This page was established in March of 2020 in response to the explosion of free offerings from mindfulness teachers and organizations. Although this page has not been updated since May of 2021, much of the material below remains relevant and available. Among the many offerings were regular meditation meetings open to anyone. Go to Online Meditation & Discussion Meetings to see a current list of those meditation meetings.

Half-Day At-Home Mindfulness Retreat - Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach

[ From Jack and Tara ] : "Undertaking a home-based personal retreat can be a powerfully healing and restorative experience. A retreat gives you the opportunity to take refuge from life’s current ups and downs, reconnect with your best self, and learn to embody a spirit of grounded calm. Suitable for everyone, whether or not you’ve meditated before, this self-guided retreat will combine sitting and walking meditation practices and require about three hours of your time."

Creating a Home Retreat: Finding Freedom Wherever You Are - Jack Kornfield

For those who want something more ambitious than the 1/2 day retreat, this includes a schedule & videos for a complete 6:30am-9:30pm, 7-day retreat.
[ From Jack ] : "When a widespread difficulty like the Coronavirus pandemic grows, it becomes important to draw on our inner strength. It is the time to pause, reflect and bring wisdom, courage and care to ourselves and those around us. We human beings have survived for a thousand generations, helping one another and inspiring each other. We know how to do this."

The Resilience Summit - A 5-day "at home" retreat - Rick Hanson

[ From Rick Hanson ] : "After you register for the summit, you will receive an email each day, for five days, with links to the videos and resources for that day. We’ll keep the Resilience Summit available forever, so you’ll be able to watch the videos and access the other resources any time you want." The summit includes sessions led by five different teachers, including Kristin Neff and Peter Levine.

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Resilience, Compassion, and Science for Healing Today - Dalai Lama

A special free event held June 19th with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, sponsored by the Mind & Life Institute.
[ From Mind & Life Institute ] : " We ask: What is the path forward in the face of profound crises from the COVID-19 pandemic to systemic racism? The program will explore insights for individual and collective healing. Integrating contemplation, science, and action, it will help us consider how crisis can be an opportunity to shift human consciousness and embrace our shared humanity."

Live Meditations with the Masters - Tricycle Magazine

[ From Tricycle Magazine ] : "Join teachers for a series of live-stream meditations to help ease anxiety amid our social-distancing efforts. The calls will be hosted on Zoom and will feature a talk and guided practice led by each teacher. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A at the end of each call. Click below to sign up for the calls and receive a link to join in at the scheduled time." Past sessions with Sharon Salzberg, Jack Kornfield, Pema Chödrön, Tara Brach, Sylvia Boorstein, Joseph Goldstein, Stephen Bachelor, Joan Halifax, Lama Surya Das are available at the above link (as are upcoming live sessions).

Support for Stressful Times - Ann Weiser Cornell of Focusing Resources

[ From Ann ] :"As all of us scramble to find ways to keep ourselves, our families, and our communities safe from the coronavirus, our need for connection and emotional support is higher than ever." This is a collection of 30-minute webinars with warm, positive tips for emotional self-care in these challenging times. Our hope is that you’ll leave the webinar with a greater sense of resilience and some relief from the stressful feelings you might be having. And that you’ll know you are not alone."

Mindful@Home - Meditations from Mindful.org

[ From Mindful.org ] : "a series of free guided meditations from some of our favorite mindfulness teachers. As they hunker down in their homes, they will be sending peace, calm, and love to you in your home. Tune in Thursday, March 19th at 3 p.m. ET on Facebook where Anne Alexander will be kicking off this series. Then tune in to our Facebook page every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3 p.m. ET for live guided meditations from Sharon Salzberg, Bob Stahl, Mirabai Bush, Cara Bradley, Rhonda Magee, Mitch Abblett and more."

Live Guided Meditations with Richard Davidson - University of Wisconsin-Madison

[ From Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison ] : "Join us for a virtual, live meditation session with Center for Healthy Minds and Healthy Minds Innovations founder, Richard Davidson, to learn and practice skills to cultivate a healthy mind. The session will include a period of guided meditation, as well as practical tips for applying simple mindfulness skills in everyday life. This virtual event is free and open to the public."

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Pandemic Care Resources (many videos & articles) - Tara Brach

[ From Tara ] : "During this global crisis we all need pathways to calm, clarity and openheartedness. While it’s natural to feel fear during times of great collective crisis, our challenge is that fear easily takes over our lives. Mindfulness and compassion practices can help us find an inner refuge and deepen our loving connection with each other. This list of talks and guided meditations will support you through these difficult times." Not included in the above link is a wonderful interview of Tara: "Our calm is contagious": How to use mindfulness in a pandemic.

Pandemic Resources (many videos, articles, and recordings) - Jack Kornfield

A wonderful collection of Jack's articles and videos, including a wonderful interview of Jack by Dan Harris, author of "10% Happier". In one of them The Bodhisattva Response to the Virus, Jack says: "We have a choice. Epidemics, like earthquakes, tornadoes and floods, are part of the cycle of life on planet Earth. How will we respond? With greed, hatred, fear and ignorance? This only brings more suffering. Or with generosity, clarity, steadiness and love? This is the time for love."

Facing Pandemic Fears with an Awake Heart - Tara Brach (1 hr video)

[ From Tara ] : "While it’s natural to feel fear during times of great collective crisis, our challenge is that fear easily takes over our lives. This talk explores how the mindfulness and compassion of the RAIN meditation can help us find an inner refuge in the face of fear, and deepen our loving connection with each other." Excerpted from this video is a 13 minute talk and guided meditation: Bringing RAIN to Fear.

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2020 Mental Health Resource List - Nursing License Map

[ From their web page ] : "Taking care of mind, body and spirit has become even more crucial than usual in 2020. Multiple stressors born in times of crisis can reveal how important it is to prioritize one’s own well-being. Here is a comprehensive list of resources and tools — culled from colleges and other organizations — for anyone hoping to improve their mental health."

50 Resources for the Mental Health of Teachers and School Staff - Teach.com

[ From their web page ] : " Tending to the needs of children, parents and staff, K-12 teachers are forced to deal with limited support from their administrations, consistently changing curriculums and even dire health situations like a pandemic, creating stress and burnout. ...Teach.com has researched and collected helpful apps and articles, created and produced by educators or mental health experts, agencies and organizations for educators and school staff."

Mental Health & Substance Abuse Hotlines - SAMHSA

Many resources here, including 24-hr crisis lines and resources for mental health and substance abuse issues. Also see the National Suicide Prevention LIfeline and the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator and MentalHealth.gov.

National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine - NAMI

During this difficult time, the NAMI HelpLine is here for you. HelpLine volunteers are working to answer questions, offer support and provide practical next steps. The resources on this page provide information to address many needs and concerns.

COVID-19: Four Facts for Mesothelioma Patients - Mesothelioma Hub

[ From the web page ] : "If you are a mesothelioma patient, you may be at elevated risk for contracting the virus. Here are some precautions you can take to reduce your risk of complications from COVID-19. Here are four COVID-19 facts for mesothelioma patients."

Being Resilient During Coronavirus - Dr. Rick Hanson

[ From Rick's web page ] : "During times like this, it’s natural to feel afraid, anxious, or threatened. The brain has evolved to react quickly to threats, and it’s easy for there to be a sense of helplessness associated with problems that appear far beyond our control." On Rick's webpage are several meditations that can be helpful to patients and healthcare providers, including a 5-minute meditation that can be helpful for patients, A Meditation for Feeling Safe and a 16-minute Meditation for Healthcare Providers.

FIve Tools for Helping Clients Through Turbulent Times - PositivePsychology.com

[ From PositivePsychology.com ] : "Like many of you, our hearts are heavy with concerns for the global community’s wellbeing...We have created a brand new resource, “The Crisis Kit: 5 Tools For Helping Clients Through Turbulent Times”, containing five of the most relevant, science-based tools to help you help others navigate turbulence and uncertainty."

COVID-19 Digital Mental Health Resources - NYC Well

[ From their website ] : "FREE digital mental health resources for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to share no-cost resources to help you during this time."



How to Work with Anxiety During the COVID Pandemic - Ron Siegel, Christine Padesky

[ From the NICABM website ] : "For many clients, the COVID-19 virus has ignited the flames of anxiety. And for those who already struggle with anxiety it’s pouring fuel on the fire. Problem is, many of our go-to strategies for reducing anxiety can’t always be practiced in quarantine or isolation. So how can we help clients manage anxious feelings brought on by the pandemic? Christine Padesky, PhD, and Ron Siegel, PsyD, and shared their techniques for finding relief from anxiety during these difficult times."

How Communities Can Prevent Panic in Uncertain Times - Public Health Degrees

[ From Public Health Degrees website ] : "Like disease, panic is a social contagion that can sweep whole populations into a frenzy, adding mental health complications to a public health crisis like a pandemic." This page includes The four mental stages people experience during a crisis (CDC).

Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19 - Steve Joordens (5 week free course)

[ From Steve Joordens] : "Never in the history of humanity have so many people been feeling intense anxiety related to COVID-19 and the world it will leave in its wake. The intent of this course is to give you a deeper understanding of the anxiety reaction as it relates to various aspects of our current life, ranging from our consumption of news to the way we talk to our children about this. I will also give you clear strategies for managing and, in fact, turning off the anxiety response at least for short periods. My sincere hope is that you will leave this course with a better understanding of how your brain reacts to crises, along with some powerful tools for managing it before it manages you."

Addiction & Recovery: How Mindfulness May Help - USC School of Social Work

This resource on mindfulness recovery isfor those who may be struggling with addiction during physical distancing. It offers mindful techniques to incorporate into daily life to reduce cravings and impulsivity during recovery, as well as mindfulness exercises to help mitigate relapse.
[ From the article] : “So much of the internal narrative around cravings is not being able to handle it,” Barr said. “What you get from mindfulness is the realization that you can deal with this; you can tolerate this.”

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Checking In - Susan David

[ From Susan David ] : "Fear, boredom, grief, confusion—we're all feeling ... a lot right now. How do we cope with our heightened emotions during this global pandemic? Susan David—a psychologist at Harvard Medical School—is here to offer us strategies. This show is an urgent response to an urgent moment—a support system, toolkit, and understanding voice during a time of great uncertainty."

Coronavirus Sanity Guide & Ten Percent Happier Podcasts - Dan Harris

[ From the web site ] : "Each week, journalist and Ten Percent Happier co-founder Dan Harris speaks with Sscientists, experts, and other smart folks about how to stay sane in the midst of coronavirus." .

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Free COVID-19 Program for Ages 8-12 - The Mindful Project

The founders of The Mindful Project have generously waived fees for their five-week mindfulness program for children.
[ From their website ] : "Today, mindfulness is more important than ever. Introducing our new At-home Learning program, created for you and completely free...These exercises may include an audio lesson, worksheet, or guided mobility video. We've also created a resource document to help you help your children."

Tips for Families in Unsettled Times - Michele Lilyanna and Krista Arrington

[ From Michele Lilyanna ] : "Families around the world are experiencing difficult times. Remember, stress and anxiety are normal reactions to the events taking place today. Also, be aware that too much stress can hijack our ability to reason. When we are in the stress response, we move into fight or flight or freeze. So, together, let’s invite our nervous system to settle down a bit so we can be more responsive vs. reactive in our homes and with our families over this challenging time."

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Responding to COVID-19 - Mindfulness Clinic - Dublin, Ireland

[ From the Mindfulness Clinic ] : "The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has prompted unprecedented difficulties around the world. Sudden and unexpected events can elicit different emotions, uncertainty and catastrophic thinking. Sustained high anxiety can make it challenging to respond. The following suggestions, based on CBT and mindfulness, can help to manage the challenges during the pandemic crisis."

How Mindfulness Can Help During COVID-19 - Child Mind Institute

[ From Child Mind Institute ] : "Designating time to practice mindful activities as a family will help everyone feel less anxious. It could be a daily family yoga session, or a quiet walk in the woods as a group, taking time to focus on the way the air feels, the sound of the birds and the smell of the trees. Another good family mindfulness idea is asking everyone to mention one good thing they heard or saw that day over dinner."

Six Questions to Ask Yourself - Greater Good Magazine, Brooke Anderson

[ From Brooke ] : "As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads... many of us find ourselves quarantined at home. The physical isolation and sudden departure from familiar routines can be jarring and disorienting... I wrote these six “Daily Quarantine Questions” to help me structure my days—and check in with myself, to make sure I’m doing OK."

10 Self-Compassion Practices for COVID-19 - Chris Germer & Kristin Neff

[ From Chris & Kristin ] : "Many people have asked us how self-compassion practice might help them get through this challenging time. Everyone has been affected to some degree by the coronavirus, perhaps by anxiety about the invisible threat to our communities, loneliness from self-quarantine, economic hardship, or difficulties when we contract the virus ourselves or need to care for sick people. [These] 10 practices are from the Mindful Self-Compassion program."

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A mindful approach to helping your team through the COVID crisis - Headspace

[ From Headspace ] : "As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Companies around the world are now implementing precautionary and emergency measures to help “flatten the curve,” meaning slow the rate by which this illness spreads, reduce incidence of cases in their populations, and support efforts to protect public health. Because most working professionals spend a third of their time at work, employers are uniquely suited to support their team’s mental well-being during this uncertain time.."

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Cultivating a Compassionate & Connected Remote Work Culture - Susan Bauer-Wu

[ From Susan ] : "Amid this COVID-19 pandemic, we all find ourselves forced into physical isolation, necessitating what Time aptly called “the world’s largest work-from-home experiment.” As individuals and organizations, we are navigating this uncharted terrain without a roadmap, or clarity around how long it will last. How do organizations skillfully move forward at this time of not knowing, while effectively carrying out their missions? How do individual team members maintain engagement and productivity while caring for those they live with, especially young children and elderly parents?"

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Orchestras and Choirs coming together in this time of crisis

These are not resources in mindfulness, per se, but are emotionally moving demonstrations the kind of connectedness and lovingkindness that are at the heart of any true mindfulness practice. These musicians used great resourcefulness and creativity to play together even though the coronavirus prevented them from being together physically. This playlist includes Somewhere Over the Rainbow,   What the World Needs Now,   Bach's Brandenberg Concerto #3, and True Colors.

Pandemic by Lynn Ungar

In addition to Pandemic (former minister of our local Unitarian Church), which reframes the pandemic as a time for renewal, reflection, and love, Lynn wrote another called Imagine. A third poem, Some People by Margaret Lamar King, is a beautiful and poignant exploration of all the ways we collectively are dealing with the pandemic.

Live-stream Theater from Broadway and London's West End

Many theaters are now offering their productions via live-stream and some of them are offering a free week-long trial program. Along with many classic shows like "Miss Saigon", "Carousel" and "Sweeney Todd," their offerings also include recent productions like "Kinky Boots", and "A Night with Janis Joplin."

...and a bit of humor

[ From The Guardian ] : "Ben and Danielle Marsh and their four children changed the lyrics of "One Day More" [from Les Miserables] to reflect common complaints during the COVID-19 lockdown. They say the video, which has gone viral, was intended to give friends and family a laugh during this stressful time."

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Online Meditation Resources for Times of Social Distancing - The Awake Network

[ From their web page ] :As each of us faces a unique set of challenges related to COVID-19, it’s our hope to be supportive to you in the coming days and weeks as a source for inspiration, practices, and community connection. There are a lot of free teachings, practices, and other resources being shared online by compassionate teachers and organizations. Here, we aim to keep an updated list for you. May you find all the forms of support that you need to take care of yourself, your loved ones, and your community.

Mindfulness Resources / Response to COVID-19 - Free Mindfulness Project

Yet another comprehensive listing Including recurring live sessions, recorded talks, online courses, and apps. This listing is particularly good for people in Europe or Asia since this list is compiled by Peter Morgan of the UK and are at times that work for those in European zones.

COVID-19 Community Resource Hub - Mindful Leader (updated weekly)

Another comprehensive list from Mindful Leader which includes live and online resources, apps, and self-practice materials, articles, and announcements.

Guide to Well-Being During Coronavirus- Greater Good Science Center

Practices, resources, and articles for individuals, parents, educators, and health care professionals facing COVID-19, including When Coronavirus Anxiety Is Useful and When It Isn’t. [ From GGSC ] : "At Greater Good, our mission is to share scientific research that can help promote a happier, more compassionate society. With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, we’re committed to bringing you stories, tips, and tools for these uncertain times in our global community."

COVID-19 Well-Being Toolkit and Resources - University of Wisconsin-Madison

This list has many resources, including live talks & meditations by Richard Davidson, as well as many useful articles for children, including How to Talk to Kids about COVID-19.
[ From Healthy Minds ] : "We are thinking about you and others in our global community during the current COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you are staying safe. This toolkit has a list of resources to support well-being during this trying time."

COVID Resources - Mindful Magazine

A number of great articles including Mindfulness for Healthcare Workers During COVID, An Outpouring of Kindness Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak, and What I Learned About Myself at the Grocery Store: Mindfulness Lessons from COVID-19.

Resources for COVID-19 from Sharon - Sharon Salzberg

[ From Sharon's web page ] : "Sharon is offering a variety of online resources to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most all offerings are free, but some require registration to participate in. As Sharon continues to participate in more virtual offerings at this unprecedented time, we will keep adding them to this page, so check back for updates."

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