Mindfulness Practice Group
Welcome to the peer-led DBSA Boston Mindfulness Practice Group. It’s free and open to all. You do not have to be a DBSA Boston member or a support group participant to attend this group.
Our group is a supportive space for practicing mindfulness, sharing insights, and deepening our understanding of various topics through meditation, guided reflection, and thoughtful discussion. We also explore books that inspire reflection and personal growth, fostering learning and sharing.
| Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET; Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET |
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/775075603
Email ZoomInfo@dbsaboston.org for the Zoom passcode. If you don’t receive an auto-reply with the passcode, email Khare@dbsaboston.org.
Click here to access recordings of the Current Topic: Stoicism and Emotion
Click on the picture of the alpaca* to access prior recordings
*ALPACA (Awareness, Loving and Peaceful Acceptance, Constructive Action).
Announcements
Hilary wrote a book!
We’re thrilled to share that Hilary, a long-time and valued member of our group, has published her very own book: Guided Meditation Scripts. It includes many calming meditations designed for real-world use in therapy, group settings, or personal practice.
Get your copy here: Guided Meditation Scripts: 5 and 10 Minute Read-Aloud Meditations for Calm, Healing, and Sleep
Please join us in congratulating Hilary on this wonderful achievement! 🎉We’re so proud to have such a talented author in our community.
Belén shared a few of her beautiful paintings.
You can view them by clicking here.
Would you like to guide a session for the group?
Email Khare@dbsaboston.org
You Must Read and Agree to these Guidelines Before Joining Our Group
- All DBSA Boston Guidelines For DBSA Groups and Meetings must be followed.
- We encourage turning on your camera occasionally as it helps build connection and trust within our community. Feel free to join on-camera when you’re comfortable, even if just for a brief hello.
- Please, no discussion of religion, politics, or current events.
- To foster a space of trust and safety, we agree to hold everything discussed within this group in complete confidence.
- By joining this meditation group, you agree to hold DBSA Boston and all meditation facilitators harmless in case of discomfort.
Sunday Meditation and Discussion
Here is an update on our Sunday morning meeting at 9:30 a.m. ET. (Note: Reading is not required! After the meditation, a theme from the book is introduced, and the discussion takes off from there.)
- On the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays of each month, we will read The Philosopher Queens, edited by Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting. After reading about the twenty philosophers featured in individual chapters, we will explore some of the additional women philosophers listed in the appendix.
- On the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, we’ll start to read and discuss Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. Viktor Frankl’s account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps—and his insights into our ability to find meaning despite great adversity—has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since its publication in 1946.
| Date | Book | Chapter/Section | Sunday # |
| Mar 1 | The Philosopher Queens | Simone Weil | 1st |
| Mar 8 | Man’s Search for Meaning | Part 9 – The Meaning of Life and Suffering | 2nd |
| Mar 15 | The Philosopher Queens | Hipparchia of Maroneia | 3rd |
| Mar 22 | Man’s Search for Meaning | Part 10 – After Liberation | 4th |
Our group offers a safe and supportive space to explore these themes and integrate mindfulness into our lives. Whether you’ve been a regular attendee or are considering joining for the first time, you’re warmly invited to participate.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about our schedule or books. – Khare@DbsaBoston.org
Audio Recordings and Transcripts
Computer-generated transcripts for audio recordings are available for each topic in its sub-folder. Thanks to Scott and Dari for their help!
Hilary guided the group on Friday, July 11. Click here for the video recording.
Cynthia guided us in a calming visualization and Reiki practice on 2/13/2025. Click here to view the recording.
On Sunday, 12/15/2024, Cynthia did Reiki and Chakra Meditation. Click here to watch the recording.
Facilitators
Khare facilitates this peer-led practice, drawing on his lived experience rather than formal mindfulness training. He embodies the spirit of Socrates’ “I know that I know nothing,” approaching mindfulness practice with a beginner’s mind. Scroll down for a fun graph on “Understanding How Much I Know.”
Carolyn helps facilitate our discussions on Fridays and Sundays. Thank you, Carolyn, for doing an absolutely amazing job!
Questions? Contact khare.mindful@gmail.com
Members’ Shares
Mary Johnston shared the 19th Annual Prechter Lecture featuring Ellen Forney. The lecture opens with Ellen Forney’s keynote presentation, which will touch on her mental health journey: how creativity and comics helped her and have become a way for her to help others.
Bettina shared this article: Crossing line between good and bad anxiety – Psychologist offers 3 strategies to keep worry from interfering with everyday life
Scott shared this quote from The Red Dwarf: “Yes, I admit I’m nothing. But from what I started with, nothing is up.” – Arnold J. Rimmer
Stress Management Tools and Resources from University of Michigan
Jules shared these articles:
Songs That Soothe the Soul—from the Ancient Stoics to Pink Floyd
Impact on Community
We have had 38,144 Zoom participants since March 2020
Thank you!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to DBSA Boston for their unwavering support of this meditation group since 2017, when it used to meet in person at McLean Hospital, and then in 2020, when we switched to Zoom. Thanks to DBSA Boston Presidents Chuck, Joe, Lillian, and Mary for their dedication and encouragement. We also thank our current and past practice leaders and facilitators: Adriana, Andie, Carolyn, Charlesly, Elizabeth, Jean, Jennifer, Krista, and Lucia. Your guidance and commitment have been invaluable to our community.
And to each member of our mindfulness community, we extend our sincere appreciation. Your presence, participation, and contributions breathe life into this group and make it all possible. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Meta-Cognition: Understanding How Much I Know
Last updated: 2/2/2026