#23 Uncovering Conditioning & Biases with Buddhist Mindfulness

In this episode, Jen and Sarah Jane take a look through the Buddhist lens at the mind. 

Specifically, they explore using mindfulness, being with discomfort, and taking responsibility as foundations for the necessary and ongoing work of recognizing and undoing our conditioning, including unconscious bias.

Though this conversation is inevitably incomplete, it touches on several concepts that can serve as jumping off points to further our contemplation and engagement in a world where the dominant racial identity group must reckon with and right deeply rooted, systemic wrongs. Conversation includes:

• What mindfulness is and isn’t
• Internally and externally focused mindfulness
• Not scratching the itch (being with discomfort)
• We are not our minds after all (thank goodness)
• The sausage-making effect of conditioning
• How much control do we actually have?
• The almost inevitable “affective push” of feelings
• Practices for seeing and slowing automatic mind
• Questions we should not stop asking ourselves

Related Links & Resources Mentioned

Implicit Social Attitudes Test from Project Implicit, Harvard University

“The Buddha’s Original Teachings on Mindfulness” a Tricycle.com article containing Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s translation of the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

Metta Hour Podcast, Episode 87, where Sharon Slazberg interviews Ruth King on her work encouraging mindfulness to meet unconscious bias and more.

Sarah Jane’s Introduction to Mindfulness & Compassion Online Course

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You can also get in touch with Jen and Sarah Jane directly.