I hope this finds you well and adapting to the ever new and surprising challenges that our students bring to our doors! I have a few exciting updates and resources that I want to share in this blog.

Firstly, thanks to Iddo Oberski plans are afoot for our next event which will take place at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh on 22nd April 2016. More details will be made available as soon as we have them. In the meantime please save the date.

Secondly, following a very creative and inspiring meeting with Alasdair Honeyman, Jennifer Bright and Amir Freiman in London back in September, we identified that setting up some kind of monthly virtual book group would allow people to connect with others and share and discuss ideas. In particular Amir is keen to establish ways of supporting and encouraging teachers and academics in Israel. Do you think this is a good idea? Would you participate? I am not brilliantly tech savvy if anyone has any ideas about how this could technically be done do let me know. We also need suggestions for what to read so do comment below.

Another little adventure I am embarking on is as an Associate Editor for ‘The Arrow’ which is a journal that ‘explores the relationship between contemplative practice, politics, and activism’. The senior advisor for the journal is Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche the lineage holder of the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. The editors already have links with the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education and there is a notable synergy between what The Arrow is trying to achieve and much of our work here. Do explore the website, have a read and let me know your thoughts. Also if you feel that you would like to write for the journal do let me know. In the future we may think about developing a contemplative pedagogy special issue so get your thinking caps on.

Lastly I want to make sure that you all know about this book: The Mindful Way To Study. The authors have very generously made it freely available and from my initial glance it appears to be an excellent resource for students of all types. I think it could also be very valuable for anyone wanting to introduce mindfulness to students as it discuss the concepts in very relevant ways. I hope to do a book review once I have had time to read it more thoroughly.

Anyway I had better get back to work. If anyone has any ideas for a blog I’d love to hear from you.

Warm wishes, Caroline