The document discusses whether a humanist form of meditation exists. It describes the Harvard Humanist Contemplative Group, which was established in 2009 and meets regularly to practice a secular form of meditation derived from Buddhism but stripped of supernatural elements. The meditation is an exercise to cultivate attention and is informed by the works of Stephen Batchelor. While meditation has become medicalized through programs like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, it can also be part of humanism by creating community for mutual aid and emotional health. The document outlines some brain mechanisms for how meditation may work and some benefits like enhancing a sense of wonder, though warns of potential risks for those with mental illness from long silent retreats.

1. Does Humanist Meditation Exist? Presented by Rick Heller Harvard Humanist Contemplative Group

4. Informed by Stephen Batchelor

5. Meditation Gets Medicalized

6. Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction

9. Inhibiting Top-Down Modulation