Mindfulness in Politics

Mindfulness in Politics, a mindfulness initiative of the All Party Parliamentary Group Program of the Houses of Parliament, UK has invited many mindfulness advocates from countries they have connections with, asking them to bring along representatives of politics, more specifically MPs who are already doing mindfulness and/or feel very sensitive to this level of understanding. Director of the program, Jamie Bristow invited Agota E Ruzsa, from Hungary as chair of SoL Hungary and initiator of Mindful Facilitation in Society and leadership. Agota invited a politician, De Julia Abraham, one of the politicians who contributed to the 10 party healthy Nation program. We hope to initiate and develop partnership of all party MPs in Hungary as well and join the Mindful Nations „movement” . ( Mindful Nation USA with Tim Ryan , USA Congressman, and also Mindful Nation, UK, etc.).

 

 

 

It was the very first, ie. historic event in the Houses of Parliament, with a number of representatives from the House of Commons as well as from the House of Lords.
See and read an article from the Guardian…

There were MPs and advocates from 15 countries, mostly Western European countries, except from Hungary, and Israel and Sri Lanka.

October 16th we started connections with a Welcome drink and then a very, very entertaining, good humoured guided tour by  two MPs  where we had a quick overview of the main hall of 900 yrs old to the latest building right across the street ending with a welcome drink again of familiar conversing with some other MPs on the famous terrace of the Parliament, right above the river Thames.
Chris Ruane MP, who introduced mindfulness in the Parliament…

October 17th a fuul day conference with key notes from Jon Kabat-Zinn, „godfather” of the project as well as some core appreciation by The Speaker of the House and a secretary of Sport and Civil Society, both deeply personal and true speeches.

In the Westminster Hall right across the Parliament in an old methodist church building that is transformed into a conference hall we gathered and  first – following the welcome speaches –  Jon Kabat-Zinn lead us into mindfulness and its core potential in societal change and the powerful potential in public policy making.

In the afternoon, following an inspiring welcome again in the Houses of Commons, by the Speaker of the House, and a Swedish Minister, etc. we heard a most touching and heartfelt introduction of two core projects of this APPG Mindfulness Initiative: one related to public mental health and the research and application of MbCT (Mindfulnerss based Cognitive Therapy)   introduced by not only the researcher and therapist from the Oxford center, but also by a client of theirs. The other case introduction was from the Ministry of Justice and the National Probationer Office, again with a mindfulness trainer, as well as a probationer officer AND a client, a man who up until now, had spent 24 yrs in prison all in all sent there 3 times.  He shared his own story starting from deep resistance to real appreciation and now advocating the method. I can tell you that everyone, ie. EVERYONE was moved and some of cried hearing his story.

True, and authentic, hopeful and humane.

They also have two ongoing projects, one in education and one in the workplace, esp. in industry 4.0. and also so far ca. 150 MPs took it for their peace of mind. Schools are now eagerly signing up for courses adapted to kids, but not only in the UK, but in Eastonia, Sweden, etc…

 

The evening was closed by an online connection with Tim Ryan, Mindful Nation US  who shared his care and dedication to the cause in his country. It also gave some opportunity for reconnecting, seeding some project ideas…

October 18th was the day when mindfulness advocates got together working on possible cooperation and developing the Mindfulness Initiative into a Network.

We, here in Hungary plan to share more details and possible next steps on our 10th anniversary of SoL Hungary, inviting friends and ex-colleagues, new partners and co-facilitate our first step into a Mindful Nation, HU project…

December 1st. More info: aruzsa@solhungary.hu