Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
199 Main Street, Suite 3
Northhampton, MA 01060
Telephone: (413) 582-0071
Website: contemplativemind.org
Description of Organization
Founded in 1991, the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society (CCMS) transforms higher education by supporting and encouraging the use of contemplative/introspective practices and perspectives to create active learning and research environments that look deeply into experience and meaning for all in service of a more just and compassionate society.
The CCMS envisions an education that promotes the exploration of meaning, purpose and values and seeks to serve our common human future — an education that enables and enhances personal introspection and contemplative awareness cultivates the realization of our inextricable connection to all beings, opening the heart and mind to true community, deeper insight, sustainable living, and a more just society.
Grant(s) Awarded
In 2021, a special COVID-19 Operational Grant of $7,500 was awarded to support the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society’s ongoing programming and infrastructure. The COVID-19 Impact: The Center was unable to host their two main in-person conferences and experienced challenges in raising funds while resources were dwindling or being allocated elsewhere. In the face of the multitude of national and global challenges, the Center for Contemplative Care hosted several online events in the form of on-line retreats, workshops, and webinars to provide much-needed spiritual space and community and to offer resources for educators, administrators, and students on how contemplative practices can help to heal and create resiliency in the face of distressing times.
In 2018, a grant in the amount of $25,000 was awarded to update and provide additional capacity to their web based membership services.
In 2007 and in 2008, grants totaling $130,000 were awarded to assist in organization, promotion, tuition and travel support in connection with “the Wise Action Program,” a series of five very successful meditation retreats for American leaders, including those in higher education, law, and social justice activism, which were held from November 2007 through Fall 2008. The retreats offered training in personal contemplative practices as well as contemplative methods adapted for the classroom, featuring Buddhist meditation as the central practice. In addition, the Foundation’s grant funds were also used to sponsor the Fall 2008 Meditation Retreat for Academics in Higher Education, attended by 29 professors with a wide range of experience in contemplative practice, some of whom are currently teaching courses with a contemplative component and some who are exploring it for the future. The retreat continued to cultivate the Center’s newly formed Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education.