(Northeastern Brazil) In Fortaleza, a town of 2.5 million people, the poor and the rich will meet once a week to cultivate a "good heart" through meditation. The program is based on work by Dr. B. Alan Wallace, which is understood as the conquest of our inner fears with the realization of the natural resources inherent in our heart and minds. This eight-week clinical program will teach a dozen people the process of mindfulness meditation, a nonjudgmental acceptance, and an empathic attitude, and initiate a daily practice of shamatha meditation homework. This combined approach aims at developing loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity that is summarized as cultivating a good heart and genuine happiness.
Beyond the learning and practicing sessions, participants will be writing or drawing a diary of images and feelings that boil up during the meditations. A final session will qualitatively evaluate the participants’ experiences. This program is free of charge from the Universidade de Fortaleza (Brazil) under the guidance of psychology professor Francisco Cavalcante, Jr., Ph.D.
His RELUS Network of Happiness Studies brings together researchers and practioners from the Portuguese speaking world interested in the happiness studies. People from all over the world are welcome to contribute. (info submitted by Andre)