Anu Gutpa - Transforming Deeply Ingrained Stereotypes and Unconscious Bias

PRISM Toolkit

Anu Gupta introduces the PRISM toolkit, a set of five mindfulness-based tools designed to help individuals understand and mitigate bias. These tools include perspective taking, pro-social behaviors, individuation, stereotype replacement, and mindfulness. He explains how mindfulness helps in noticing thoughts, body sensations, and feelings in intergroup contexts, allowing individuals to dissociate these from their interactions with others 1.

Our brain has wired that in, and this is despite our conscious intentions. So that's what this test is really revealing. And there are 9% of people for whom it's neutral. So for me, it's like, that's the 9% we want to go after, and that's who we want to become.

--- Anu Gupta

Gupta also discusses how our senses attach feelings to everything we interact with, which can lead to unconscious biases. He emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in adopting better habits and breaking these biases 2.

   

Personal Journey

Anu Gupta shares his personal journey of overcoming depression and suicidal thoughts through mindfulness. Despite years of meditation practice, he faced immense self-loathing during his second year of law school, which led him to a suicide attempt. However, a moment of awareness helped him step back from the ledge and seek help 3.

I still remember that moment when I was going to jump off of this building I lived on, on the 18th floor in midtown, something said, what are these thoughts you're thinking?

--- Anu Gupta

He also recounts his early introduction to meditation and mindfulness, which began in high school and deepened during his travels in India. These practices helped him cope with stress and bullying, ultimately leading him to commit fully to mindfulness 4.