Meditation
Meditation is Not Just a Practice on the Cushion: Happiness is Within
"Meditation is the greatest gift we can give ourselves but it is easily misunderstood. Just as there are numerous choices in the world -- where we live, what we wear, what work we do, etc. -- so too there are many choices when it comes to meditation techniques or forms of inner journeying. However, we often see people holding tightly to their method or technique as if it were a matter of dire importance, which misses the deeper meaning of meditation.
Lawyers Meditate to Elevate Skills
"When San Francisco litigator William Veen initially told colleagues that he was attending a four-day silent meditation retreat for legal practitioners, he was barraged with facetious rejoinders. "People would say, 'Silent meditation for lawyers—isn't that a contradiction in terms?' " he recalls.
But Veen, who has twice attended an annual Marin County retreat coordinated by Massachusetts's Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, says meditation can be a boon to a law practice. "I think it's useful," he says. "Sometimes you get caught up in your own world and you become very tense, and your bandwidth is much narrower. You're not as effective, as an attorney."
About 75 legal professionals attend the retreat each year. It's part of a nascent but growing movement among attorneys and law students who are incorporating so-called "contemplative practices" into their work.
IAHL Article of the Month-Meditation for Lawyers by George J. Felos
Every month IAHL highlights a gem from its archive as the Article of the Month. For August, we pulled out "Meditation for Lawyers" by George J. Felos.
A nineteenth century saint was once asked, “How can one realize God,” to which he replied, “One must think of the Lord incessantly, like a lawyer does of his cases.” Apparently, even the mystics understand how our minds become saturated with our legal work. Especially while litigating, I am amazed how my mind constantly percolates and churns the case facts, issues, witnesses, strategies, and so on.
See the full article at http://iahl.org/articles?mode=PostView&bmi=399301
Mindful Lawyer Conference web page is now up and running
"The Mindful Lawyer: Practices & Prospects for Law School, Bench, and Bar is a national conference that will bring together the pioneers who have been developing programs integrating meditation and contemplative practices with legal education and practice, and others in the legal profession who are interested in exploring this work.
Many law professionals have found that meditation practice has sharpened their legal skills, helped them to manage the stresses of their challenging work, increased their empathy, and deepened their commitment to creating a more just society. The conference will offer a blend of scholarly presentation, practical experience and discussion, and recent developments in neuroscience and psychology relevant to meditation practice. We invite lawyers, law professors, judges, mediators and other dispute resolution professionals, and law students to explore the connections between law and meditation, and to learn and practice meditation."
THE BENEFITS OF SELF-COMPASSION FOR THERAPEUTIC LAWYERS WHO SEEK TO BE PEACEMAKERS AND HEALERS
Understanding the Role of Lawyers as Peacemakers and Healers
SCIENTISTS CONFIRM THAT EXCESSIVE WORRY SHRINKS YOUR BRAIN
While there is no such thing as “the lawyer personality,” many lawyers are tense, moody, irritable and engage in frequent worry at work. Scientific research has now confirmed that personality type affects the tissue volume of key brain structures as we age. It turns out that conscientiousness (a positive quality which can make you a better lawyer and enhance many aspects of your life) preserves brain volume, while neuroticism measurably decreases it as early as middle age. We all know that worrying can’t help you protect the people you care about or solve any problems, but now we know it can shrink your brain as you age. Lawyers who worry all the time need to heed these findings and initiate changes in their attitude before it’s too late.
UNLEASH THE POWER OF SLOW IN YOUR OFFICE
In The Power of Slow Carl Honore says we have become speed junkies who are more concerned with getting tasks done fast than with doing them well or even enjoying them. Honore is a well known journalist who currently lives in England where, he says, they have “speed yoga” and “drive through funerals.” He recommends that we all get in touch with our “inner tortoise” because sometimes slowing down is the only way to get the most out of an activity.
Inmates Turn to Meditation
Excerpt: "This is transformative justice, as opposed to punitive," said Fleet Maull, founder of the Prison Dharma Network, one of the largest support networks helping inmates learn meditation and Buddhist teachings.
Since its inception in 1989, Prison Dharma Network has grown from one person -- Maull -- teaching Buddhist principles to more than 75 member organizations corresponding with 2,500 individuals, many of them inmates.
More: http://www.wibw.com/nationalnews/headlines/63871657.html
Bring a Friend for $1 to Unique Contemplative Lawyering Event!
From Stephanie West Allen:
I got this from Stephanie West Allen. Please consider attending this unique retreat!
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Hello, all. On November 13-15, Scott Rogers and I are hosting in Santa Fe a unique event for lawyers from around the country. I spoke with Scott this weekend and we made a decision about the fee for the event. Due to the economy and its challenges for people, both financially and emotionally, we want as many lawyers as possible (up to the number of places we have reserved) to learn the skills being taught in the workshop
So . . .
Mindfulness Meditation and the Use of Taoist Concepts and Practices to Help Lawyers Relieve Chronic Stress
Mindfulness meditation has gone mainstream in medical treatment. It benefits patients by reducing their stress level and by improving some of the medical symptoms of stress-related disorders. These include psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression, skin rashes, high blood pressure, heart disease and chronic pain. Lawyers are extremely stressed. They manifest their stress in their high rates of depression (19% of all lawyers), alcoholism (20% of all lawyers) and suicide (double the general population rate).