Blog
July Monthly Newsletter
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Help shape the Future of Mindfulness. Pre-order Open MBSR: Reimagining the Future of Mindfulness (out August 12) Hello Mindful Leaders, Is the mindfulness movement secretly a tool for liberal indoctrination, or could it be the key to bridging America's deepening political divide? Who really controls mindfulness, and how can we reclaim it through collective, open dialogue? Is it time to disentangle mindfulness from Buddhism — and why does it matter? What happens to loving-kindness medi… |
The Expansive Well-Wishing Practice: A Fresh Take on an Ancient Intention
By The Mindful Leader Team
In the landscape of mindfulness practices, few techniques spark as much confusion and resistance as loving-kindness meditation. While its intentions are beautiful, many practitioners struggle with the prescribed phrases, forced emotions, or cultural elements that can feel inauthentic or overwhelming. What if there was a simpler, more direct way to cultivate goodwill toward ourselves and others?
Enter Expansive Well-Wishing, a practice developed as part of the Open …
Wackfulness to Wisdom: Forging a Bold Future for Mindfulness
Session Summary
A powerful session at the 2024 Mindful Leader Summit, Mindful Leader founder and CEO and Open MBSR author, Mo Edjlali, explored the future of secular mindfulness. The talk tackled systemic issues within mainstream mindfulness training, particularly MBSR, and presented a new vision rooted in transparency, empowerment, and collaboration. Key principles highlighted include Buddhist disentanglement, dialectical balance, and community-led innovation.
Key Highlights
- Buddhist Dis…
A Declaration of Interdependence: No Kings. No Dogma. No Gurus.
By Mo Edjlali, Founder and CEO, Mindful Leader; Author, Open MBSR: Reimagining the Future of Mindfulness
A few days ago, we celebrated the 4th of July, that extraordinary moment when a group of rebels dared to imagine something different. I've always loved Thomas Paine, that brilliant troublemaker who had the audacity to challenge kings and question the divine right of rulers. "Common Sense" didn't just critique monarchy; it awakened people to the absurdity of being governed by those who clai…
Mindfulness: A Tool for Polarization or America's Political Healer?
By Mo Edjlali, Founder and CEO, Mindful Leader; Author, Open MBSR: Reimagining the Future of Mindfulness
As I sit here, just outside the political pressure cooker of Washington D.C., I can't help but reflect on the state of our nation. The polarization in American politics has reached a fever pitch, and it's hard to ignore the tension in the air. It reminds me of a pivotal conversation I had years ago - one that challenged my thinking and led me to a profound realization about mindfulness in …
June Monthly Newsletter
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2025 Summit Final Days to save $300 with Super Early Bird (ends this Friday) Hello Mindful Leaders, Are you cultivating students' innate wisdom, or creating attachment to your guidance? Who decided that debate is not mindful and why are you buying it? What if the path to wiser leadership isn’t clarity—but the courage to sit with contradiction? A Note on This Moment Many in our community are watching the unfolding conflict involving Iran with heavy hearts. I was born in Tehran in 1977… |
POISE - A Dialectic Practice for Mindful Leaders
By The Mindful Leader Team
In our prior exploration, "Dialectic Thinking: The Secret to Exceptional Mindful Leadership," we explored the fascinating intricacies of dialectic thinking. We examined its impact on leadership, revealing the tug-of-war between binary and nuanced thinking in our society, politics, and personal decisions. Delving into neuroscience, we discussed how the prefrontal cortex overpowers our instinctual, primitive binary thinking. Importantly, we explored the paradox of acc…
Debate is Not Mindful
By Mo Edjlali, Founder and CEO, Mindful Leader; Author, Open MBSR
Open MBSR isn’t even out yet, and already the backlash is here. But it’s not loud. It’s soft. It comes dressed in spiritual language and smiling concern, feedback that sounds supportive but subtly works to shut down critique.
“I was surprised by the language… it risks alienating those who might otherwise be open to conversation.”
“True dialogue eliminates the need for debate… conversation should evolve through mutual understa…
Please Shut Up: Your Guided Meditations Are Doing Harm
By Mo Edjlali, Founder and CEO, Mindful Leader; Author, Open MBSR
A Crisis Across Mindfulness Education
"The teacher must vanish. The teaching must remain."
Every day, mindfulness teachers across the world are unknowingly sabotaging their students' progress. With the best of intentions, they're creating dependency instead of independence, replacing genuine skill-building with emotional comfort, and turning what should be empowering practice into guided entertainment. The very guidance meant…
May Monthly Newsletter
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Registration Now Open for the 10th Annual Mindful Leader Summit Hello Mindful Leaders, What would happen if mindfulness is absorbed by mental health care? How long do most people meditate and what are they practicing? Is mindfulness changing capitalism, or is capitalism changing mindfulness? |
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