Vipassana Meditation: In Relation to Science, Individual Psychology and Social Progress
Meditation as a force for achieving or restoring well-being has been around for centuries. But in
the history of a globally industrialised society, it has gained widespread significance only over the
last five decades and since the turn of the millennium is has been gaining accelerating acceptance
and prominence.
What was traditionally viewed as a spiritual practice across cultures is now being appreciated for
its all-round benefits that lie in the domains of mental well-being, awareness and emotional
intelligence. However, meditation is not a panacea and although universal in its attributes, it may
not be for everyone.
In this webinar, Shakti Saran, Founder SHAKTIFY, will be in conversation with Dr Paul Fleischman,
M.D., a retired psychiatrist, author and an exponent and teacher of Vipassana meditation in the
tradition of Late Mr S. N. Goenka. He has practiced Vipassana meditation since 1974, and was
asked by Mr Goenka to take the responsibility of explaining Vipassana meditation in the West.
The main objective of this webinar is to right-size the value of meditation as a tool for self-
transformation at a personal level and beyond. Drawing from his experience as a Vipassana
meditator and teacher, Dr Fleischman will dwell on establishing the alignment between meditation
and science; the role of the body-mind connection and the relevance of meditation in social
progress. The conversation will draw insights from evolutionary biology, systems sciences,
medicine, psychology, social sciences, culture, religion and practical examples from all spheres of
contemporary life.
Dr Paul R Fleischman
Dr. Paul R. Fleischman (1945- ) is a retired psychiatrist, author of many books, and was the fifth psychiatrist to be honored by the American Psychiatric Association with the Oskar Pfister Award for being an “…outstanding contributor to the humanistic and spiritual side of psychiatric and medical issues.”
He graduated from the University of Chicago, Phi Beta Kappa, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Alpha Omega Alpha, and trained in Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, where he also served as Chief Resident and psychotherapy supervisor. He practiced psychiatry in Amherst, Massachusetts for over thirty years.
He has been a psychiatric consultant to numerous institutions including the University of Massachusetts Student Mental Health, the Northampton State Hospital, McLean's Hospital, Providence Hospital, Enfield Mental Health Center, and the Hilltowns Health Center. He was a psychotherapy supervisor and seminar leader in Psychiatry and Religion at Yale University, Department of Psychiatry. He has been nominated for a Ford Foundation Fellowship and a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, and has been a Manealof Travel Fellow and a Research Assistant for the United States Public Health Service.
Dr. Fleischman has published articles for over fifty years, including in Nature, Landscape, the Yale Review, The University of Chicago Magazine, The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, the American Journal of Psychiatry, the Journal of Contemplative Psychiatry, and Insight. His published books include a collection of poetry. He was anthologized in The Power of Prayer, a book which included essays by Mother Teresa and Jimmy Carter. Karma and Chaos was a Book of the Year Finalist with Foreword Magazine. His other books include, Cultivating Inner Peace, Wonder:When and Why the World Appears Radiant, An Ancient Path, Vipassana Meditation and the Scientific Worldview, and The Power of Small Changes.
He has lectured widely at many onferences, and universities around the world, including the Williamson Lecturer in Medicine and Religion at the University of Kansas Medical School, the Special Guest Lecturer at Smith College Chapel. Harvard, MIT, Brown, the Fletcher School of Diplomacy at Tufts, McGill University, University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, Evergreen State, the Brower Center/Berkeley, Emory, UNC/Asheville; as well as lecturing in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, England, Spain, South Africa, and Israel; in India he has lectured at Jaipur Medical College, Bombay Psychiatric Society, and the World Presidents’ Assn/Mumbai; and in Mexico: Foros University, Co-Planet Conference, and UNAM. He was a longtime consultant to Amherst Interfaith Clergy.
Dr. Fleischman has practiced Vipassana meditation under the guidance of Mr. S.N. Goenka and his tradition since 1974, and was asked by Goenkaji to be the teacher with the responsibility of explaining Vipassana in the West.
Shakti Saran
Shakti Saran is the founder of Shaktify, an organisation that aims to empower changemakers. He worked in the corporate sector for over three decades, with the latter half spent at IBM. It was during his time at IBM, that employees were encouraged to volunteer which kindled the social sector interest in him.
On retiring from IBM, he joined the Leadership program at India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS), deepening his commitment to environmental sustainability, inclusive economics and social justice. He transitioned and worked as a Senior Fellow with the India chapter of Pyxera Global, a D.C.-based non-profit organization. Furthering his expertise through the Radical Transformation Leadership (RTL) program and certifications in systems thinking from eCornell and Fritjof Capra’s Systems View of Life course, he established Shaktify, a think-tank to empower changemakers.
In 2021 Shakti undertook his first 10-day Vipassana meditation program in the tradition of Mr S. N. Goenka. He has since been a regular practitioner of Vipassana meditation from which he has benefited considerably. His Vipassana meditation experience has been a journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of equanimity. In his experience this disposition is a leverage point to bring about meaningful social and environmental change.
Shaktify promotes social and environmental change through webinars, storytelling, masterclasses, pro-bono resources, and mentoring services. Shakti holds an MBA degree from Boston University.