Zen Buddhist Insights for Self-Awareness, Mental Health, and Wellness

The benefits of meditative practices have been intuited for millennia, but now science has clearly observed the connection between mental wellness and curious self-awareness. The practice of mindfulness is now mainstream, and we\u27re beginning to ask deeper questions about what it really is, and about what it might be able to show us: What is the relationship between our mental health and our spirituality? What do words like compassion and wisdom mean for me in this age of anxiety? How are qualities like resiliency, courage, clarity, and kindness made available to us? In this program, Busshō Lahn draws upon insights from the Zen Buddhist tradition to address possible approaches to these questions based on his new book, Singing and Dancing Are the Voice of the Law (2022). Busshō Lahn is a Zen student and teacher, and the founder of Flying Cloud Zen Spiritual Practice Community. He is a popular speaker, retreat leader, spiritual director, author, and is a Senior Priest at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. He first came to Soto Zen Buddhism in 1993, was ordained as a novice in 2009, and received Dharma Transmission (authorization to carry the lineage and teach independently) in 2015. Busshō remains rooted in his Zen tradition but cultivates an openness to the beauty and wisdom of other faiths. His book Singing and Dancing are the Voice of the Law was published in early 2022. For more information, visit www.flyingcloudzen.org. Sponsors: Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at the University of St. Thomas Center for Well-Being at the University of St. Thoma

New Frontiers: Descent into Darkness: Romanticism, Atheism, Nihilism, Marxism

Dr. Philip Rolnick will give the New Frontiers in Theological Research lecture this spring, discussing his book A Post-Christendom Faith, The Long Battle for the Human Soul. Dr. John Boyle will give a response.Confronted by multiple religious possibilities, the rise of atheistic naturalism, and moral relativism, one can easily become perplexed about what matters most—or be tempted to conclude that nothing could matter most. As the first volume of A Post-Christendom Faith, a set of three interrelated theological works, The Long Battle for the Human Soul examines major historical developments that have led to our contemporary confusion—so that we might chart a way forward.Separated from Christian faith, and oftentimes fiercely opposing it, early forms of secular humanism poured their energies into reshaping social and political structures, while the crescendo of critique profoundly altered the spiritual landscape of the West. With foundational certainties shattered, new movements arose that pulled in different directions, some of them dangerous and deadly. Rolnick maps this fracturing through Feuerbach\u27s atheism, the excesses of Romantic literature, the rise of nihilism, the moral inversion of Marxism, Comte\u27s positivism, and Nietzsche\u27s all-out war against Christianity.Philip A. Rolnick is Professor of Theology and Chair of the Science and Theology Network at the University of St. Thomas. He is also the author of Origins: God, Evolution, and the Question of the Cosmos; Person, Grace, and God; and Analogical Possibilities: How Words Refer to God.Dr. Boyle is Professor of Catholic Studies and chairs that department at the University of St. Thomas. He writes on Thomas Aquinas and Thomas More and published a lost work of Thomas Aquinas. A graduate of the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto, he has received a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship, the Aquinas Medal from the University of Dallas, and delivered the Aquinas Lecture at the National University of Ireland.Co-sponsored by the Departments of Theology, Catholic Studies, and Philosophy

Mental Health Professionals’ Experience of Providing Tele-mental Health to Children and Adolescents during The COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of child and adolescent mental health professionals who transitioned to telemental health services during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the framework of qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight licensed child/adolescent mental health professionals who transitioned to telemental health for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive phenomenological analysis revealed five major themes describing the experiences of the participants. These themes include the impact of providing telemental health on well-being of mental health professionals, challenges associated with transitioning to telemental health, challenges of providing mental health services to children and adolescents online, coping and adaptation to telemental health, and the benefits of telemental health to clients and mental health professionals during the pandemic. The findings highlight the need for mental health organizations and policymakers to create supportive environments and provide resources to support the well-being of mental health professionals during periods of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and identified several key factors that can help clinicians transition to telemental health. Limitations of the study include a small sample size, potential for self-selection bias, and the potential for researcher bias

The Traits and Skills of Successful Immigrant Workers in American Organizations

There is no clear-cut, defined step-by-step process for immigrant workers to follow that guarantees success within American organizations. The existing literature identifies immigrant demographics common to leadership roles but does not point to specific traits or skills immigrants need for promotion to leadership positions or how to navigate the hiring process within U.S. organizations. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research was to identify factors contributing to immigrant workers’ success within American organizations. An interview approach was used because the immigrants who have lived these experiences are the most accurate storytellers. The study comprised 15 volunteer participants. Those participants formed two groups: successful Immigrant Workers (n = 10) and Hiring Managers (n = 5). Through an interview process, data was collected and coded. Data analysis involved the use of process coding (Saldana, 2014) to identify common themes. Both Immigrant workers and Hiring Managers identified seven themes; five of which were common to both groups interviewed: (a) Personal Traits and Characteristics, (b) Interpersonal Skills, (c) Achievement Orientation, (d) Desire for Learning and Development, and (e) Multiculturalism and Diversity. Immigrant workers also identified English Proficiency and Mentoring and Coaching as important influences on their success. Hiring Managers noted they considered a variety of Basic Work Requirements, and Knowledge of the U.S. when hiring or promoting immigrants. Implications and recommendations for immigrant workers are discussed

The Experience of Humanitarian Leaders in Managing Cultural Diversity

The world is becoming increasingly more diverse, particularly in the workplace. Existing literature on diversity tends to focus on the visible types of diversity such as gender, race, and color from the for-profit business perspective. There is little research on the impact of the invisible type of diversity such as culture and national origin. Cultural diversity has rarely been studied in the context of non-profit international humanitarian organizations. These organizations face unique management challenges due to their volatile and chaotic environment with limited power and resources. Applying a control-oriented and normative management approach proved to be ineffective. Thus, there is a need for further research tailored to international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (IHNGOs). This study aimed to highlight the role of IHNGOs’ leaders in cultural diversity management. The study found cultural diversity management is a very challenging process. It identified five components for successful cultural diversity management. When diversity is managed properly the study found it pays off. Developing a critical mind and broadening perspective are some of the impacts of longtime exposure to different cultures. Another finding of the study is that dominant culture has a negative impact on leaders from a minority background. This qualitative research of narrative inquiry used interviews as an exclusive data collection method to capture the unique experiences of seven CEOs of IHNGOs. The implication for the practice of this study shows the challenging nature of the cultural diversity management process, thus it prepares leaders mentally. In addition, it provides a formula for success and a list of needed skills and competencies to succeed in managing culturally diverse teams

Clinically Significant Distress Post-Infidelity

Infidelity is a prominent relationship concern within the United States, causing a myriad of detrimental consequences. Individuals betrayed by infidelity often report distressing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms following a partner’s affair. However, factors contributing to the level of distress experienced by the betrayed individual, and the resulting behaviors are poorly understood. Increasing the understanding of the interplay of individual, marital, and distress factors could inform, and potentially improve, therapeutic interventions for betrayed partners. The current study hypothesized that women and individuals with children are more likely to experience clinically significant distress and trauma-like symptoms following the discovery of a partner’s infidelity. Additionally, the current study hypothesized that individuals with a longer relationship duration have higher levels of clinically significant distress and trauma-like symptoms following the discovery of a partner’s infidelity, and that lower education attainment is positively correlated to clinically significant distress and trauma-like symptoms following the discovery of a partner’s infidelity. An online survey was completed by 112 individuals who had experienced a partner’s infidelity while in a committed relationship. The survey collected demographic information, relationship information, and screened for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and trauma-like symptoms (PCL-5). Findings revealed that the majority of participants met or exceeded clinically significant depression symptoms (71.6%), anxiety symptoms (66.4%), and trauma-like symptoms (73.9%), with an average PHQ9 score of 14.07, GAD7 score of 12.61, and PCL-5 score of 43.04. The current study did not reveal a significant difference in distress levels based on gender identification, did not find a connection between distress levels and duration of the relationship, and did not find a significant correlation between education attainment and distress. However, contrary to the prediction, individuals with children had lower levels of depressive symptoms t(93), = -2.71, p = .008, d = -.640 and anxious symptoms t(96), = -2.29, p = .026, d = -.538. Clinical recommendations focus on the importance of recognizing and validating the intense emotional reactions of the betrayed partner