Learning to Relax Through Mindfulness

This winter series taught by UCSD’s Jamie Pineda will provide insights into relaxation and how to experience the mind freer from emotional reactivity. It will offer information on what mindfulness is and how to develop it to live a stress free, happier, and healthier life.  Perfect for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Sessions begin weekly on Sundays starting Jan. 4.  Attend one class or all 4.

Class 3: Beginner’s Mind and Mindfulness of Emotions

We will explore what mindfulness means in developing a beginner’s mind. Shunryu Suzuki said, “In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.” The mind is associated with thoughts and emotions; but these are temporary changes, like the weather. One moment we are happy, the next we are sad. But the true nature of the mind is silence, stillness, clarity, and wisdom. Recognizing this basic nature is key to learning to relax.

Jaime Pineda is professor of neuroscience, cognitive science, and psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of several books, the latest being Controlling Mental Chaos: Harnessing the Power of the Creative Mind (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023). He is a long-time contemplative practitioner and a certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher (MMTCP, 2025). He now dedicates his time sharing the insights he’s learned as a neuroscientist and mindfulness student.