Mindfulness is defined as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally” in Jon Kabat-Zinn's book "Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life". In 1973, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Programme was started by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Mark William, Zindel Segal and John Teasdale then further developed the concept of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) based on MBSR.  Mindfulness has since been proven by evidence-based research to be effective in improving psychological health and life quality, as well as enhancing the neuroplasticity of the brain.

Global Organisations and Corporations such as Google, Apple, Nike and HBO, have invested in Employee Mindfulness Training. As a result, they have found their employees enjoy greater work performance, better decision- making and career longevity. Mindfulness is also widely applied in the different fields such as education, performance art, pain Management and sport, where it has been shown to increase concentration, problem solving ability and increase workplace creativity.

This Conference aims:

 1. To create awareness and promote adoption of mindfulness among UTAR students and Malaysian society in general. 

 2. To broaden the limits of knowledge on mindfulness by exploring personal and scientific perspectives.

 3. To provide an interdisciplinary platform for exchanging ideas on mindfulness and its application in various fields. 

Introduction

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) is organising the First International Mindfulness Conference in Malaysia in  collaboration with Journey Within Studio. The purpose of this conference is to understand the potential impact of introducing mindfulness practices in the context of our local community and professional lives. Malaysians will have the opportunity to explore how mindfulness is viewed in the modern world, trace its traditional origins and understand the differences between these two views.

Objectives

The conference also aims to raise the awareness of mindfulness as a tool for personal development and growth within the fields of education, medicine, corporations, professional careers and mental health. Therefore, the topic of this conference is “Transforming Your Mind, Transforming Your Life”. We hope that by encouraging the adoption of mindfulness practices, we can advance scientific research into mindfulness and its application in various fields.