Unshakeable - by Jo-Ann Rosen (Paperback)

About the Book

"Content warning: this book contains material that may be triggering, including references to self-harm or trauma"--Copyright page.

Book Synopsis

A holistic system for gaining and maintaining the stability of mind needed for personal and social transformation, even in the midst of trauma--with simple, body-based exercises grounded in neuroscience and mindfulness, inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh

With three decades working in marginalized communities in the US, Israel, and the West Bank, mindfulness teacher and psychotherapist Jo-ann Rosen offers a wealth of wisdom and gentle humor in supporting people to access their inner strength and stability--even amidst outer chaos and catastrophe. Rosen draws on the example and practices of her teacher, the peace activist and Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who founded Plum Village mindfulness practice centers worldwide as places of healing and restoration, to show how meditation can aid collective awakening.
Time and time again, even in places where trauma is commonplace, Rosen has seen that a regulated nervous system allows an individual to move from overwhelm and despair to stability and engagement. The Plum Village approach to well-being cultivates resilience while recognizing the unique social and ecological challenges of our times.
In Unshakeable, Rosen shares the methods by which we can broaden our resiliency, calm our nerves, and positively impact the collective consciousness. By following the practices in this book, we can find an unshakeable source of strength within, not only as individuals, but also as members of strong communities for positive change.

Review Quotes

"We wholeheartedly appreciate Jo-ann Rosen's dedicated work, loving service, and steadfast practice with our community for so many years. Her love for the Plum Village teachings and tradition has manifested as her dedication to help us become more informed about the language and delivery of the practices so that we can be more sensitive to the collective trauma of our times. Smiling to the ripening!"--Brother Chan Phap Dung, senior Dharma teacher, Deer Park Monastery, a mindfulness practice center in Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village tradition

"There is a great need to understand the human nervous system and how this knowledge integrates with Buddhist teachings. Jo-ann Rosen has combined the teachings and concept of the Community Resiliency Model with her depth of understanding as a Dharma teacher to inspire the possibility of greater mind and body healing for all."--Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, cofounder of the Trauma Resource Institute in Claremont, California, and author of Building Resilience to Trauma

"Jo-ann Rosen masterfully integrates neuroscience, psychology, and mindfulness practice. From this synthesis flow the practical tools that people who want to heal the world need to sustain themselves and the communities that nurture them in their struggle. This is a must-read for anybody who wants to make the world a better place--she translates wisdom into practical tools that activists can use to regulate themselves in the face of ongoing trauma so that they can sustain their work as happy, resilient people."--Rod Fujita, PhD, author of Making Shift Happen and Heal the Ocean

"Practical and profound ... Jo-ann Rosen brings the insights of somatic psychology and nervous system regulation into wildly fruitful dialogue with Buddhist mind-training practices, pushing the Dharma further to become more neurosensitive. She lifts up the essential role of community in both spiritual and scientific wisdom for personal and collective healing so that we can see clearly enough for a future to be possible."--Kaira Jewel Lingo, author of We Were Made for These Times

"As a professor and researcher, I apply Jo-ann Rosen's tools both with my students and the community youth with whom I partner, many of whom have experienced trauma and marginalization. As a physician, I am grateful for the concrete links Rosen draws between the mindfulness practices offered by the Buddha ('a brilliant neuroscientist') and the insights of contemporary neuroscience. Unshakeable is a book that I look forward to consulting and sharing frequently."--Colette Auerswald, MD, professor of Community Health Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of the UC Berkeley-UC San Francisco joint medical program

"Unshakeable: Trauma-Informed Mindfulness for Collective Awakening is the book we've all been waiting for in the mindfulness field. Jo-ann Rosen is a seasoned mindfulness teacher and respected leader in the field of trauma-informed care. Rosen's unwavering commitment to moving modern mindfulness beyond the realm of self-care and toward the shift in collective consciousness is the approach we so desperately need now."--Meena Srinivasan, executive director of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL) and author of Teach, Breathe, Learn

About the Author

Jo-ann Rosen, LMFT, is an educator, licensed psychotherapist, and lay Dharma teacher in Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. Her work focuses on the intersection of neuroscience, mindfulness, and social change. She is one of the guiding teachers of EMBRACE (Embodying Mindfulness-Based Resilience to Awaken Community Empowerment), a new resource for transforming trauma. She received her professional and clinical training at the University of California at Berkeley and the University of San Francisco. A member of Thich Nhat Hanh's core Tiep Hien Order of Interbeing community since 1996, she received the Lamp of Wisdom and authorization to teach from Thich Nhat Hanh in 2012. She lives with her partner of forty years in rural Northern California.