Poetry and the Contemplative Life: A Morning of Mindful Listening

Lyric poetry is the language of the ancient contemplative traditions and contemporary practitioners. Join us as we explore poems that have touched hearts and minds over the centuries and just right now. We’ll use mindfulness practice to tune in and find out how we each respond in body and mind to classic lyrics and the latest experiments. We’ll listen, engage in dialogue, and—if inspiration arises, reply in our own styles. Rest assured that you’ll encounter poems from across the mystical traditions of the world, as well as surprises from the deep well of poetry in English today.
 
Dr. Don McCown is Associate Professor of Health and Co-Director of the Center for Contemplative Studies at West Chester University. Over the past two decades, he has taught mindfulness-based interventions at Thomas Jefferson University, Won Institute of Graduate Studies, and in the post-graduate program in Family Therapy at Council for Relationships. He is author of "The Ethical Space of the Mindfulness-Based Interventions," primary author of Teaching Mindfulness: A practical guide for clinicians and educators" and "New World Mindfulness: From the Founding Fathers, Emerson, and Thoreau to Your Personal Practice," and primary editor of "Resources for Teaching Mindfulness: An International Handbook."