“When it comes to playing the cello, we're all Buddhists.”
Barbara Bogatin
Cellist, Mindfulness Educator
"The embodied wisdom we cultivate during meditation practice can become meaningful skills that help us in our music-making---mindful practice, quieting the critical mind, and maintaining a calm presence in stressful situations.
For me, meditation and music practice are like two sides of the same coin."
Barbara Bogatin is a cellist with the San Francisco Symphony, chamber music player, and educator in the field of mindfulness training for musicians. In 35 years of practicing insight meditation, she has integrated the embodied knowledge this contemplative work nurtures into effective methods for improving instrumental practice and performance.
Along with her husband, neuroscientist Clifford Saron, she has led workshops on meditation and music practice called “The Buddha, the Brain, and Bach,” at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, the Esalen Institute, Stanford Symposium for Music and the Brain, Telluride Compassion Festival, USC Center for Mindfulness Science, South Africa Conference on Mindfulness, the Ecology of Mind and Matter Symposium in Todi, Italy, and the Nirakara Institute in Madrid, Spain.
Online: MLE YouTube channel
May 8, 2024, 9-11AM PT; 18:00 CET
Invited speaker for Mind and Life Europe “Dialogue on Moving and Improvising” with philosopher Hanne de Jaegher and psychologist Leticia Renault, E-Learning Program on Buddhist thought and the creative process.
One Heart Institute
June 16 - 18, 2024
Teaching an Integrated 3-Day Mindfulness for Musicians Program, including seminars and experiential workshops. Each day will focus on skills that we cultivate in meditation that are useful in music practice and performance. Neuroscientist Cliff Saron will give related presentations on musicians’ brains and neuroplasticity. Open to students, professionals, and adult amateurs of all instruments and genres.
Day 1, Conscious Practice
Day 2, Focus and Calm
Day 3, Deepening Musical Expression
Esalen Institute
September 16 - 20, 2024
Co-teaching with meditation teacher Nikki Mirghafori and neuroscientist Clifford Saron
“The Buddha, the Brain, and Bach: Exploring Practice in Mind, Music, and Life” represents 3 aspects of being or “ways of knowing” -- contemplative investigation, scientific understanding, and artistic expression.
Taken together, the wisdom from these 3 domains provides insight into who we are as human beings, how to bring compassion and meaning into our lives, connect with others, and find personal happiness and satisfaction.
I'd love to hear from you -- with inquiries about workshops, seminars, or private coaching please email me at