Introducing Dr. Richard W. Sears
Quick answer: Dr. Richard W. Sears is a board-certified clinical psychologist, author of fourteen books, sixth-degree black belt in To-Shin Do/Ninjutsu, and a major contributor to the modern mindfulness movement. He joins season two of Austin Mindfulness Center's Mindfulness Off the Cushion podcast as special guest for the entire season.
Can you believe it? We're already kicking off season two of the Mindfulness Off the Cushion podcast—and we're thrilled to be joined by a special guest for the entirety of the season. The podcast's mission is to provide pragmatic, concise, practical information for everyday folks looking for tools to manage the stress and anxiety of life, treating mindfulness as a skillset anyone can learn. Here's an introduction to the man bringing decades of clarity and wisdom to season two.
Who is Dr. Richard W. Sears?
Dr. Sears is a board-certified clinical psychologist, mindfulness researcher and teacher, and core faculty member of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Union Institute and University, where he directs the Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation.
His path reflects a lifelong love of learning: a doctorate at Wright State University, an MBA earned alongside his doctoral studies, and a doctorate in Buddhist Studies from Buddha Dharma University. That unusual combination gave him a unique vantage point—the business world often lacked an understanding of human psychology and motivation, while clinical psychology often lacked a thorough grasp of systems. Dr. Sears set out to bridge those gaps through direct experience.
What does "the work is never done" mean?
It's Dr. Sears' reminder that life is temporary—the work of living, of working on ourselves, is all that we have.
The remark—"the work is never done, and then you die"—isn't meant to be glib or dark. The question it poses is: how will we make the best of the time we have? If there's an answer, it likely lies less in what we're working on and more in how we continually bring our awareness to that work.
How did martial arts lead him to mindfulness?
A childhood dream of becoming a ninja grew into a sixth-degree black belt in To-Shin Do/Ninjutsu—and a warrior's approach to awareness.
Inspired by martial artist and author Stephen K. Hayes, founder of To-Shin Do, Dr. Sears eventually trained under Hayes himself. As he explains, a warrior isn't defined by physical prowess: a warrior is someone who engages with the world, facing the truths and challenges of reality rather than retreating from them. If that sounds like a mindfulness practice, you're on the right track. Early in his career, teaching at a martial arts school, students would confide their life problems in him—and feeling ill-equipped to help sparked decades of education, research, and clinical practice. As one of his Zen teachers reminded him: first he had to wake up and do the work himself; only then could he really help anyone else.
What are his most memorable career moments?
Two stand out: pioneering brain-scan research on children in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and serving on the Dalai Lama's security detail.
Dr. Sears was part of the first team to do brain scans on children participating in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy—witnessing positive changes in their behavior and moods while recording demonstrable changes in brain functioning. And for a short period, at Hayes' invitation, he served in the security attachment during one of the Dalai Lama's US visits, where he observed an extraordinary playfulness of mind in the exiled Tibetan leader—who summed up a warrior spirit simply: everyone loves to hear about compassion; not everyone likes to hear the truth.
What's the difference between meditation and mindfulness?
Meditation is a set of particular, informed practices; mindfulness is a more general quality of awareness that can be carried through meditation and into everyday life.
Formal practice "on the cushion" is like regular exercise for underused attention muscles. But the aim is to take that practice off the cushion, into whatever challenges life throws our way. We all slip into autopilot countless times a day—the point is to notice the instants our minds wander and draw attention back to the present, with what Dr. Sears calls curiosity for our thoughts, feelings, and sensations: not interrogating them, but holding space for them, the way you would for another person, a houseplant, or a pet. These are the same skills at the heart of mindfulness-based therapy, and they can meaningfully ease anxiety—Dr. Sears credits mindfulness with easing his own relationship with it, a focus we share in anxiety counseling.
Welcoming Dr. Sears to season two
With fourteen books, decades of clinical and contemplative training, and a warrior's willingness to face hard truths, Dr. Sears brings rare depth to season two. He leaves us with one thought worth holding: "The feeling of being busy only comes when you're thinking about what you're not doing." What are you actually doing, right now? Lean into that. Listen to the full episode and his bonus guided meditation, Letting Go of the Feeling of Busyness.
Getting started. If stress or anxiety has you stuck on autopilot, mindfulness skills can help—and so can a therapist. Learn more about mindfulness-based therapy at Austin Mindfulness Center.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mindfulness Off the Cushion podcast?
It's Austin Mindfulness Center's podcast, offering pragmatic, concise tools for everyday people managing life's stress and anxiety—treating mindfulness as a learnable skillset you can apply in daily life.
Is mindfulness the same as meditation?
No. Meditation is a set of specific practices; mindfulness is a general quality of awareness that meditation trains—and that ideally shows up in your non-meditating moments too.
Why does mindfulness help with feeling busy?
As Dr. Sears puts it, the feeling of being busy only comes when you're thinking about what you're not doing. Bringing attention back to what you're actually doing right now dissolves much of that pressure.
Get started with a therapist at Austin Mindfulness Center—in person in Austin or online across Texas.
