About the Project

The Center is working with the US Army to explore the uses of meditation to restore resiliency in chaplains and medical caregivers. The project includes a research report on The Use of Meditation and Mindfulness Practices to Support Military Care Providers. That report will be the basis of a meeting at the National Cathedral in Washington DC in February, a one-day dialogue between mindfulness meditation and contemplative neuroscience subject matter experts (practitioners and scientists) and Army leaders. The symposium will focus on research related to the use of mindfulness training and contemplative practices with caregivers, soldiers, and family members. There will be a full report of the dialog. 

In March, probably in Colorado near Fort Carson, we will hold a meditation retreat for 30 chaplains and medical caregivers. Norman Fisher will be the lead teacher. A Christian insight meditation teacher will talk to chaplains about integrating meditation into their Christian practice. 

If funding is raised, the retreat participants will be measured for increases in attention and compassion by The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (Project Compassion) at Stanford University, Neuroscience Department, led by James Doty, MD, Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery. If the retreat is considered successful in helping caregivers increase resiliency and compassion, the Army hopes to offer meditation to many more of its staff.