Project
Mindful Connections: The Science of Buddhism & Mental Health Wellbeing
Ever wondered if you could move a drone with just your mind?
Presented by the Centre of Buddhist Studies, HKU, this open house brings together neuroscience and Buddhist mindfulness practices to explore the inner workings of the mind. Put on an EEG (electroencephalography) headband that maps brainwaves, and you will be amazed by what your mind alone can move when it calms.
Led by experienced meditation practitioners trained by the Centre of Buddhist Studies, each one-hour session on offer throughout the festival begins with one of the following contemplative experiences:
- Tea Meditation: Participants learn to practise extreme presence using the heat, aroma and taste of artisanal tea in this portable, multisensory mindfulness ritual.
- Somatic Grounding and Chanting: Using the practice of rhythmic chanting, participants are induced into a state of relaxation through the vocal vibrations generated inside their chest and skull. This will be followed by a grounding practice focusing on body scanning and micro-movements to bridge the gap between mental intent and physical sensations.
- Compassion Meditation: Participants take part in a guided meditative practice that directs love, warmth, kindness and understanding towards oneself, others and the world.
For the second part of the session, participants wear an EEG headset to measure and observe the transitions of their alpha and theta brainwaves whilst they are in a meditative state. By translating their brainwaves into digital commands to pilot a drone, they can see with their own eyes the immense potential of a calm and focused mind.
At a time when attention is increasingly hard to sustain and stress is a common feature of daily life, understanding how the mind actually works—and how spiritual practices and neuroscience technology can support it—has never felt more relevant.
One-hour sessions available from 6 to 8 November and 13 to 15 November. Registration is required, with limited quotas for walk-ins. Sessions on 9 to 12 November are by appointment only.
*As participants are required to remove their shoes before entering the venue, they are advised to wear socks for hygiene purpose.
Date |
Timeslot |
Part 1 |
Part 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Nov (Fri) | 5:00 pm – |
Tea Meditation | Drone Experiment + Seated Meditation |
| 6:00 pm – |
Somatic Grounding and Chanting | ||
| 7:00 pm – |
Compassion Meditation | ||
| 7 Nov (Sat) | 11:00 am – |
Tea Meditation | |
| 12:00 noon – |
Somatic Grounding and Chanting | ||
| 3:00 pm – |
Compassion Meditation | ||
| 4:00 pm – |
Tea Meditation | ||
| 5:00 pm – |
Compassion Meditation | ||
| 8 Nov (Sun) | 11:00 am – |
Tea Meditation | |
| 12:00 noon – |
Somatic Grounding and Chanting | ||
| 3:00 pm – |
Compassion Meditation | ||
| 4:00 pm – |
Tea Meditation | ||
| 5:00 pm – |
Somatic Grounding and Chanting | ||
| 13 Nov (Fri) | 5:00 pm – |
Tea Meditation | |
| 6:00 pm – |
Somatic Grounding and Chanting | ||
| 7:00 pm – |
Compassion Meditation | ||
| 14 Nov (Sat) | 11:00 am – |
Tea Meditation | |
| 12:00 noon – |
Somatic Grounding and Chanting | ||
| 3:00 pm – |
Compassion Meditation | ||
| 4:00 pm – |
Tea Meditation | ||
| 5:00 pm – |
Compassion Meditation | ||
| 15 Nov (Sun) | 11:00 am – |
Tea Meditation | |
| 12:00 noon – |
Somatic Grounding and Chanting | ||
| 3:00 pm – |
Compassion Meditation | ||
| 4:00 pm – |
Tea Meditation | ||
| 5:00 pm – |
Somatic Grounding and Chanting |
Language
Meditation workshops will be conducted in English, Cantonese or Mandarin depending on participants.
Accessibility
The store fronts are on ground level with one step at the entrance. For inquiries related to accessibility, please contact Polly Hui at pollyhuifungyi@gmail.com.
People
Dr. Lee Kin Cheung George
Project Leader
Dr. Gao Junling
Project Leader