When Dr. Joanne Cook began working as a Buddhist chaplain at Hendricks Chapel, she had no idea about the upcoming global pandemic and its impact on Syracuse University and the world. Cook and fellow Buddhist minister Bonnie Scholz, a Buddhist minister, had been working together to plan weekly meditations and outings to the Syracuse Zen Center, but the world changed in the spring of 2020, and Cook’s plans also changed. changed. As Buddhist chaplains practice social distancing and move to regular Zoom meditations and sangha meetings (gatherings where students can talk and share), Cook is observing students’ needs more clearly and responding accordingly. The plan was adjusted accordingly.
Joseph Perez meditates outside Hendricks Chapel (Photo: Micah Greenberg)
“People were lonely. They felt very anxious,” Cook recalled. She recognized that the need for meditation and mindfulness would increase as students returned to campus in fall 2020. That’s when she put together a mindfulness certification program. While some of the students who expressed interest in the program were already committed to a meditation practice, many others were curious about meditation but were nervous about trying it. I did. Although some participants self-identified as Buddhist, most were from other backgrounds (faith-based, atheist/agnostic, etc.) and recognized the spiritual benefits of meditation and mindfulness. We are gathering to accept.
Students who gathered for meditation and weekly sangha meetings felt like they had found a sense of belonging. “When you’re in a group, you know you’re not alone in your pain,” Cook says.
There are three levels of mindfulness certification. At the first level, you will need to attend a beginner’s workshop, which includes learning how to sit for meditation and how to deal with discomfort. Students must attend one or more of her meditations per week and keep a short diary. Approximately 40 students completed their first level certification.
Altar in the small chapel of Hendricks Chapel (Photo courtesy of Solon Quinn)
Why create a meditation certificate? “Your brain will tell you that you don’t have 30 minutes of ‘doing nothing’. You’re so busy that you shouldn’t do that,” says Cook. says Mr. “But if you tell your brain, ‘I got my certificate!’ your brain will understand that you’ve earned it.” But the real benefit isn’t a piece of paper; it’s the real benefit. is in your happiness, she added.
Caroline Moller ’24 will receive her Level 2 certificate this semester. As a fourth-year student studying forensics and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, she says there are many benefits to both her personal and professional well-being. Just over a year ago, Moller’s friend invited her to join her meditation session. Even before that, other trusted people in her life had encouraged her to meditate. “I’ve always been a very anxious person, so I never thought I was capable of that,” she says. “Since then, my life has changed for the better.”
Not only did Moller feel that she personally benefited from her participation, but she also felt that the group was collectively healing from trauma and stress. “Being part of this group served as a healing process,” she says.
University employee Robin Summers started practicing mindfulness in 2018. Currently, as an assistant director of admissions, I am grateful for the mindfulness training provided by Mr. Cook and others. She travels frequently to recruit her future students and feels the benefit of the lessons she has learned. “She knows when she’s meditating and when she’s not meditating. She feels it both physically and mentally,” she says. “As a parent and a caregiver for an elderly parent, I have a much better ability to manage the noise in my life.”
Joe Perez, an avid practitioner and fourth-year student at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), began meditating after his therapist introduced a visualization practice during a session. Perez found meditation helpful to add to his regular therapy sessions, and has since learned how to calm his emotions and think logically about situations.
Mindfulness training is one of many options for people seeking mental health care*. Mindfulness practices are considered a healthy complement to other treatments such as medication and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
According to Cook, mindfulness is about paying attention. “Paying attention is a spiritual practice of finding joy and gratitude,” she says. “And that’s how you express compassion, paying attention to other people and their needs.”
Here are six tips to get you started on your mindfulness journey.
- Bring your friends! Engaging with your community and friends can strengthen your practice and increase motivation.
- Just pause. Use meditation as a tool to pause the hustle and bustle of daily life and regain control and perspective.
- Please find a teacher. If you can’t find a teacher, try videos or podcasts.
- Please continue to be patient. Meditation is a skill that improves with practice. Embrace the process with an open mind and patience. Initial discomfort and skepticism are part of the journey.
- Reflect on the positive things each day. Every day has moments of both joy and discomfort. Write down those moments and then release them.
- Try it. No prior knowledge of meditation is required before participating.
“You’re not alone,” Cook says. “When we meditate in a group, we realize that we all experience pain. There is pain and discomfort in the world, but it won’t last forever. By experiencing this together, we can help our community and compassion, two things this world needs more of.”
More information about the Mindfulness Certification Program and meditation schedule can be found on the Hendricks Chapel website. Anyone at SU or SUNY-ESF may participate in meditation or sangha meetings. Contact Cooke at jmcooke@syr.edu to have a cup of tea and talk about his interest in meditation and mindfulness training.
*SU and SUNY-ESF students seeking mental health support should contact the Barnes Center at the Arch, which serves mental health emergencies, at 315.443.8000 or barnescenter@syr.edu. Faculty, staff, and family members of employees who need help with work or life challenges can contact SU’s Faculty Wellness Initiative. The Barnes Center at the Arch also has resources for faculty and staff who need guidance in supporting students. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has resources to support yourself and help others, as well as a crisis counselor and her 24-hour chat service.
