Mindfulness and even lovingkindness meditation practices are commonly thought of as personal and inward-focused, but they can very much be social practices as well. When we get in touch with our own pain or the pain of others, meditation is not just a salve; it can provide the impetus to work for change.

I like to think of mindfulness simply as the art of conscious living. You don’t have to be a Buddhist or a yogi to practice it. In fact, if you know anything about Buddhism, you will know that the most important point is to be yourself and not try to become anything that you are not already. Buddhism is fundamentally about being in touch with your