Learning mindfulness doesn’t require spending thousands of dollars to go to a Jon Kabat-Zinns mountain top retreat.
Learning mindfulness in a group setting can be very effective when group think takes over. You’ll find yourself swept up and willing to accept whatever the “guru” wants you to believe. It’s great while you are at your retreat.
What happens after you leave and you are on your own? Without the group support, how well can you maintain the practice?
Too often these programs are cloaked in mysticism and magic. The guru holds the key but never quite lets go.
The truth is that mindfulness is a natural ability that everyone has and anyone can learn. No need for a guru. Isn’t it better to rely on your own powerful mind than a powerful guru.
