Have you ever stopped to ponder what nature is? When we say that we love being out in nature, does this mean that it is something distinct from us? The word “environment” would have us think that nature is what surrounds or environs us—but does this then mean that we are at its center? We have a tendency to believe that we are separate from the wilderness beyond our doors, and it is fundamental to the ways we inhabit our planet. This tendency to think of the national parks and nature reserves as being disparate from our homes is so fundamental to the experience of the modern world that it’s in our very grammar. How, indeed, does the way we conceive of being out in nature shape how we relate to it? Reflections by Michael Overstreet.

Reflections on "Grit and Grace" a Research Salon. How can we reconcile our ideals of ambition and determination with those of self-compassion and mindfulness? How can we teach ourselves to balance “inner work,” managing our emotions and nervous systems, with the “outer work” of navigating professional spheres?

By the time students leave Johnson’s class, they carry something steadier with them. Lessons that reach far beyond a single session and become quiet reminders they can return to throughout the challenges of their academic lives. For Calin, the end of Hiromi’s sessions leaves him feeling recharged and serves as a reminder of the power that T’ai Chi and Qi Gong can hold.

How peculiar it is, Kim remarked, that Western culture assigns such a negative valence to something that will touch every single human during their lifetimes. What words do you associate, for example, with that of “grief?” — “death,” “loss,” “suffering,” and “longing” are bound to be along the lines of where your thoughts take you. But what about “praise,” “love,” or “community?” This shift in emphasis, from the static and negative to the active and creative, is precisely what Kim’s research has helped reveal to be conducive to healthy grieving. 

The Contemplative Sciences Center is rarely still. Mornings begin with quiet sunlit classes and research sessions. Afternoons turn into study pods, drop-in contemplative offerings, and a steady hum of students moving between floors. By evening, yoga mats, laptops, and meaningful discussions have all taken turns in the same rooms.

A tribute to R. Sharath Jois, a towering figure in the world of Ashtanga yoga from the Sharath Yoga Centre. As a master teacher and the director of the Sharath Yoga Centre in Mysuru, Sharath Jois became one of the most respected and influential yoga instructors of his generation. Over the course of three decades, he taught thousands of students from all over the world, sharing not just the technical aspects of Ashtanga yoga but also its deeper philosophical and spiritual dimensions.

An article by student staffer, Maliaka Rehman, on how yoga can help students manage the stress and excitement that comes with a new semester. Focusing on one of CSC’s signature yoga classes, Malaika discusses her experience with the Active Series class taught by John Bultman.

An overview of “A Symposium on Contemplative Technologies,” hosted by the Contemplative Sciences Center and its Contemplative Innovation + Research Co-Lab (CIRCL). Held on October 9 and 10, the symposium drew scholars from around the glob, experts in a vast array of disciplines. The overview—written by Michael Overstreet—includes links to the program, videos, and other related resources.