news & articles

closing and opening: a celebration of our sameness and difference
Aug
04

closing and opening: a celebration of our sameness and difference
Let’s face it. Being human can be tough. Living
a multi-year green zone community in poland
Aug
04

a multi-year green zone community in poland
Thanks to guest blogger Piotr Witkowski — one of
A Conversation with Elesa Commerse and Susan Gillis Chapman
Mar
28

A Conversation with Elesa Commerse and Susan Gillis Chapman
Listen to this 45min conversation with Green Zone Institute
Fully Embracing our Life
Mar
28

Fully Embracing our Life
It’s not quite true that we can do absolutely
Everyone Has it Together?
Feb
12

Everyone Has it Together?
We can think of our anxiety as our personal
“Immersive Technology”
Feb
06

“Immersive Technology”
Reality is the ultimate 3D experience. 0
Pema Chödron on Working with Pain and Difficulty
Feb
02

Pema Chödron on Working with Pain and Difficulty
“When we’re putting up the barriers and the sense
Ideology Can Be Deadly
Dec
10

Ideology Can Be Deadly
“Toxic Certainty” can be the deadliest weapon of all.
Thich Naht Hanh – “Don’t Blame the Lettuce”
Aug
21

Thich Naht Hanh – “Don’t Blame the Lettuce”
Mindfulness goes beyond simplistic blame and focuses on real
Humanity’s Greatest Fear
Aug
21

Humanity’s Greatest Fear
“…protecting our vulnerability is critical when fear takes over.
How Wakeful People Make Friends
Aug
21

How Wakeful People Make Friends
“We once knew how to open up. Far from
Ursula le Guin on Synchronizing Communication
Aug
01

Ursula le Guin on Synchronizing Communication
“Every act of communication is an act of tremendous
The Green Zone of Going on Retreat
Jul
30

The Green Zone of Going on Retreat
Going on a retreat is one of the best
Meditation in Total Darkness
Jul
20

Meditation in Total Darkness
How Buddhist meditation kept the Thai boys calm in
Finding Solutions to Impossible Problems
Jul
15

Finding Solutions to Impossible Problems
How can we become big enough thinkers/feelers to find
Studying Mindful Communication in Ukraine
Jul
15

Studying Mindful Communication in Ukraine
Green Zone Institute recently receive this message from our
Greg Heffron – Facebook Live – “When Communication Breaks Down”
Jul
03

Greg Heffron – Facebook Live – “When Communication Breaks Down”
This is a short intro talk given live for
Actor Jeremy Irons on Zen Practice
Jun
27

Actor Jeremy Irons on Zen Practice
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Meditation and Gardening in a Prison
Jun
20

Meditation and Gardening in a Prison
Cultivating natural openness, inside and out. 0
Being Someone’s Eyes
Jun
12

Being Someone’s Eyes
What is the effect of inviting everyone into a
European Programs – Fall 2018
Jun
11

European Programs – Fall 2018
Greg Heffron will lead a number of retreats in
go easy
Jun
11

go easy
we often feel we have little power. but we
thicht nhat hanh on how to hold anger
Jun
11

thicht nhat hanh on how to hold anger
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Born without hands and knees
Jun
08

Born without hands and knees
Sinikwe describes her process of learning to love herself,
(Guest Blog) Mindful Communication: “We-First” versus “Me-First”
Jun
02

(Guest Blog) Mindful Communication: “We-First” versus “Me-First”
Written by Esther Hasselman, heartfulnesstraining.nu, april 2018 om het
making space for grief
Jun
01

making space for grief
Can we provide ourselves and others an openhearted space
offering help is unconditional
May
30

offering help is unconditional
Helping others to connect with themselves, powerful and deeply,
audrey hepburn on empathy
May
28

audrey hepburn on empathy
Nothing is more important than empathy for another human
How do you react to surprise?
May
24

How do you react to surprise?
In watching the range of reactions, it’s clear that
Our new Resource Page in Dutch
May
21

Our new Resource Page in Dutch
For our dear friends in the Netherlands, we’ve built
a “green zone” experience of death
May
19

a “green zone” experience of death
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(VIDEO) The Model of the Three Lights
May
06

(VIDEO) The Model of the Three Lights
At a weekend program in Davis, CA in 2018,
advanced 8-month online training (late-Summer 2018)
May
05

advanced 8-month online training (late-Summer 2018)
Green Zone Institute is proud to announce the upcoming
an excerpt from “the mindful heart” (2018)
May
05

an excerpt from “the mindful heart” (2018)
“If mindful communication training could be reduced to one
rev. angel kyodo williams
May
05

rev. angel kyodo williams
“We have weaponized our awareness, our consciousness. We use
if speaking kindly to plants…
May
05

if speaking kindly to plants…
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learning how to be
May
05

learning how to be
The classic children’s book The Velveteen Rabbit, teaching us
anxieties keep waking us up
May
05

anxieties keep waking us up
“Whether you are happy or sad, whether you are
cognitive gains from meditation last for seven years, research shows
May
05

cognitive gains from meditation last for seven years, research shows
“The initial study is based on the Shamatha Project,
dan siegel: me + we = mwe
May
01

dan siegel: me + we = mwe
Author and clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA Dan
letting the mud settle
Apr
28

letting the mud settle
Mindfulness means training in patience, which leads naturally to
james baldwin’s wisdom
Apr
22

james baldwin’s wisdom
Beneath our ‘frozen’ ideologies (Red Light) is vulnerability and
Happy 2018
Jan
01

Happy 2018
We at Green Zone Institute wish you a Peaceful,
Sakyong Mipham on Listening with Compassion
Dec
20

Sakyong Mipham on Listening with Compassion
Buddhist teacher and author, Sakyong Mipham on listening with
“For a moment we became one person”
Dec
09

“For a moment we became one person”
Naomi Feil, founder of Validation Therapy, describes a simple
Verbal Jiu Jitsu for Tough Guys
Dec
06

Verbal Jiu Jitsu for Tough Guys
A senior martial arts teacher in krav maga, Ron
Pema Chödrön – This Lousy World
Dec
04

Pema Chödrön – This Lousy World
A short clip of Susan Gillis Chapman’s mentor Pema
Green Zone Institute: Spreading Peace in a Challenging World
Nov
04

Green Zone Institute: Spreading Peace in a Challenging World
In 2017, Green Zone Institute’s leaders taught Susan Gillis Chapman’s
A Buddhist Teacher on The Lost Art of Good Conversation
Oct
18

A Buddhist Teacher on The Lost Art of Good Conversation
Susan Gillis Chapman, author and Guiding Teacher for Green Zone
Hold Your Tongue and Offer Your Heart Instead
Oct
04

Hold Your Tongue and Offer Your Heart Instead
When someone is in the “Yellow Light” state of
The Roots of War (Thich Naht Hanh)
Aug
04

The Roots of War (Thich Naht Hanh)
What are the roots of negativity? Can we get
The Meditation Cure (Wall Street Journal)
Jul
04

The Meditation Cure (Wall Street Journal)
“….And here is where an evolutionary perspective can be
Countering Fear with Welcoming
Jun
14

Countering Fear with Welcoming
How can we heal the “Yellow Light” crisis of
Controlling Rage with Mindfulness
Jun
04

Controlling Rage with Mindfulness
Michelin Star Chef Eric Ripert explains how ongoing mindfulness
The Longest Study on Human Happiness
May
20

The Longest Study on Human Happiness
The “Green Light” of Openness is how to build
Deep Training at Shambhala Mountain Center
Apr
26

Deep Training at Shambhala Mountain Center
  In March 2017, Susan Chapman and Greg Heffron
The Conversation that Saved the World
Mar
16

The Conversation that Saved the World
What if I told you that one single conversation
Greg Heffron: Positive Interruptions Help Us Rediscover Our Mindfulness
Mar
06

Greg Heffron: Positive Interruptions Help Us Rediscover Our Mindfulness
In this short clip from a training in France,
Are You Part of ‘The Distraction Economy?’
Mar
02

Are You Part of ‘The Distraction Economy?’
Do you want or need to be a player
“We have to be fully present in our prayers. We have to be fully present with each other.”
Mar
01

“We have to be fully present in our prayers. We have to be fully present with each other.”
Global peace advocate and meditation ambassador Richard Reoch, writing
Discovering the ‘We’ in We-First
Feb
27

Discovering the ‘We’ in We-First
Danish director Asger Leth shows that humans are all different,
Silence is Communication
Feb
23

Silence is Communication
“The process of communication can be beautiful, if we
Healing Self-Doubt Means Allowing Space and Nurturing
Feb
20

Healing Self-Doubt Means Allowing Space and Nurturing
Where “Mindful Presence” meets “Encouragement.” When others are filled with
The Buddhist View of Awake Anger
Feb
18

The Buddhist View of Awake Anger
What does the Buddhist meditation tradition have to say
When Awake Body meets Tender Heart
Feb
15

When Awake Body meets Tender Heart
Artistic expression happens when our innate Awake Body meets
The Importance of Empathy in Everyday Life
Feb
12

The Importance of Empathy in Everyday Life
“Trying to understand other people’s experiences and perspectives is
When is it Time for Mindful Presence?
Feb
09

When is it Time for Mindful Presence?
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The Power of Peacemaking: Interrupting Aggression in Challenging Times
Jan
18

The Power of Peacemaking: Interrupting Aggression in Challenging Times
Many of us today are paying close attention to the
Man holding ‘You belong’ sign outside North Texas Islamic Center
Jan
12

Man holding ‘You belong’ sign outside North Texas Islamic Center
Generosity and welcoming difference are the human virtues that
Vulnerability = Strength
Jan
12

Vulnerability = Strength
As Susan Piver says here, strength and vulnerability do
Cowardice versus Bravery in Our Own Experience
Jan
12

Cowardice versus Bravery in Our Own Experience
The New Yorker covers the topics of Cowardice (“the
How Does a Neo-Nazi Lose his Hatred?
Jan
12

How Does a Neo-Nazi Lose his Hatred?
What was the beginning of a dedicated White Supremacist
Could You Befriend Your Enemy?
Jan
12

Could You Befriend Your Enemy?
Can we become stable enough, decent enough, brave enough
Bill Murray: I’d Like to Just Be More Here All the Time
Jan
12

Bill Murray: I’d Like to Just Be More Here All the Time
We call this synchronizing the Natural Communication System: connecting
Fleet Maull: Better Leadership Through Self-Empathy
Jan
12

Fleet Maull: Better Leadership Through Self-Empathy
“A daily mindfulness practice can help us keep this
Mindful Empathy or Mindless Heart?
Jan
12

Mindful Empathy or Mindless Heart?
Susan Chapman explains the difference between intelligent Mindful Empathy
Changes Comes From “Practice”
Jan
12

Changes Comes From “Practice”
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Discovering What is Right Here
Jan
12

Discovering What is Right Here
What hidden talents have we overlooked? Direct perception (mindfulness)
The Distraction Economy
Jan
12

The Distraction Economy
Do you want or need to be a player
Teaching Mindful Communication at Krakow’s Institute of Psychology
Dec
19

Teaching Mindful Communication at Krakow’s Institute of Psychology
In late November 2016, author and Buddhist teacher Susan
Training Staff at a Buddhist Retreat Center in France
Dec
07

Training Staff at a Buddhist Retreat Center in France
In 2015, Greg Heffron trained the staff at Dechen Choling
Influencing our Relationships and Future Through Mindful Communication
Nov
16

Influencing our Relationships and Future Through Mindful Communication
Greg Heffron’s interview on Meditation Freedom: “The easiest way to
5-week Interactive Video Course – Oct 15, 2016
Aug
25

5-week Interactive Video Course – Oct 15, 2016
If you’ve studied the book and want to go
Compassion is a Relationship of Equals
Aug
25

Compassion is a Relationship of Equals
The Green Light: being vulnerable ourselves, we understand directly
“Playfulness” Creates Custom Hospital Gowns
Aug
23

“Playfulness” Creates Custom Hospital Gowns
The fifth key to Mindful Communication is “Playfulness” (or
NOT Telling Someone that They’re Shut Down
Aug
18

NOT Telling Someone that They’re Shut Down
Telling someone that they’re in the Red Light (of
A TV Journalist Feels Sad
Aug
15

A TV Journalist Feels Sad
To feel sadness — to deeply feel real sadness
We Forget to Stay Mad When Something Interrupts
Aug
12

We Forget to Stay Mad When Something Interrupts
We can’t choose to get ourselves out of our
Loss is Real
Aug
05

Loss is Real
Green Light anger is possible, but rage is not
Being Sent to the “Mindful Moment Room”
Aug
04

Being Sent to the “Mindful Moment Room”
“When a student is referred to the Mindful Moment
Being Awake Means All the Way Until the End of Life
Aug
03

Being Awake Means All the Way Until the End of Life
Being Awake means that we’re in relationship with our
The Psychology of Why Americans Are Afraid of Historically Low Crime Levels
Jul
30

The Psychology of Why Americans Are Afraid of Historically Low Crime Levels
When we work to suppress the “Yellow Light” experience
Deaf Percussionist Evelyn Glennie: “Using the Body as a Giant Ear”
Jul
23

Deaf Percussionist Evelyn Glennie: “Using the Body as a Giant Ear”
This deaf professional percussionist shows us that “Awake Body”
Policing: the “Green Light” of Openness Protects Us Better
Jul
13

Policing: the “Green Light” of Openness Protects Us Better
By honoring the Green Light of innate human communication,
Not Feeding the “Script” of Aggression
Jul
03

Not Feeding the “Script” of Aggression
Non-aggression is surprisingly powerful. Without someone to battle, an
Mingyur Rinpoche – training your monkey mind
Jun
30

Mingyur Rinpoche – training your monkey mind
This deceptively simple and profound instruction from a Tibetan
President Carter: Real Leadship is Based upon the Inherent Goodness of Humanity
Jun
13

President Carter: Real Leadship is Based upon the Inherent Goodness of Humanity
“What is needed now more than ever that leadership
5-Day Retreat with Susan Chapman and Greg Heffron (March 1-5, Colorado)
Jun
12

5-Day Retreat with Susan Chapman and Greg Heffron (March 1-5, Colorado)
Mindful Heart Communication: A Path to Warmth, Dignity, and Confidence
Google’s Peter Weng – Mindfulness Reduces Bias and Heightens Inclusion
May
16

Google’s Peter Weng – Mindfulness Reduces Bias and Heightens Inclusion
Green Zone Institute’s Greg Heffron was delighted to attend
How (Not) to Follow Your Bliss
May
07

How (Not) to Follow Your Bliss
“Without mindfulness, advice like ‘Following Your Bliss’ can devolve
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