. Nearly 2.2 million doses have been administered in Virginia, and over 782,000 are fully vaccinated. The seven-day average for number of doses is at 53,183 a day as of this morning. This week, the Blue Ridge Health District received 2,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson version of the vaccine, which only requires one shot. “It’s just going to offer so much more flexibility,” Dr. Sifri said. “It’s the vaccine that hopefully once we have large amounts that we’ll be able to see is easily used in places like doctors’ offices, things that would not be as easily done with a deep-frozen messenger RNA, MRNA vaccine.” Still, Dr. Sifri said caution is still required to avoid a fourth surge of COVID. “We don’t have a substantial amount of immunity,” Dr. Sifri said. “We’re not near herd immunity yet but we are making progress and we really do have to continue to practice the things that we know prevent the transmission of COVID.” Social distancing. Masks. Washing hands. Continuing to watch the numbers. “The spring, and into the summer looks a little bit different,” Sifri said. “Probably a lot different than it looks right now.” This past Wednesday, UVA President Jim Ryan announced in an email that the university’s Final Exercises graduation ceremony would not occur as usual. However, the administration is exploring the possibility of smaller events for graduates without guests, or postponing until later this year. *On Monday, Charlottesville City Schools will open up the doors for at least some students to return to class for the first time in a year. Children in kindergarten through 6th grade whose parents have agreed to proceed with in-person instruction. Certain students in 7th grade through 12th grade who have been identified for being at risk have also been invited back. The Charlottesville School Board voted Thursday to offer in-person instruction to students at Buford and Charlottesville High School beginning on April 12. For more information, visit the city schools’ website. Source: City Schools Return to Learn websiteHow can the local economy begin to rebound? The Charlottesville Office of Economic Development will hold two facilitated stakeholder meetings later this month to plan for recovery.“The City Council has indicated that economic recovery of local businesses from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is a top near-term priority,” reads an email from the office. “OED is now seeking broad participation from City business owners that will help inform a series of immediate action items that the City can pursue to assist with recovery.”If you own a business in Charlottesville and want to participate on either March 17 or March 18, visit the office’s website.*Delegate Sally Hudson has a challenger in the 57th House race in this year’s General Assembly election. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Republican Philip Hamilton is running. According to his website, he’s a 33-year-old resident of Charlottesville who graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor of science and from the University of Phoenix with a Master’s in Administration of Justice and Security. The Buildings and Grounds Committee of the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors met yesterday and approved the schematic design for a new hotel and conference center, as well as an athletics complex. The $130.5 million hotel project will be located near the new School of Data Science within the emerging Ivy Corridor. (meeting packet)“A mixed-use hospitality, convening, and social destination in this central location will provide a catalyst to achieve these strategic goals set by the President’s Emmet Ivy Task Force,” reads the staff report. Those goals include supporting the Democracy Initiative, an initiative of the College of Arts and Sciences and other institutions. The University and its real estate foundation have been purchasing land along Ivy Road for many years to assemble enough space, including the Cavalier Inn. That structure was demolished in the summer of 2018 and the place where it stood will remain undeveloped according to a 2020 site plan. The hotel will have 215 rooms and 28,000 square feet of space for conferences. It will wrap around the existing parking garage. The $95 million athletic complex will include a new Football Operations Center and an Olympic Sports Center intended to support more than two dozen varsity sports. “Given the proximity to Central Grounds, North Grounds, the Ivy Corridor, and various athletic event venues, the Athletics Complex provides a unique opportunity to bring student athletes, other UVA students, coaches, staff, faculty, and the broader community together,” reads that staff report. The Buildings and Grounds Committee also discussed amendments to the UVA major capital plan including about a $1 billion reduction in projects from the 2020 plan due to various deferrals. Projects currently under construction include renovations at Alderman Library, a Student and Wellness Center, and the Inn at Darden. Other funded projects in the planning stages include a second upper-class residence hall on Brandon Avenue, the Contemplative Sciences Center, and the renovation of the Physics building. Construction projects currently on hold include a parking garage to serve an expanded Fontaine Research Center, an academic building for the Batten School, and renovations at Old Cabell Hall. Source: Presentation to UVA Board of Visitors Building and Grounds Committee The Buildings and Grounds Committee also got an update on sustainability highlights at UVA. This includes work toward a project called “Climate Justice Mapping” by the UVA Equity Center and UVA Sustainability. “The primary goal of the Climate Justice Mapping project is to build platforms for the collaborative identification, collection, and dissemination of information about the disproportionate harm of adverse environmental impacts on communities of color through a series of accessible  interactive climate justice maps and graphics,” reads that staff report. Other community programs include the UVA Sustainable Food Collaborative. Check the whole packet for details. *Thanks for reading! I neglected to say in the podcast today that music in the program is provided thanks to a grant from the Valley Research Center, an institution so secretive, it doesn’t even exist! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Recorded live at the University of Virginia’s Contemplative Sciences Center, Sharon offers her perspective on the evolving role of contemplative practice in modern life and how we can find the middle way through all things with the help of mindfulness.Would you like to be part of the next generation of mindfulness meditation instructors? If so, we invite you to take a unique opportunity to study with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and become a certified instructor to guide others in their practice – The Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program: A Two-Year Training Program for Teaching Awareness and Compassion-Based Practices

Kirat and Prakhar talk about contemplative sciences, Kirat's journey with Buddhism, the Feminine, the masculine, the dance of the two, mental health, plant medicine, meditation and finding yourself. Kirat is a certified meditation instructor and contemplative mentor for women. She is also a student of psychology and contemplative sciences at Columbia University. You can find Kirat's mentorship program at https://www.kiratrandhawa.com/services About Kirat- Kirat is currently a student at Columbia University studying the role of contemplative training within the field of psychology and how associated practices can be used as instruments for individual and societal transformation. From completing research at The Contemplative Sciences Center at The University of Virginia to working with underserved communities across New York City, she works to identify and deconstruct the multilayered conditioning that prohibits human flourishing. Kirat aims to obtain her doctorate in clinical psychology and integrate Buddhist philosophy into a traditional psychotherapeutic framework to support clients on their path toward self-actualization

We're taking Finance Matters on the road today to the Contemplative Sciences Center, where we visit with Executive Director David Germano.  Our conversation this week is about contemplation: how to pause, reflect, and stay fully aware in the hectic lives we lead.  If you're interested in building resilience, responding better to change, and generally flourishing, please take a listen!   Visit the Contemplative Sciences Center website to learn more. Learn more about David Germano:  https://www.uvacontemplation.org/content/david-germano

David Germano is a man who holds many posts at the University of Virginia. Germano's astute and focused work related to the integration of contemplation into all facets of life makes him an easy conversation partner on Contemplify. His deep attention to the contemplative sciences is astounding to witness and damn near impossible to keep pace with. Be sure to check out the U.Va.'s Contemplative Sciences Center to hear what he, his team and his students are engaged in. “David Germano has taught and researched Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Virginia since 1992. U.Va.'s Tibetan Studies program is the largest in the Americas, while the Buddhist Studies program is one of the largest in the West. In 2000, he founded the Tibetan and Himalayan Library, which has become the world's largest digital initiative building collaborative knowledge on the region. He is the founding director of the the Tibet Center in the College of Arts and Sciences, which is home to a large exchange program with Tibetans in Tibet, as well as the most extensive set of foreign-led academic operations in the region (four offices in China and Bhutan, and seventeen full-time staff on site). Germano's personal research focuses on the history of Tibetan with a special focus on contemplative and philosophical traditions. He has lived for many years in Tibetan communities in China, in the context of which he has also worked extensively on programs of scholarly engagement, community service, participatory knowledge, and digital technology initiatives. More recently, Germano acted as the founding director of SHANTI (Sciences, Humanities and the Arts Network of Technological Initiatives,www.uvashanti.org), an initiative aimed at the mainstreaming of cutting edge digital technology for faculty, students, and staff across the University. Since 2011, Germano has played a lead role in preparing and then organizing U.Va.’s new Contemplative Sciences Center (www.uvacontemplation.org), which he currently directs. He works extensively with each of the eleven schools at U.Va. to explore learning, research, and engagement initiatives regarding contemplation in their own disciplinary and professional areas, as well as new partnerships across the schools. He is currently focused on the exploration of contemplative ideas, values, and practices involving scientific methodologies and new applications in diverse fields; he also holds a faculty appointment in the School of Nursing..” (from David's U.Va. page) In this episode we cover David’s journey into Tibetan Buddhism, contemplation in academia and the public schools, resilience and contemplation and starting points for those curious in Tibetan Buddhism. David Germano is the founding director of the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia (amongst his many, many other roles at U.Va.). He is the co-editor of the book, Embodying the Dharma: Buddhist Relic Veneration in Asia. You can learn more about him through his U.Va. page.  

June 10, 2016 - Reunions Seminars Dorrie Fontaine, Dean, School of Nursing David Germano, Professor, Religious Studies (Arts & Sciences) and Director of the Contemplative Sciences Center Tish Jennings, Associate Professor, Curry School of Education Lili Powell Americans spend billions each year on gym memberships in an effort to train their bodies. What if we could train our brains in the same way? The Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia is transforming the way we teach, learn and live together through its leading research and groundbreaking programs that highlight mindfulness practices that include yoga, meditation and other contemplative practices. Join Dean Dorrie Fontaine of the UVA School of Nursing and a panel of faculty across a wide array of specialties including business, the humanities, and health care, to explore the various ways that mindfulness and contemplative practices are being used by people across all walks of life to enhance their lives by better connecting them to themselves and to the world.

In one of our more philosophical episodes, host Beryl Bender Birch and John Campbell answer questions from our audience about choice, change and faith in the practice of yoga. Which is altogether fitting, given that John is not only a master Ashtanga teacher, but also the founder of the University of Virginia’s Contemplative Sciences Center, where he teaches Religious Studies. Join us as we explore how all systems of yoga practice can help us question our sense of self in ways that can lead to a more comprehensive set of choices. Or, as John says in answer to a question from Rob in Colorado, “This is not about becoming an automaton…The very act of doing yoga is a fairly radical choice.” When Trish from Boston asks John about how our practices change as we age, John describes how the practice that you do has to be appropriate to whatever circumstances you are in, but that “freedom and the awakening of enlightenment only happens within structure.” Finally, when Sarah in Maryland asks about the role of faith in yoga, John talks about the tension between “the effort to get somewhere that you ought to get and the recognition that there’s nowhere to go.” And how “Every moment that you wake up and do yoga and you don’t really know if it’s worth it, there’s faith involved there.”