In this final blog, I connect a few important concepts related to restoring wisdom to mindfulness via Buddhist psychology. Recall that, in Part 3, I introduced the Four Noble Truths. We see mindfulness in the training category of “mental discipline” in the Eightfold Path. …

Once we move beyond McMindfulness, as discussed in Parts 1 and 2 of this blog series, we can explore the nature of mindfulness from its core teachings. In this part, I develop a pedagogy as a foundation for awakening. I’ve selected the most relevant core teachings, topics, and resources of…

What is the cost of discarding the ethics and wisdom from mindfulness? Is there a way to restore the wisdom for lay practitioners or non-Buddhists? In Part 1 of this blog, I discussed the rise of McMindfulness that emerged from secular mindfulness techniques, which flourished in the wake of the…

Mindfulness has become the elixir for all that ails us. Stress, performance, focus, anxiety — mindfulness is the remedy. However, recently, some have deemed mindfulness as damaging, unsettling, and even narcissistic. Yet these benefits and flaws are often taken out of context. So, then, how should we view mindfulness? Is…

Over the last few months, several of our clients have shared their ideas about transparency. As the term evolves to become a strategic imperative, it’s important to identify the practices, benefits, and limitations involved in transparency. Transparency, which involves openness, communication, and accountability, is practiced in companies, organizations, administrations, and…

Developing leaders, integrating cultural change, and adopting new views and understanding require “contemplative learning.” This kind of learning ventures beyond accumulating knowledge to confirm beliefs. Contemplative learning deepens vertical growth by increasing awareness and surfacing assumptions and blind spots, which allows us to unlearn outmoded beliefs. “Unlearning” can be disorienting…

What do all men with power want? More power. — Oracle, Matrix Reloaded Is power bad, or is the need for power problematic? Power is a matter of perspective, whether sourced in responsibility, purpose, or choice, or force, control, and results. …

Power may be one of the universal dimensions of the human experience. Analogous to energy in physics, power in humans can take several forms, such as wealth, armaments, influence, or knowledge. To do just about anything — collaborate, lead, manage, co-create change, parent, learn, and even teach and coach (yes…

“Why do we confront learning opportunities with fear rather than wonder?” “Why do we derive our self‐esteem from knowing as opposed to learning?” “Why do we criticize others before we even understand them?” It’s been 25 years since these questions opened the seminal paper Communities of Commitment: The Heart of…