Kristin Glover, 

University of Virginia School of Law Library

Spring Meeting 2014 Presentation

"Mindfulness and the Law Library"

Prezi

Mindfulness Resources

Book & Audio CD Suggestions for a “Mindfulness Library”:

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Guided Mindfulness Meditation Series 1 (Audiobook CD) by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness for Beginners (Audiobook CD) by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness (Paperback) by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh

Nothing Special: Living Zen by Charlotte J. Beck & Steve Smith

A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life by Jack Kornfield

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Practicing Mindfulness: Introduction to Meditation (Audio CD lecture series) by Prof. Mark Muesse (The Teaching Company Great Courses series)

Free Online Guided Meditations:

University of Virginia Mindfulness Center - http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/medicine/divisions/general-med/wellness/the-mindfulness-center/; in the lefthand column select “Resources” then “Audio Recordings.”

UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center - http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

Law School/Lawyers & Mindfulness Resources:

AALL Mindfulness in Law Caucus - http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Member-Communities/caucuses/caucus-websites/mllc

Berkeley Law School Initiative for Mindfulness in Law, http://www.law.berkeley.edu/mindfulness.htm

Miami Law School Mindfulness in Law Program, http://www.miamimindfulness.org/

Scott L. Rogers, The Mindful Law School: An Integrative Approach to Transforming Legal Education, 28 Touro L. Rev. 1189 (2012)

Rhonda V. Magee, Educating Lawyers to Meditate? 79 U.M.K.C. L. Rev. 535 (2011

Leonard L. Riskin, The Contemplative Lawyer: On the Potential Contributions of Mindfulness Meditation to Law Students, Lawyers, and their Clients, 7 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 1 (2002)

Scott L. Rogers & Jan L. Jacobowitz, Mindfulness & Professional Responsibility: A Guide Book for Integrating Mindfulness into the Law School Curriculum (Mindful Living Press, 2012)

Mindful Eating:  Raisin Exercise

Take a raisin & hold it in the palm of your hand.  Feel its weight – is it heavier than you expected? Lighter?

With the raisin still in your palm, look at it closely (maybe bring it closer to your face):

Color(s)?

Smooth?

Ridges, folds?

Other distinctive features?

Now gently pick up the raisin between two fingers & gently roll it:

How does it feel?

Bumpy?

Squishy?

Stale?

Bring the raisin up to your ear & squeeze it a bit:

Do you hear anything? 

Now move the raisin to underneath your nose: 

Do you smell anything?

Take a few more sniffs – any changes in smell?

As you’re smelling, do you notice any sensations in other parts of your body…Saliva in mouth? Stomach?  Shoulders even?

*You may notice thoughts…”I hate raisins” “I just had breakfast” “the recipe I’m baking later has raisins in it”…

Completely normal to have thoughts; your brain is doing exactly what it’s designed for (like your ears are designed to receive sound)…

Notice the thoughts & then gently come back to your sensations with the raisin

Now bring the raisin to your lips, gently place the raisin on your tongue, not yet chewing –

How does it feel on your tongue?

Weight (compared with holding it in your palm)?

Texture?

Any flavor?

Now let your tongue naturally move the raisin around in your mouth –

Where does it go?  Under tongue, right side, left side?

Notice sensations in other parts of your body?

When you’re ready, prepare to chew the raisin –

Start with one or two bites

What do you notice after each bite?  Flavors? (Sweet, bitter, grainy)

Don’t swallow just yet.

Have the flavors/sensations changed since the first bite?

See if you can notice an intention to swallow the raisin, & experience that split-second before actually swallowing. 

Now, swallow the raisin & feel its path, down back of your throat, traveling to your stomach

Take a minute to reflect on the sensations, feelings, thoughts that came up for you in this process.