Fall Virtual Contemplative Mentors in Residence Program
The Brown University Virtual Contemplative Mentors in Residence Program will make tradition-based contemplative practices available to students and faculty at Brown University and several affiliated institutions.
Our Contemplative Mentors in Residence are all skilled practitioners in their respective traditions and also PhD-level scholars who have extensive experience teaching at institutions of higher education in Asia, North America and Europe. These practitioner-scholars are familiar with the Liberal Arts values typical of higher education and are thus able to suit their teaching to the academic environment. Too often contemplative practices, if they are taught at all in higher education, are deracinated versions removed from their cultural origins. Each of our Contemplative Mentors has extensive training in both the contexts and the methods of the practices they will be leading.
The Schedule
Our mentors will teach weekly in the noon hour Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 12 weeks during each term of the upcoming academic year. The Fall Sessions start the week of September 13, 2026.
- Mondays: Thai Śamatha (Concentrative) Meditation: Sarah Shaw
- Wednesdays: Chinese Qigong Moving Meditation: Larson DiFiori
- Fridays: Korean Zen Meditation: Myungju Sunim
If you are interested in seeing what it's like to develop a consistent contemplative practice, we strongly recommend -- but do not require -- that you sign up for the entire 12-week period this semester. People are welcome to "shop" the first sessions the week of September 13th and then decide. Casual participation is also possible but not recommended. Send your decision to anne_heyrman-hart@brown.edu with "Virtual Contemplative Mentors" in the subject line. Students in courses who are assigned to specific weeks of Contemplative Practice Sessions do not need to do this.
Lectures, Workshops and Concerts
September 27, 2026 ~ 11 am - 4:30 pm
Workshop: Exploring the Jhana Factors - A Day of Samatha Breathing Mindfulness by Dr. Sarah Shaw
Pembroke Hall, Rm. 305
September 28, 2026 ~ 5:30 - 7 pm
Lecture: The Transmission of Southeast Asian Breath Meditation to the West by Dr. Sarah Shaw
Smith Buonanno, Rm. 201
October 21, 2026 ~ 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Luncheon with Dr. Matt Sacchett
Location TBA
October 21, 2026 ~ 5 - 6:30 pm
Lecture: TBA with Dr. Matt Sacchett
Friedman Hall, Rm. 202
October 23, 2026 ~ 5:30 - 7 pm
Lecture: The Path to Become a Medicine Sage (Eastern and Western). Healing yourself to Follow Your Destiny by Dr. Angelica Devis
Friedman Hall, Rm. 201
October 24, 2026 ~ 10 am - 4 pm
Workshop: Qigong Practice by Dr. Angelica Devis
Manning Chapel
November 4, 2026 ~ 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Contemplative Studies Autumn Open House
Location TBA
November 6, 2026 ~ 4 - 5:30 pm
Lecture: TBA with Prof. Bret Davis
Location TBA
November 7, 2026 ~ 11 am - 4:30 pm
Workshop: TBA with Prof. Brett Davis
Location TBA
November 8, 2026 ~ 10 am - 4 pm
Workshop: TBA with Simon Cox
Location TBA