The intention at the Mind and Life meeting on Embodiment, Contemplative Practice, and Equality is to expand our understanding of and response to the social, economic, educational, and political mechanisms that support systemic bias. A growing body of research in mindfulness and implicit bias suggests that embodied contemplative practices have the capacity to reach across lines of race, ethnicity, class, and gender, and to serve as “connective tissue” for racial consciousness. We believe that these practices support an appreciation of the differences that comprise our shared humanity, as well as the care, compassion, and courageous action that can preserve it.

Interdisciplinary faculty from around the world will be convening to discuss the following themes:

1.  How do YOU define/operationalize bias and prejudice? How does it impact the individual and collective society?
    
2. How do YOU measure the impact of implicit or explicit forms of bias (e.g., racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, or psychological) across relevant psychosocial, societal, or global contexts?
    
3. How do YOU view the role of embodied contemplative practices (e.g., yoga, sitting meditation) in relationship to reducing bias and/or advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion?
    
4. How can interdisciplinary perspectives reduce bias and have a direct impact on social behavior and decision making?

Participants:

Jim Coan
Charlottesville, VA

Wil Cunningham
Toronto, Ontario

John Dunne
Madison, WI

Norm Farb
Toronto, Ontario

Bo Forbes
Boston, MA

Aneeta Rattan
London, England

Dave Vago
Vanderbilt

Angel Kyodo Williams
Berkeley, CA

Christy Wilson-Mendenhall
Milwaukee, WI

Visit the website to learn more.