Mindfulness, Soulfulness, and Socially Engaged Practice
A BCBS Path Program with Rhonda V. Magee
May 2023 - May 2024
Applications are now closed
Please join the waitlist
The Buddha, famously, rejected the idea of an unchanging soul. And yet…one quality of human experience that may arise with mindfulness practice can be described as “soulfulness.” Since the mid-20th century, psychologists in the tradition of James Hillman (author of The Soul’s Code) and Thomas Moore (author of The Care of the Soul) have explored soulfulness. This dimension of human experience resonates with the grounded connectedness to the elements and ways of being in relationship to earthbound everyday life that mindfulness enables and Buddhist principles and practices support. At the same time, the term soul has been associated with a Black American cultural aesthetic.
Grounded in Buddhist approaches to the establishment of mindfulness, we will explore varieties of soul and soulfulness in our practices and lives. What are soul and soulfulness, and how do Buddhist practices reveal or assist in understanding them? How might mindfulness practices support us in cultivating soulfulness and caring for the dimension of soul in our lives and communities?
We will explore mindfulness, soulfulness, and social engagement in the face of such challenges as climate distress, immigration and demographic changes, economic inequality, the increasing implications of extractive technology, and the increasing visibility of White supremacy-based ideology and politics. Together, we will explore the quality of soulfulness and attend to what might be called the soul of awareness, in relationship to ethically-grounded, socially-engaged mindfulness in everyday life.
Residential expectation: This program includes dedicated periods of both wise speech and noble silence during the residential portions. Some contemplative exercises may involve mindful speaking and listening. Noble silence will be observed at all other times.
Prerequisites: Participants are asked to read and reflect on The Inner Work of Racial Justice by Rhonda V. Magee. While some experience with mindfulness-based meditation would be of benefit, practitioners of any and all levels are welcome.
Program Overview
![]() | Application time frame | Aug 29 - Dec 1, 2022 |
![]() | Prerequisite | Some experience with mindfulness-based meditation Read and reflect on The Inner Work of Racial Justice by Rhonda V. Magee |
![]() | Residential Course dates | May 5-10, 2023 May 3-8, 2024 |
![]() | Duration | 12 months |
![]() | Tuesday Zoom Gatherings 7:30 – 9:00 PM Eastern Time, 4:30 – 6:00 Pacific Time | Monthly 90 minute live small group discussions |
Monthly Tuesday Zoom Gatherings 4:30 to 6 pm PST/7:30 to 9 pm ET
June 13, 2023 | January 16, 2024 |
July 11, 2023 | February 13, 2024 |
August 8, 2023 | March 12, 2024 |
September 12, 2023 | April 9, 2024 |
October 10, 2023 | |
November 14, 2023 | |
December 12, 2023 |

Program Fees
Participants in the Path program commit to attending two residential retreats as well as the online components in between.
Paid in two equal installments before each residential module. Fees for online components are included in the cost. Payments are due before the start of each of the residential modules.
Cost of each retreat (includes the cost of the online components):
Supported | Mid Level | Sustaining | Benefactor | Non Resident |
$675 | $825 | $1025 | $1275 | $430 |
Sliding scale pricing for the full program:
Total Supported |
Total Mid Level |
Total Sustaining |
Total Benefactor |
Non Resident |
$1350 | $1650 | $2050 | $2550 | $860 |
Students are invited to support Rhonda with Dāna (generosity) at the end of each residential module.
Financial assistance may be requested on the registration page.
Timeline
Applications Open: August 29th
Applications Close: December 1st
Initial Accepted Applicants Notified: December 8th
Registration: Dec 22nd - Jan 6th
Course Dates: May 2023 to May 2024

Rhonda V. Magee, M.A., J.D., is Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco, and has spent more than twenty years integrating anti-racist education, social justice, and contemplative practices. She is an internationally-recognized innovator, storyteller, and thought and practice leader on integrating mindfulness into society. She is a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute and the author of The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness (TarcherPerigee: 2019).