James Gimian, Mindful Magazine Publisher
James Gimian, publisher of Mindful Magazine, shares his journey into meditation, the evolution of the mindfulness movement, and the challenges and future of secular mindfulness. He also discusses his personal practice and the role of Mindful in the field.
Deep Dive Analysis
12 Topic Outline
Jim Gimian's Personal Journey into Meditation
Early Meditation Experiences and Transition to Publishing
The Evolution and Mission of Mindful Magazine
Mindful Magazine's Growth and Content
Navigating the 'Wild West' of the Mindfulness Field
Discussion on Credentials and Standards for Mindfulness Teachers
Politics and Human Nature in the Mindfulness Community
Future Trajectory: Systems Change and Network Theory in Mindfulness
Real-World Examples of Mindfulness Adoption: UK and Flint, Michigan
Addressing Concerns: Is Mindfulness 'Stealth Buddhism'?
Major Challenges Facing Mindfulness: Scaling and Scientific Rigor
Jim Gimian's Personal Meditation Practice and Integration
3 Key Concepts
Mindfulness as a Common Human Inheritance
Mindfulness is an innate human quality, a capacity for awareness of thoughts and emotions that is trainable. This training allows individuals to develop the ability to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
Systems Change Approach (Network Theory)
This approach views the mindfulness movement as a network of vital but disconnected activities ('nodes'). By connecting these nodes, a larger network can emerge, developing unforeseen qualities and driving broader societal change beyond individual benefits.
Dissolving Centralization in Meditation
This refers to a practice where one mixes breath with space during meditation. The goal is to enlarge one's perspective beyond the self-centered 'me, me, me' thought patterns, thereby dissolving the constant centralization of experience around the individual ego.
9 Questions Answered
Jim Gimian began meditating in 1970, driven by disillusionment with his college professors' personal lives, the anti-war movement's inability to address aggression, and the unsustainable nature of drug-induced spiritual experiences.
Mindful magazine is a mission-oriented nonprofit dedicated to bringing secular mindfulness practice to the masses, supporting leaders in the field, building credibility, and activating the benefits of mindfulness in society.
Mindful magazine provides credible, trusted information on the science and various practices, helping readers understand nuances and identify trustworthy approaches amidst the proliferation of information, especially when some teachers misrepresent scientific backing.
Yes, there are early signs of hucksterism, such as teachers touting science to prove mindfulness benefits but then presenting meditation forms that were not actually studied in that research.
While important, the time is not quite right for a definitive seal of approval. The field is still in early stages, and premature standardization could stifle innovation and exclude valuable experimental approaches.
Yes, it is naive to assume mindfulness eliminates human flaws like politics, aggression, or ambition. The real danger arises when these natural human tendencies are submerged due to a presumption that they shouldn't exist in the mindfulness community.
Jim argues that mindfulness is an innate human capacity, not exclusively owned by Buddhism. While many current practices are patterned after Buddhist teachings, he emphasizes that mindfulness can deepen an individual's connection to any religious or spiritual path, as evidenced by a Christian chaplain who found it enhanced his relationship with God.
Key challenges include effectively scaling mindfulness in large organizations (e.g., integrating programs into demanding schedules like the Marines) and the early stage of scientific research, which still requires robust, longitudinal studies to make definitive claims about its benefits.
His formal daily practice is a form of shamatha or mindfulness breath practice, focusing on the breath, allowing it to dissolve into space, and noticing the momentary gaps in self-talk to enlarge his perspective beyond self-centered concerns.
21 Actionable Insights
1. Live Authentically & Holistically
Strive for an authentic life where your professional expertise and personal conduct are aligned, ensuring your knowledge transfers positively to your everyday experiences.
2. Address Inner Aggression Roots
Recognize that addressing societal issues like aggression requires more than external protest; it also demands internal insight into the roots of aggression within oneself.
3. Sustainable Inner Exploration
Seek out sustainable, internal methods to experience states beyond habitual thought patterns, rather than relying on external agents or substances for such insights.
4. Mindfulness: Awareness, Not Erasure
Understand that mindfulness does not eliminate human flaws like politics or aggression, but rather helps you become aware of them so you can observe them clearly without reacting instantly.
5. Stop Thought-Driven Reactivity
The fundamental goal of mindfulness practice is to free yourself from being constantly controlled and led around by the incessant thoughts rambling in your head.
6. Openness in Daily Life
Integrate mindfulness into your daily life by practicing openness to every experience, situation, and person, avoiding blockages and constant self-centeredness.
7. Train Attention with Breath
Develop your attentional capacity by focusing your mind on your out-breath during meditation, which is a core practice for mind training.
8. Basic Breath Meditation
Sit down and bring your attention to the feeling of your breath at your belly, nose, or chest; when your mind inevitably wanders, gently guide it back to the breath.
9. Slow Down Mental Processes
Actively slow down your mental processes through mindfulness practice to allow yourself to fully experience and observe your thoughts and emotions as they arise.
10. Tune Into Body Sensations
Cultivate awareness of how emotional and mental states manifest in your body, enabling you to recognize and address them before they fully develop into reactions.
11. Integrate Practice Daily
If dedicated formal meditation time is limited, shorten your daily practice and consciously look for many ways to weave mindfulness into your everyday activities.
12. Mindfulness: Universal Human Capacity
Understand mindfulness as an innate, trainable human capacity for awareness of thoughts and emotions, which enables you to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
13. Explain Mindfulness Inclusively
When discussing mindfulness, frame it as a universal human capacity (the ‘big circle’) that various traditions, like Buddhism, have deeply explored (the ‘small circle’), making it accessible to all.
14. Address Religious Concerns
To kindly address concerns about mindfulness being religious, share testimonials from individuals of faith who found mindfulness deepened their existing spiritual practice.
15. Scrutinize Scientific Claims
Be cautious of definitive claims that ‘science has proven’ mindfulness benefits; instead, recognize that current research offers promising early indications but requires more robust, longitudinal studies for conclusive statements.
16. Vet Mindfulness Teachers
Be wary of mindfulness teachers who cite scientific research but then present meditation forms that have no direct relationship to the studies they are touting.
17. Use Mindful.org for Guidance
Consult Mindful magazine or mindful.org as a trusted resource to help you discern nuanced practices and ensure the mindfulness instruction you receive is credible and evidence-aligned.
18. Explore Diverse Practices
Actively explore a wide range of meditation and spiritual traditions to find what resonates best with your personal inquiry and experience.
19. Advocate for Network Building
For those in leadership roles, actively connect vital, inspiring, and genuine mindfulness activities (’nodes’) to foster a larger, more impactful network within the field.
20. Challenge Misleading Mindfulness
If you suspect a hidden agenda or naive use of Buddhist jargon when mindfulness is taught, especially in public settings, raise concerns and challenge the approach.
21. Adopt Carrot-Rich Vegetarian Diet
Consider adopting an all-vegetarian diet, specifically consuming a large amount of carrots (raw or juiced), as a personal strategy for weight loss.
5 Key Quotes
My observation was that they were expert in their field, but there was no transference from that expert to their everyday lives. I mean, their everyday lives were a mess.
Jim Gimian
I think it's naive to think that mindfulness is going to rid us of our human foibles. We're going to have politics. We're going to have aggression. We're going to have all sorts of neurotic behaviors.
Jim Gimian
The real danger is not that there's politics but the presumption that there shouldn't be because then what you get is those things that are natural to humans get submerged.
Jim Gimian
Mindfulness is a common human inheritance. It's innate in human beings. And we've learned now that it's trainable, that you can train your brain and you can train your capacity to develop that sense of awareness of your thoughts and emotions and your ability to respond and not react.
Jim Gimian
But it is not definitive, and don't have anybody tell you, as people are, that science is proven. That is not the case.
Jim Gimian
1 Protocols
Jim Gimian's Shamatha/Mindfulness Breath Practice
Jim Gimian- Sit down and notice the feeling of your breath at some point, such as your belly, nose, or chest.
- When your mind gets lost in thought, gently bring your attention back to your breath.
- Mix the breath with space, allowing the out-breath to naturally dissolve into the surrounding space.
- Follow the out-breath into space, experiencing a momentary gap before you naturally breathe in again.
- Train yourself to bring attention to the breath and to experience these momentary gaps, which serve as a break in incessant mental self-talk and help enlarge your perspective beyond self-centralization.